The King's Coronation Parade

The King's Coronation Parade approaching Manchester Square

To celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III, a cavalcade of trams along the Promenade was planned for Sunday 7th May, the day following the Coronation at Westminster Abbey in London. The heritage trams selected to take part in the King's Coronation Parade assembled on the inner and outer loops at the Pleasure Beach prior to the cavalcade. Passenger boarding began at 1345, with the trams departing at 1415. The eleven trams that took part in the procession were Boats 227 & 600, Brush 621, Railcoach 680, Bolton 66, Western Train, Trawler, HMS Blackpool and Balloons 717, 707 & 700. Seven of the trams carried paying passengers, with the route commencing at the Pleasure Beach, followed by a short pause alongside the Comedy Carpet in front of the Tower for photos, before continuing on to Little Bispham and then returning to the Pleasure Beach. Following the parade, four of the trams operated mini tours between the Pleasure Beach and North Pier.

Boats 225 & 600 with Brush 621 on the Pleasure Beach loop

HMS Blackpool arriving at the Pleasure Beach for the tram parade

The Western Train and Boat 225 at the head of the assembled trams

The parade of trams all gathered at the Pleasure Beach

Passengers boarding the parade trams on the Pleasure Beach loop

Boat 600 passing the Manchester with its flag waving passengers

Boat 600 leads the cavalcade of trams through Manchester Square

Balloons 717, 707 & 700 at Manchester Square, bringing up the rear of the tram parade

Balloon 717 heading north at Manchester Square

Balloon 707 near New Bonny Street

Balloon 700 at the rear of the King's Coronation tram parade

Brush Car 621 northbound at North Pier

Bolton 66 passing Regent Court on its way to Little Bispham

The Western Train heading north at Cocker Square

The Western Train at Cabin heading back to the Pleasure Beach

Railcoach 680 passing the demolished remains of the New Hacketts Hotel

The Trawler southbound at the Cabin