{"id":46491,"date":"2022-09-27T21:00:38","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T20:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=46491"},"modified":"2022-09-27T19:51:35","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T18:51:35","slug":"in-pictures-balloon-715-says-goodbye-as-blackpool-celebrates-137-years-of-operation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=46491","title":{"rendered":"In Pictures: Balloon 715 says goodbye as Blackpool celebrates 137 years of operation"},"content":{"rendered":"

The farewell public runs of the Fylde Transport Trust\u2019s Balloon 715 was one of the highlights of the latest special event in Blackpool as 137 years of the tramway was celebrated on Saturday 24th<\/sup> and Sunday 25th<\/sup> September. In total 15 heritage trams ran on daytime tours over the weekend \u2013 including a few surprises as the days went on!<\/p>\n

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There were depot tours at Rigby Road on the Saturday and Starr Gate on the Sunday but the main focus of attention was out on the Prom with an enhanced heritage tram service in operation on both days. This was advertised as featuring seven trams (lettered A-G on the timetable) and it was confirmed on the weekend as well that an eighth tram would be in action on each day running specials. The timetable saw trams running the entire length of the tramway (although not all in one journey) with Starr Gate featuring on a number of journeys as well as hourly trips through to Fleetwood.<\/p>\n

Saturday 24th<\/sup> September<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first tram of the weekend was to be Balloon 700<\/strong> which started things off at North Pier and Tower with a northbound trip to Little Bispham. After running around the loop it then became the first tour down to Starr Gate and as it did more trams started to come into service. Centenary 648<\/strong> was the second northbound car before Balloon 715<\/strong> became the first tram to head to Fleetwood. As \u201cTram C\u201d it would run to Fleetwood throughout the day (along with \u201cTram F\u201d to provide an hourly service).<\/p>\n

Boat 227<\/strong> was \u201cTram D\u201d and this diagram included the rare use of a trolley fitted tram down to Starr Gate on its first southbound trip of the day. Unfortunately, this was not without incident as on the approach to the curve leading to Starr Gate terminus the trolley dewired and was difficult to retrieve. This required assistance from Starr Gate Depot and after a brief delay the tram was able to resume its journey to Starr Gate with no real delay to the light rail service.<\/p>\n

The other operational Boat Car in the fleet, 600<\/strong>, was allocated as special and its first journey was an extra to Fleetwood! Following this trip it settled into more traditional Promenade specials \u2013 until the end of the day that is when another Fleetwood trip beckoned.<\/p>\n

The current heritage running weekend timetable sees two trams due to run to Fleetwood within 15 minutes of each other (trams \u201cA\u201d and \u201cD\u201d) giving the chance to photograph the two together on the Esplanade at the northern terminus of the tramway. Throw Boat 600 into the mix and this actually meant that there were three heritage cars there at the same time instead! As the day started this should have seen Bolton 66<\/strong> and Boat Cars 227<\/strong> and 600<\/strong> but 227<\/strong> had suffered a fault and was returned to depot where it was replaced by Trawler 737<\/strong>! And so the trio at Fleetwood were 66<\/strong>, 600<\/strong> and 737<\/strong> \u2013 not a bad way to end the daytime heritage offering!<\/p>\n

Evenings in September mean only one thing \u2013 Illumination Tours! This evening saw no fewer than five trams run nine tours. As well as the three illuminated feature cars (including the Trawler<\/strong> with its troublesome LED illuminations seemingly working at the moment) this saw Boat 600<\/strong> and Balloon 717<\/strong> which joined in after it ran The Ghost Tram trip earlier in the evening.<\/p>\n

Trams in service<\/strong><\/p>\n

Daytime heritage service: A \u2013 Bolton 66, B \u2013 Centenary 648, C \u2013 Balloon 715, D \u2013 Boat 227 (replaced by Trawler 737), E \u2013 Balloon 700, F \u2013 Brush 621, G \u2013 Balloon 717, Specials \u2013 Boat 600<\/p>\n

Real Ale Tour: Balloon 717<\/p>\n

The Ghost Tram: Balloon 717<\/p>\n

Illumination Tours: Boat 600, Western Train 733+734, Frigate 736, Trawler 737, Boat 600, Balloon 717, Western Train 733+734, Frigate 736, Trawler 737<\/p>\n

Sunday 25th<\/sup> September<\/strong><\/p>\n

Onto day two and it was much of the same \u2013 but with different trams! The day this time actually started with a Mini System Tour which saw Rebuilt Balloon 707<\/strong> take participants to parts of the tramway not normally covered by heritage tours.<\/p>\n

The main heritage tours started with Brush 631<\/strong> running the same North Pier and Tower to Little Bispham and return to Starr Gate trip. The first Fleetwood journey of the day was due to be Railcoach 680<\/strong> but unfortunately on its northbound trip a problem with its transponder was experienced and after receiving permission to cross the road at Little Bispham it turned on the loop and went back to North Pier and Tower. It was stabled there for a little while before running to Little Bispham and into depot to allow the non-faulty transponder end to be leading.<\/p>\n

So with 680<\/strong> unable to continue its diagram as \u201cTram C\u201d what would come out to replace it? The Frigate<\/strong> that\u2019s what! With this diagram running loop to loop throughout the day it would be no problem for this tram to operate like this and so it made several trips to Fleetwood for the remainder \u2013 how long since it last ran several times to Fleetwood in one day? The other main Fleetwood car of the day as \u201cTram F\u201d was Balloon 723<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The tram due to run specials on this day had originally been Boat 227<\/strong> but after its failure the previous day it was replaced by Bolton 66<\/strong> which was confined to Prom specials after it came out a little after midday.<\/p>\n

It was no coincidence that \u201cTram D\u201d was allocated to be Balloon 715<\/strong> as this is the very last tram to return to depot \u2013 and this was of course scheduled to be the last public tours that 715 would make before withdrawal. It was due to be joined by Boat 600<\/strong> in the double tram photo opp at Fleetwood but as with the previous day they were joined by a third tram. That tram was Rebuilt Balloon 718<\/strong> which had been in use as the Shop Tram all weekend but would make one trip with passengers from North Pier and Tower to Fleetwood and back to Manchester Square. All three trams ran back to depot (600<\/strong>, 718<\/strong> and then 715<\/strong>) to bring another anniversary weekends event to an end.<\/p>\n

The evening saw more Illumination Tours. Because of the deteriorating weather the Trawler<\/strong> replaced the planned Boat on the first tour of the night (a quick shout out to Heritage Tram Tours here as when it became clear the weather wouldn\u2019t suit an open top tram ride through the lights an email was sent to all pre-booked ticket holders to inform them rather than letting them turn up and get a surprise of a change of tram \u2013 excellent customer service!) and it was once again joined by the Western Train<\/strong> and the Frigate<\/strong>. All three ran two tours each as the strengthening winds continued to make their presence felt.<\/p>\n

Trams in service<\/strong><\/p>\n

Daytime heritage service: A \u2013 Boat 600, B \u2013 Balloon 700, C \u2013 Railcoach 680 (replaced by Frigate 736), D \u2013 Balloon 715, E \u2013 Brush 631, F \u2013 Balloon 723, G \u2013 Rebuilt Balloon 707, Specials \u2013 Bolton 66, Rebuilt Balloon 718 (one trip after Shop Tram duties finished)<\/p>\n

Mini System Tour: Rebuilt Balloon 707<\/p>\n

Evening Private Hire: Brush 631<\/p>\n

Illumination Tours: Trawler 737, Western Train 733+734, Frigate 736, Trawler 737, Western Train 733+734, Frigate 736<\/p>\n