Fitting Shop repainted

The newly repainted fitting shop at Rigby Road depot as seen on 13th March, note the new chevrons on the gates

The fitting shop at Rigby Road depot was treated to an external repaint during March as part of the ongoing winter maintenance programme on the tramway. The previously unpainted corrugated cladding, and also the doors and windows, have all been given a coat of green paint which matches the the new security fencing that was erected some time ago. Red and yellow high visibility chevron warning panels have also been fitted on the main access gates to the tram depot.

The top coat of green paint being applied to the fitting shop on March 5th

Foxhall pointwork maintenance

The track gang tightening the rail joints in the pointwork at Foxhall Square on 5th March

The new pointwork that was laid at Foxhall Square to allow access to the proposed new tram depot in Blundell Street (that was refused planning permission) has been undergoing some maintenance. The concrete around several of the rail joints at the points has been dug up to gain access to the fixing bolts, these have then been re-tightened and the holes filled in again with tarmac. This work has taken place over several weeks during the winter.

Northbound Flexity 013 passing the pointwork maintenance crew and their mess bus at Foxhall Square

Flexity 015 passing the gravel filled holes where the joints in the pointwork had been tightened at Foxhall Square

Fencing replacement work

A new fencing panel being lifted into place by council workmen just south of Little Bispham on February 27th

The winter maintenance programme on Blackpool Tramway has included the ongoing replacement of old sections of fencing on the reserved track sections. During February new sections of fencing were noted being installed alongside the tramroad just south of Little Bispham.

Flexity 008 passing council workers replacing a section of fencing on the tramroad near Little Bispham

304 returns from Beamish

Scotts low loader reversing into Brinwell Road, Marton, with Coronation 304 and its tower on the trailer

The LTT owned Coronation tram 304 left Beamish museum on 7th March for the journey back to Blackpool, after having been loaned to Beamish for use in passenger service for a few weeks towards the end of the 2012 season.

304 spent the night at Forton services on the M6 just south of Lancaster, before resuming it's journey to Blackpool on the morning of 8th March. The intention was for 304 to be stabled under cover at the rear of the Classic Bus North West garage in Brinwell Road, Marton, however things didn't exactly go according to plan. The space in front of the CBNW depot proved insufficient for Scotts low loader to be able to swing through the relatively narrow entrance doorway into the building. The access into the adjacent LTT building was even more restricted, so that option was out as well. With the open storage yard near Jackson's coaches also now being out of the question (due to an ownership change), a major rethink was required.

With the available options rapidly running out, an olive branch presented itself which involved transporting the tram to Fleetwood. 304 is now residing in an open storage yard at a business premises alongside the trams owned by the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust (formerly Friends of Fleetwood Trams), due to a commendable piece of cooperation between the two preservation groups at very short notice.

Only time will tell if this rather unsuitable location for the tram becomes permanent or not, unfortunately it was the only option available given the very short time scales in which a decision had to be made.

Unfortunately the space in front of the Classic Bus North West garage proved insufficient for 304 to gain access

Some frantic last minute phone calls resulted in 304 being able to be stored at a yard in Fleetwood

New Dart on the Catch 22

Classic Bus North West Dennis Dart T143 AUA on the Catch 22 service in Cleveleys on 5th March

Former Metroline Dennis Dart T143 AUA joined sister Classic Bus North West vehicle T145 AUA on the Catch 22 service in February. Unlike 145 which is painted all-over red, 143 is completely white with a red front, presumably in readiness for an advert being applied.

T143 AUA pulls into the stop on New Bonny Street in Blackpool on 5th March

Ex Metroline of London Dennis Dart T143 AUA approaching the Catch 22 stop in Bank Hey Street on February 28th

Broken Rail disrupts Tram Service

Flexity 009 just south of Ash Street crossing in Fleetwood, waiting while the PW gang repair the cracked rail

The tram service in Fleetwood was disrupted on the morning of Friday 1st March, with Thornton Gate being used as the northern terminus of the tram system, and a substitute Tram Replacement bus service operated between Thornton Gate and Fleetwood Ferry. The cause of the disruption was a cracked rail on the northbound line at Ash Street crossing in Fleetwood, which was discovered early on before the morning rush hour. The disruption to the service continued all morning until after the PW gang had effected a temporary repair to the rail, by clamping it together with fishplates and G-clamps and grinding the surface of the rail flush. Northbound Flexity 009 had stopped just before the damaged rail, and had to wait until the repairs were completed around 12:40 before it could continue on to the Ferry. Normal tram service was resumed again at this point.

Grinding the cracked rail surface flush after it had been temporarily clamped together

The newly joined and ground broken rail, with a Cumfybus Optare Solo passing by on route 80 to Preston

A close up view of the temporary repair to the cracked rail, effected with fishplates, packers and G-clamps

The crews of Flexities 007 and 010 with their trams at the temporary northern terminus at Thornton Gate in Cleveleys

Former Blue Triangle Dennis Trident 340 on the Tram Replacement service at Thornton Gate

Flexity 003 in Starr Gate Sanding Bay

Flexity 003 in the sanding bay area at Starr Gate depot, with the sand plant filler nozzles visible

Flexity 003 is seen waiting in the sanding bay at Starr Gate depot on 26th February. The sand plant area of the new depot is used for filling up the sanders on the Flexity 2 trams.

An end view of Flexity 003 in the sanding bay, with the sand refilling nozzles seen either side of the tram