Category Archives: Blackpool Tramway

Heritage trams visit Starr Gate

Posted on Friday 7 February 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The presence of two tram depots in Blackpool has added some added intrigue to an already fascinating tramway, with various trams being moved between the two sites for a number of reasons. Most of the operational heritage cars have now … Continue reading →

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Blackpool & Fleetwood 40 – at home and away

Posted on Thursday 23 January 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The overhaul of Blackpool & Fleetwood ‘Box’ car 40 has now got underway, with the body of the tramcar being lifted on tram jacks in Blackpool Transport’s Body Shop, and the bogies being dispatched to Crich. The car will now … Continue reading →

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Pantograph for the Western Train

Posted on Saturday 11 January 2014 by Andrew Waddington

On Friday 10th January, Blackpool’s famous illuminated Western Train 733+734 got the year off to a grand start for the heritage tram fleet, when it was used for a daytime private hire. More importantly though, this was the first outing … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

A tale of paint and pantographs at Blackpool

Posted on Sunday 22 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool’s heritage tram fleet are currently confined to the Rigby Road depot due to essential roadworks taking place in the Manchester Square area, meaning that none of these trams are presently able to escape onto the main line. However, two … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

Blow for Blackpool North Station extension?

Posted on Friday 20 December 2013 by Gareth Prior

Earlier this year there was much celebration at the news that Transport for Lancashire were going to release more than £16 million towards extending the Blackpool Tramway to North Station, but it could now turn out that this celebration was … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 28 Comments

Thank-you and goodnight from Blackpool 680

Posted on Thursday 12 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

An extremely hectic week of tram moves by road in and around Blackpool has concluded with the departure from Rigby Road of Ex-Towing car 680 in the early hours of Thursday 12th December. The tram, which was sold to the … Continue reading →

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Blackpool Jubilee car back on home turf

Posted on Wednesday 11 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust’s preserved Blackpool Jubilee car 761 made a very welcome return to Blackpool’s Rigby Road tram depot on Wednesday 11th December, after spending just over two years languishing in an industrial yard at Fleetwood. Although not … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 4 Comments

The Brush cars are back with a vengence!

Posted on Wednesday 11 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The task of returning the numerous Lancastrian Transport Trust trams to Blackpool Transport’s premises for inclusion in the company’s expanded heritage tram collection took another giant leap forwards on Tuesday 10th December, when two more old friends were transported back … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 1 Comment

Blackpool Balloon 715 goes home

Posted on Monday 9 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Mere hours after Blackpool Coronation car 663 returned to the safety of Rigby Road depot, another much-loved Blackpool tramcar was brought back home to join the town’s heritage tram fleet. Unlike 663, Balloon 715 is a tram that most of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 5 Comments

Blackpool Coronation cars reunited at Rigby Road

Posted on Monday 9 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

On Monday 9th December, all three surviving Blackpool ‘Coronation’ cars were reunited at the town’s Rigby Road tram depot for the first time since 1975. On this day, cars 304 and 660 were joined by 663, which had made the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 7 Comments

Time running out for Blackpool Balloon 716

Posted on Saturday 7 December 2013 by Gareth Prior

When the Blackpool Tramway fleet started to be sold around the country one of the most surprising purchases saw Blackpool Balloon 716 head north to Perth in Scotland where it was planned to be used as an office by Ptarmigan … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 17 Comments

Blackpool tramway affected by severe storms

Posted on Thursday 5 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Much of the country has been severely affected by adverse weather conditions on Thursday 5th December, and the Fylde coast was no exception. Despite the multi-million pound investment in a new sea wall for Blackpool’s promenade over the past decade, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

‘Box’ 40 set for brief return to Crich

Posted on Friday 29 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Tramway Museum Society have announced that Blackpool & Fleetwood ‘Box’ 40 will be returning to Crich for a major special event in 2014, celebrating 50 years of electric tramcar operation at the museum. The car – which remains owned by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, National Tramway Museum | 4 Comments

Night boat to Fleetwood

Posted on Saturday 23 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

During the 2013 season, every operational member of the Blackpool heritage tram fleet had visited the tramway’s northern terminus at Fleetwood, with just one exception. ‘HMS Blackpool’, the illuminated Frigate 736 stuck rigidly to the Pleasure Beach to Little Bispham … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

LTT trams to be re-homed

Posted on Wednesday 20 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A representative of the Lancastrian Transport Trust has recently confirmed that this organisation is planning to cease its tram-related activities completely in the near future, in order to focus its resources on their remaining historic bus collection. The expected transfer of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 12 Comments

Blackpool’s heritage trams commence winter hibernation

Posted on Monday 11 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A highly successful season of operation for Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram fleet has now come to an end, co-inciding with the final night of the 2013 illuminations on Sunday 10th November. That evening saw just two trams operate on illumination … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

Tiger tram 622 escapes threat of extinction!

Posted on Thursday 7 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

In a shock development, Blackpool Brush Railcoach 622 was transported back to Rigby Road depot on Thursday 7th November, having been forced out of its former home at the Lancastrian Transport Trust’s base at Brinwell Road. Although 622 is not … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 42 Comments

Confusion over new Blackpool winter timetable

Posted on Wednesday 6 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

As the Blackpool tramway prepares for the onslaught of winter, Blackpool Transport have already released information regarding the new timetables which will be introduced on Monday 11th November; after the final night of the 2013 illuminations season. This will see … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

A Twin car treat for half term week

Posted on Monday 4 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

For tram enthusiasts in Blackpool, the highlight of the recent school half-term holiday was probably the use of Twin set 272+T2 on illumination tours. The beautifully painted cream Twin car had not carried passengers since May, but emerged on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

Balloon cars prepare for winter weather

Posted on Sunday 27 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Two Blackpool Balloon cars in different locations have been undergoing preparations for the worsening weather expected as winter approaches, with contrasting jobs being carried out on cars 701 and 721 within the past week. This is a slightly depressing reminder … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 2 Comments