On Wednesday 22nd July there was unexpected activity at Tramtown – Blackpool Transport’s Rigby Road depot – as several trams which have been stored in the main depot building were shunted onto the depot fan.
In total five trams were moved on the day: Brush Railcoach 632, Twin Trailer Car 681, Rocket 732, Western Train 733+734 and Trampower 611. Of these 632 and 732 are part of the Fylde Transport Trust collection with the Trampower vehicle presumably still owned by the Trampower group who had ambitions for a tramway to run in Preston. The Western Train and 681 are both still owned by Blackpool Transport.
632 was just moved to release the Rocket and was put back into the depot afterwards, whilst the others remained outside of the depot and stored on the depot fan where they currently remain.
These are the first moves of any heritage trams in Blackpool for several weeks. Although we did see some private hires earlier in the year (May/June) and it was anticipated there would be an announcement of public tours for the summer and illuminations following that.
However, reports in local media have said that Blackpool Transport need to complete further work on the heritage trams to satisfy the ORR. Exactly what work this may be has not been stated. The reports were accompanied by quotes from both spokespeople from Blackpool Transport as well as Lea Harrison, the new Managing Director.
Bolton 66, Balloon 717 and the illuminated Frigate remain at Starr Gate Depot.
Rigby Road Depot itself remains out of bounds. This, of course, includes the former Fitting Shop which was home to the Tramtown attraction last year. It was announced earlier this year that it would now be closed as that part of the building was deemed to no longer be safe. The Tramtown volunteers remain active and a recent statement from them confirmed that they are now in regular dialogue with Blackpool Transport about a potential future.
- Video of the trams being shunted can be viewed on the Tramtown YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QCjUbqL4hw&t=321s
The Unimog was used to shunt the trams – a task it has probably fulfilled many times over the years, although in different circumstances!. This first photo shows the FTT’s Brush Railcoach 632 extracted from the depot to release the Rocket.
Of the trams moved the Western Train was the last to have run in service. It was used during the 2024 Illuminations season but since then has remained stabled inside Rigby Road Depot.
The Trampower tram doesn’t see the light of day very often but was moved out the depot during the shunt. This prototype tram is on its third visit to Blackpool although was strictly for storage this time, arriving in the resort on 21st March 2018.
A large amount of track cleaning was needed to be able to move the trams, as we see here with the amount of detritus by the side of the rails. This view shows the Rocket and Twin Trailer Car 681 now stabled on the depot fan. (Photographs x4 by Oliver Shenton, 22nd July 2026. Taken within the depot yard with permission)
Six days later and the trams remained on the fan. Here we see the Trampower tram with the Rocket to the right.
Trampower and the Rocket.
We now see the Western Train, Trampower and the Rocket.
And one final view of the Western Train. (Photographs x4 by Steven Hughes, 28th July 2026)
Looking at these moves, one wonders whether there is to be some re-homing or even scrapping on the horizon. Some of the trams look very weathered and tired and may be beyond restoration by now.
I doubt very much the FTT would be scrapping Trams! Certainly the Train isn’t going anywhere!! as for the grey thing, it should have gone years ago.
I would indeed hope that in the worst case scenario that FTT would be able to secure alternative accommodation for their priceless collection of wonderful Blackpool heritage trams. However, many of those in the Blackpool Heritage Tram collection itself can be seen as duplicates and other than a handful of Balloons and a couple of Boats, one example of the remaining types should suffice. I doubt there can be much use for an orphaned trailer, although 681 could be adopted by a college or school as was 687.
The trailer is being turned into a meeting room as part of the larger Tram town project. I assume it’s still on the cards.
Seems pointless to me, where’s it going to go? Is it not still privately owned?
It does seem a bit odd deciding to take historic trams that were stored under cover and leave them out in the open. Particularly the Rocket, which has some vulnerable plywood (?) panels. After the way 143 suddenly departed, I do wonder if the FTT plans to move more of its collection to new homes.
There does seem to be something of a conspiracy of silence over recent events.
Presumably, mere interested parties are required ‘not to speculate’.
Which, of course, automatically generates considerable speculation.
I also wondered if it had something to do with the roof and potential bits falling onto the trams themselves. Would be a shame after all this time if some are scrapped.
