Blackpool Trams

Excuse my ignorance but what is the concise situation at Blackpool? i have a few questions and would hate to miss an opportunity!
1, What sort of service operates this weekend 5/6 nov?
2, What can i expect to see?
3, Is this really the end?
4, Whats the ticket prices etc?
Thanks,
Steve

 

Steve, check out this site, plenty of information and links.

One or two tours running this weekend using various trams.

http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/

 

Thanks for that, what about for the casual visitor? what are tram fares like? what trams work the usual services? just deciding whether to make a 300 mile trip!

 

If you want to witness the traditional Blackpool tramway then this coming weekend is your last chance!

Various trams are used on the service (Balloons, Centenary cars, Brush Railcoach cars, Jubilee cars etc.) and the tours
should produce some gems. Have a look at the Fylde tramway society website.

Not sure about fares but if you have an over 60s English bus pass it is valid on the service trams during the day.

Blackpool Transport website will probably have more details on fares.

 

All day pass £4.00 - a bargain - BTS reduced the price by a third in September - how's that for good demand management.

The tramway is open between Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham despite the fact that there is a brand new tramway to Starr Gate and that they ran to Ash St Fleetwood all last summer - and BTS wonder why they are regarded as a joke!

What will you see - well no Coronations, no 706 or 66 - probably no centenaries or even Brush cars, as the last week so far is all double deck - but you should see twin sets 2 and 5 , 715 and 717 in proper Blackpool colours - 717 after a £100,000 refit a few years ago is an example of what Blackpool could have done at a fraction of the cost of destroying the last British St tramway and 715 is an example of not doing it - but fabulously original nevertheless.

There will be a mix of Frankensteins - widened balloons and Milleniums - and the tours on Sunday that will shuttle up and down. Its the last day of the 2011 illuminations so Blackpool will die very early that night - possibly as early as 20.00 - but the trams will soldier on to the end - and so will we!

Be there or you will regret seeing a slice of history pass away for ever.

 

Locally the weather predictions look favourable, Saturday - sunny intervals and Sunday even better - we shall see. For those of you making the journey here, I hope get what you need and have a memorable day. I'm not sure if I'll even turn out - I said my goodbyes to the 'old' system the summer before last.

 

I'm thinking about making the trip north but the first train from my neck of the woods doesn't get me to Blackpool until 12:50 and that's a lot of daylight used up before I get there. It's a three and a half hours drive if I do it by car. Not so bad going but all the way home in the dark will be a right pain in the 'arris. Like you I paid my "farewell" back in 2009 but it would be nice to have one more look before it's all changed forever.

 

So we won't be seeing you at Bispham Kitchen then..............

Yes 2009 saw the best of the last although 2010 provided some excellent surprises, following which this year has been a joke as to the length of tramway open, treatment of passengers, refusal to operate interesting cars, etc etc.

BTS and its MD Roberts have been a disgrace this year on so many fronts - oh well - only three more nights and its over, and as for not staying into the night - that's when the best photos are taken.

 

You'd never see me in Bispham Kitchen Frank. I'm fussy about fish and chips ! IF the tramway was open to Thornton Gate I'd show you much better quality.

I'll reserve judgement on BTS until mid 2012, when i can see if the hassle over the past 4 - 5 years has been worth the wait. What 'heritage' runs Cleveleys - Pleasure Beach remains to be seen - nobody really knows yet do they?

Might have a wander up to Little Bispham - seeing as its only 5 minutes walk !

 

I might have a nosy out tomorrow or Sunday, depends what SWMBO has planned.

I'll have to wait until I've opened my sealed orders in the morning!!

 

Having read your post Alan, and celebrating the fact that the sun is shining and I don't need to open sealed orders anymore, I'm going to spend the day on the tramway! Might even do it again tomorrow if I enjoy myself and there aren't too many rude, arrogant and inconsiderate people around!

Be careful out there !

Frank; if you are 'about' give me a bell and I might just buy you a beer !

 

Ok, I know I shouldn't be doing this, but in my book enough is enough. Everyone is entitled to an opinion on this forum, and we are of course at liberty to ignore the postings of individuals - as I'm certain many do of mine - but why for the 99th time this week do we find that yet another event / project has been mismanaged, and you feel the need to tell the world how it should be done.
You may well have an axe to grind with a certain railtour operator, feel better able to promote tours than another, and could better manage many heritage projects and run the country at the same time; and we all know you have fingers in many pies. But please, please stop moaning and spoiling others interests on this Forum.

If I've broken rules in posting this, so be it.

 

My last shot before walking home this afternoon - sums it all up for me as the sun sets on the current operation. Back for more tomorrow.

 

Managed to sneak a couple of hours at 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' (across the road from -- not in!) this afternoon.

Trams were pretty well full, and the passengers enjoying the ride!
View attachment 3583 View attachment 3584 View attachment 3585

 

Especially that wierd - looking bloke with the cheesy grin ! LOL

 

Yes, he did look a bit strange, and perhaps it's my imagination, but I think I've seen him somewhere before.........

 

Me too, I think it may have been at a beer festival in Carlisle after a trip behind 6233...:tape:

That wierd "livery" makes it look as though he is in a corrugated cardboard box with windows in!

Neil.

 

A pretty accurate description Neil Are you coming over for the last day tomorrow?

 

Wassup Mike? Have you just found out that internet forums are for more than willy waving your most recent lineside video? Sorry for having opinions if it upsets you, but forums are generally for exchanging views on various topics, and yours on the content of what I wrote, rather than about the author are ................

(I'm not for changing - so if you see my name on a post - just pass on by on the other side - nothing to see here!)

I started today on 648 - didn't notice anyone with a silly grin - but I did find a phone number that wouldn't ring! Must put that right in the morning.

672 very much withdrawn tonight - straight into the electrical compound at 23.55.

One last poignant day tomorrow.

 

Morning John, I am off to my son's footy match first today, a midday kick off and then I hope to get over this afternoon after that. I shall probably go to north shore first then a trip to central pier, not sure exactly yet. I will give you a ring when I get there and see if we can track down TBird...

Neil.