The annual Friends of 40 tour in Blackpool will be a bit of departure in 2018 as instead of using Box 40 it is planned to use Standard 147 (subject to the completion of work on tram which includes a full repaint Rigby Road). The tour will take place on Saturday 21st April with tickets now available for £28.50, which includes lunch and a guest speaker.
The tour will start at Rigby Road Depot at 1100 and then runs to Foxhall where 147 will use the crossover and head to Pleasure Beach. Following a photostop the tour will run to Fleetwood with possible photostops at North Pier and Cleveleys as it makes it way north. The tour then takes a break for lunch which will be provided at the Vantini Room, North Euston Hotel consisting of Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding with roast potatoes and vegetables followed by Jam Roly-poly and tea or coffee. There will be a guest speaker following lunch. The tour then runs directly back to Rigby Road with an expected departure time of 1500 from Fleetwood.
All inclusive tickets cost £28.50 and can be booked by contacting Steve Palmer on 01253 770 623 or by writing to Steve Palmer, 3 Rossall Lane, Fleetwood, FY7 8JP to request a booking form. Cheques should be made payable to Friends of Forty.