Whatever the reason, BTS will know, but aren’t saying, it seems.
BTS have zero reason whatsoever to make a statement about it. Its no ones business AT ALL. Trams used to move round all the time and there wasn’t a press release about it.
But in the past the heritage trams did not have so uncertain and concerning a future.
I appreciate that BTS are under no obligation to say anything, but whether it is or is not anyone’s business, it would surely be simple good manners to give the many interested people some idea, at least, of what the future may, or may not, hold.
Or would you prefer a continuance of the Jane Cole OBE days of misinformation and silence?
From what everyone is being told there is no decision on how/what until the Flexities are all back and up to spec. So no moving a few Trams round doesn’t warrant a fan fare or press release. Its also not their job to tell us TP was leaving – they may have been requested not to so as to avoid the circus which appears at these moves.
Crich with the Rocket…I’d love to see that
I fear that space at Crich is at a premium, if reports following the transport there of the three ex-Wirral cars are to be believed.
You should be afraid, aside from cramming so many cars into the exhibition hall and using the workshop as a running shed there is the small matter of the trams, etc at Clay Cross to be accommodated, which are uninsured in their present circumstances.
Why should Crich keep being suggested as a solution to the lack of foresight of other operations to preserve / conserve their interests?
At present the workshop is occupied by two Blackpool cars, the expenditure involved is approaching three quarters of a million pounds, that’s some commitment. There are systems unrepresented, trams retired needing TLC, modes of traction not demonstrated. If you want to preserve a particular vehicle get on with it please.
A while ago there were whisperings on here about Crich building a new depot to accommodate the ex-Wirral cars, presumably that would also involve building in some spare capacity not only for potential refugees from Blackpool but also any future Crich acquisitions from LRT systems (I believe they have a Nottingham tram earmarked for preservation).
Just to add to this… I’m not sure the Rocket would be a good fit for Crich, as it cannot be driven from the back apart from short shunting moves.
It would make more sense at Beamish, where it can face the right direction all the time! From experience of my last visit Beamish also have a massive capacity issue on their tramway, it’s an extremely busy site and the tram rides are very popular. The little Oporto four-wheeler they rely on isn’t really big enough.
Not to accommodate the ex Wirral cars, but rather to house all the artefacts from Clay Cross. It isn’t proposed to have a connection to the running line.
Crich are very full. They could take more but there would literally be no room to use for anything else.
There was a comment on Facebook from someone who was there and spoke to BTS employees. The gist of it was the shunt was to extract the Trampower tram so it can be returned to its owner, and to put all the FTT owned trams on the same line. Hopefully the Western Train will be fitted with the safety equipment required to put it back in service promptly.
The Trampower car has now left Rigby Road on a (very!) large transporter, apparently being moved to a siding near Stoke-on-Trent.
One would hope no one is stupid enough to listen to anything Trampower people have to say!
The last time I was at Crich, a volunteer told me they were looking at building an extra depot near Wakebridge to take the cars from Clay Cross.
great news
I had heard the same. I believe the intention was to sell the Clay Cross site and bring everything on site.
I have no idea what the time scale might be, however.
You can’t sell what you don’t own…
The shed at Clay Cross is rented from whatever successor of British Rail. They need the site cleared in connection with the Midland Mainline electrification..
Is it just me who thinks it bizarre that the (ill-thought and incorrect) speculation continues several days after the real (but relatively mundane) reason was confirmed on other thread on this very site.
It is a prime example of why some so called enthusiasts have such a poor reputation with both the operators and the more rational majority, and perhaps why they don’t announce everything little thing – some wouldn’t believe it anyway and would make up their own outlandish stories.
Or am I missing something???
Fair enough. My informant must have been incorrect.
However, it seems Crich do have a lease, though for how long I am unaware.
So maybe it has been just a reorganisation exercise. It makes good sense for the FTT cars to be stabled on the same road making access by a representative of the FTT more straightforward. Especially helpful should they decide to arrange another loan to a museum line. I wonder if the FTT trams will be allocated a position less affected by the ongoing roof leakage. I do hope so as a great deal of work has been put into so many of their tramcars and it would be a great shame if they were allowed to deteriorate more than can be avoided.