Trampower City Class Tram finally departs Blackpool

The Trampower City Class tram loaded onto Reid's trailer in Blundell Street

The experimental Trampower City Class tram has left Blackpool after spending eight years of storage in Rigby Road tram depot. On the 5th August Reid Freight Services loaded the 29 metres (95 feet) long tram onto an extendable trailer in Blundell Street with the aid of the Blackpool Unimog. Reid had arrived in convoy with three vehicles, a four axle DAF flatbed carrying the loading ramps, a MAN TGX tractor unit and a Goldhofer extending trailer with twin THP/UT 5-axle modules of 60 gross tonnes capacity each. After the tram had been loaded the Reid Freight crew had to wait until tea time for a police escort to arrive. Due to the extreme length of the combined tractor unit and trailer, the only way out of Blundell Street was to reverse the whole rig from Blundell Street into Hopton Road, then along Lytham Road and onto the Promenade, before they could then head off towards the M55 motorway. This long reverse required the police to hold up traffic on Lytham Road, the Promenade (in both directions) and other adjoining side streets. Reid finally set off south along the Promenade with their police escort just before 7pm. The tram was headed for Stoke-on-Trent where it is planned to be refurbished for future prospective use.

The City Class tram on Reid's extendable trailer in Blundell Street

The Reid Freight DAF flatbed lorry carrying the loading ramp sections

The City Class tram reversing from Blundell Street into Hopton Road

The City Class tram reversing along Hopton Road

The City Class tram reversing across Manchester Square from Lytham Road onto the Promenade

The driver of Reid's MAN TGX conversing with the police before he departs

Reid Freight MAN and police escort, with the Reid escort van visible on Lytham Road

The City Class tram heading off south along the Promenade behind a police escort

The Trampower City Class tram in August 2022, during its period of storage at Rigby Road depot