Tram Replacement at Bispham

Trident 324 at Beach Road in Cleveleys on the tram replacement service

Between Monday 4th March and Thursday 7th March, Blackpool Transport were planning to operate a tram replacement bus service between Bispham and Fleetwood in both directions, due to essential welding work taking place on the track. On Tuesday 5th March welding work was taking place at the loop at Little Bispham, although work was completed by mid afternoon allowing the through tram service to Fleetwood to recommence at 1445. Southbound tram replacement buses operated around a loop at Bispham, via Red Bank Road, Warbreck Drive, Cavendish Road, then north along Queen's Promenade to drop off passengers adjacent to the southbound tram platform at Bispham. Northbound tram passengers alighting at Bispham caught the replacement bus at the regular bus stop just north of Red Bank Road traffic lights.

Flexity 013 and tram replacement Trident 324 at Bispham

Flexity 008 crossing to the southbound track at Bispham

Flexity 018 with 306 unloading southbound passengers and Citaro 556 on route 1

Flexity 018 turning short at Bispham and tram replacement Trident 324

Mercedes Citaro 555 picking up northbound tram passengers at Bispham

Box 40 departs for Beamish

Scotts Heavy Haulage leaving Blundell Street with Box Car 40

Box Car 40 departed from Blackpool today, heading north to spend a few months on the tramway of the Living Museum of the North at Beamish in County Durham. Later in the summer 40 will be moved to its new permanent home at the National Tramway Museum at Crich in Derbyshire. Scotts Heavy Haulage arrived to collect Box 40 on the morning of Monday 4th March, a rather protracted loading process took place with the tram eventually leaving Blundell Street at 1140.

Box 40 being driven under its own power into Blundell Street

Box 40 being winched onboard the low loader trailer

Box 40 chained down onto the trailer ready for departure

Scotts low loader and escort vehicle ready to depart

Box 40 heading down Lytham Road on its way to Beamish

Box 40 Farewell Tour

Box 40 at London Street on its first visit of the day to Fleetwood

Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramroad Box Car 40 performed a farewell tour on Saturday 2nd March. The all day tour incorporated many unusual moves and as much of the system as possible to celebrate the 23 years that the tram has spent in Blackpool. Box 40 will shortly be departing for a period of use at Beamish before returning to its permanent home at the National Tramway Museum at Crich later in the summer.

Box 40 on North Albert Street in Fleetwood

Box 40 passing the clock tower at Ash Street

Turning the trolley pole at Ash Street in Fleetwood

Box 40 on the crossover at Ash Street

Box 40 passing the Metropole Hotel in Blackpool

Promenade reopens to traffic at Talbot Square

Flexity 013 passing the new tramway junction at Talbot Square

The Promenade reopened to through traffic on 1st March after protracted work laying and connecting the North Station extension tram track to the existing points at Talbot Square. There is still more tarmac to be laid between the tram tracks, but sufficient work has been completed to enable normal traffic to resume again.

Flexity 008 passing the new tramway junction at Talbot Square

The new tram junction at Talbot Square

Balloon Private Hire

Balloons 717, 715 & 723 on a private hire at the Imperial Hotel

Three Balloons were used on a private hire this evening, picking up a large party of people from the Imperial Hotel with 717, 715 and 723 being the trams used.

717, 715 & 723 in front of the Imperial Hotel, illuminated by the setting sun

Balloon 715 with the setting sun in the background

February Heritage Gold

Box 40 and Balloon 700 at Starr Gate, both with Little Bispham on the blinds

Sunday 24th February saw the last use of Blackpool & Fleetwood Box Car 40 in normal timetabled service in Blackpool, and it was also the second day of the February Heritage Gold weekend. Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny, and it was noticeable that due to the mild weather members of the public were also availing themselves of the Heritage Tour service in addition to the many enthusiasts who had turned out, which was nice to see.

Balloon 715 on a Cleveleys service

Brush 621 entering the loop at Little Bispham

Boat 600 on Lord Street in Fleetwood

Box 40 at the Starr Gate terminus

Railcoach 680 heading north at Bispham

Box 40 Swansong

Box 40 after turning round at the Cabin on 10th February

As Box 40 nears the end of its time in Blackpool, here are a few photos of the tram during its last full month of operation on Heritage Tours, prior to it leaving for Beamish before eventually returning to its permanent home at Crich towards the end of the summer.

40 at North Pier with 700 passing by on driver training on 11th February

Turning the trolley pole at North Pier on 11th February

Box 40 on North Albert Street in Fleetwood on 23rd February

Box 40 on a run through to Fleetwood on 23rd February

40 on Lord Street in Fleetwood on 23rd February, heading for Starr Gate