{"id":44888,"date":"2022-05-04T22:00:36","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T21:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=44888"},"modified":"2022-05-04T20:08:41","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T19:08:41","slug":"in-pictures-may-vintage-weekend-in-blackpool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=44888","title":{"rendered":"In Pictures: May Vintage Weekend in Blackpool"},"content":{"rendered":"

The second event weekend of 2022 in Blackpool took place over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend from Saturday 30th<\/sup> April to Monday 2nd<\/sup> May. As we previewed just before the weekend, the Vintage Weekend saw the return of hop-on, hop-off tours on various timetabled journeys between Pleasure Beach and points north whilst there were also bus tours, tours of Rigby Road Depot and evening tours. In this review the photos comes from the first day of the event whilst we also have a quick round-up of which trams made an appearance throughout the rest of the weekend.<\/p>\n

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Day 1: Saturday 30th<\/sup> April 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

As with the whole weekend the hop-on hop-off tours saw six trams in service all allocated a lettered diagram for the day. On the first day those six trams were Bolton 66<\/strong>, Boat 600<\/strong> (instead of sister 227<\/strong>), Brush 631<\/strong>, Centenary 648<\/strong>, Balloon 715<\/strong> and the Illuminated Frigate<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Tramtown tours were a major feature of the weekend with two taking place on each day. During the tours on Saturday 30th<\/sup> Balloon 703<\/strong> (still in its guise as Sunderland 101<\/strong>) was on display on the depot fan whilst fellow Balloon 723<\/strong> was found in the Paint Shop where it is being rubbed down in preparation for a repaint into a yet not revealed livery.<\/p>\n

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Centenary 648 sits on Pleasure Beach loop ahead of running a service to Thornton Gate.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Always looking stunning is Bolton 66 which is also seen on Pleasure Beach. Its getting ready to operate a service all the way to Fleetwood.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Moving on to Bispham with Balloon 715 and Brush 631 side by side.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Frigate HMS Blackpool is seen later on in the day at Pleasure Beach. Even though the effects of the lights are lost somewhat in the middle of the day the popularity of the illuminated feature cars always seems to be bear fruit.<\/p><\/div>\n

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To Rigby Road where Balloon 723 is in the Paint Shop. The remnants of the 1980s green and cream fleet livery are clear to be seen.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Recent returnee to Rigby Road Railcoach 279 sits in the main depot building waiting for its restoration work to be completed.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Balloon 703 on the depot fan. (All Photographs by blackpool_trams, 30th April 2022)<\/p><\/div>\n