Article updated 7/5/26 with addition of photos
Blackpool Balloon 717 became the first heritage tram to run on the tramway with passengers since the end of the 2025 Illuminations (in very early 2026) on Sunday 3rd May 2026 when it ran a private (and popular!) tour for the Fylde Tramway Society.
As confirmed by Blackpool Transport last week the day after the news about Tramtown closing in its current form permanently, the FTS had hired the tram for a tour during their annual convention weekend. And so it was that 717 was back out on the Prom to take those eager to get a ride on a Balloon Car once again (the first Balloon to have run in service anywhere since the end of 2025) on a tour of the tramway – and it covered the majority of the network including North Station!
The three and a half hour tour ran:
North Pier and Tower – North Station – Thornton Gate – North Station – Pleasure Beach – Cabin – Starr Gate – Little Bispham – North Pier and Tower
The next planned outing for a heritage tram (with passengers) will be Bolton 66’s tour of the network for the Electric Railroaders Association for New York on Friday 8th May with Balloon 717 due out again on Thursday 21st May for a Trinity Hospice organised National Dementia Action Week trip.
In preparation for the trip on Friday, Bolton 66 has also recently been seen testing on the tramway.
Details of planned public heritage tours from later this summer will be announced in due course.
Balloon 717 at North Pier and Tower before embarking on its first tour of 2026.
On board the tram as its at North Station with the subway leading to the station ahead.
Back at North Pier and Tower as passengers alight after a tour of the tramway. (All Photographs by Oliver Shenton, 3rd May 2026)
I gather that this tour was very well supported. I suppose that the Balloons will always prove highly popular, which would suggest that this group ought to be prioritised in any heritage fleet to be retained and this must absolutely include 706 for which underframe materials have been purchased. Other than the illuminated cars, just one of each of the other trams of significance would suffice, except possibly all 3 Boats as these draw crowds. However, I feel there could be a case to allow room for at least 6 Balloons (including 706) as they can generate much more income per unit of area occupied in any depot which can be provided (new or renovated as economics allows).
I would have to disagree re balloon size = revenue. Organised tours yes, heritage tours no. The likes of boats, 66, 147 will always be of more interest.
Having organised enthusiasts tours, the Coronations were always by far the most popular, followed by vintage. Balloons less so.
I agree 100%. A few years back I recall some nights when a Balloon car did illumination tours instead of the Frigate, presumably to try and cash in by selling more tickets… it didn’t work as the Balloon was often very poorly patronised, compared with illuminated cars which usually ran full up.
Even on tours like the FTS one on 3rd May, the novelty value of a Balloon will probably soon wear off. Stuff like Boats, Coronations, Bolton 66 and the Western Train are a lot more popular than any Balloon car, bar 706.
Regarding the number of Balloons to keep, it will probably depend on how many heritage trams overall are retained. I’d suggest that 700, 706 and 717 are the really important ones, and perhaps 713 as a fourth to showcase modernisation of the class, and of course it was also the first fully enclosed Balloon car built. Any more than that will be a luxury I suspect.
It’s interesting that the American railroaders recently chose 66, the most obvious “traditional British tram”, rather than one of the streamliners for their tour (assuming they were given a choice).
Also, the public heritage tours in their later years seemed to carry very few passengers, so vehicle capacity was not really an issue. Presumably any resumed tours will be better-supported now we all know the plug could be pulled again at any point.
I feel that what nostalgicyetprogressive overlooks is how heavily rebuilt and modernised most of the remaining Balloons in Blackpool are.
The flat-fronted Millennium rebuilds are completely unrecognisable as heritage vehicles from the 1930s and the 1990s modernised cars aren’t far off. I dare say these trams aren’t very attractive to the general public. Unfortunately most of the Balloons that are in a more original condition such as 715 need significant work to run again. Whilst technically newer a Coronation or a Twin Car feels far more heritage-y than a B Fleet Balloon