Decker at the Ferry

Double-deck trams return to Fleetwood, as 713 runs down North Albert Street on the final leg to the Ferry

713 at the Fleetwood Ferry stop in Bold Street

After Thursday's abortive attempt by Balloon 724 to reach Fleetwood, when it went demic at Norbreck due to door problems, today finally saw a Balloon complete the full run from Starr Gate to Fleetwood Ferry. Balloon 713, which had been on specials earlier in the day, set off late afternoon from Starr Gate with Fleetwood on the blinds. This time the attempt was more successful, and 713 duly arrived at the new stop in Bold Street, Fleetwood, just before 1750.

Balloon 713 passing the clock tower on the sweeping curve into Lord Street, on the return journey to Starr Gate

Southbound 713 passes Flexity 008 at Ash Street on its way to the Ferry

Box and Balloons

Box 40 and open-top Balloon 706 "Princess Alice" passing each other at North Pier on the heritage service

Balloon 713 returning from Bispham on a special

The second day of the new Heritage Tours saw open-top Balloon 706 "Princess Alice" and Box 40 in use on the service. A problem with 706's trolley wheel meant that it had to be towed back to the depot in the aftenoon, and replaced by Standard 147. Today saw a widened Balloon in service again, when 713 was seen heading to Bispham on a special in the morning, returning to Starr Gate on the southbound leg of the journey.

Flexity 011 and Princess Alice pass each other alongside the Comedy Carpet near the Tower



Box 40 being held up by Flexity 004 which seemed to be having problems at Little Bispham



Heritage Tram Tours begin

Bolton 66 and Standard 147 pass at Cavendish Road on the Heritage Tram Tour service 

Heritage tour stop at North Pier

Good Friday marked the first day of operation of the new Heritage Tram Tour, which is providing a half hourly service between the Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham, Standard 147 and Bolton 66 being the trams used initially. Passenger loadings in the morning seemed very light, and the driver of Bolton 66 in particular looked to be extremely cold. Due to the heavy cloud and cold wind, 66 and 147 were replaced by Frigate 736 and Trawler 737 in the afternoon, although what the public would make of illuminated trams running a supposed heritage service is anybody's guess, as neither 736 nor 737 could hardly be classed as heritage trams.

  

Bolton 66 at the Heritage Tour stop at Bispham, with a driver who looks like he'd rather be on an enclosed car

Standard 147 arriving at Bispham station on the Heritage Tram Tour



Heritage Tram Tour poster



Flexities and Balloons

Modified Balloon 724 departs Starr Gate for Fleetwood as Flexity 008 unloads on the opposite platform

724 loading up with passengers at Starr Gate

The second day of LRT operations in Blackpool saw the first use in passenger service of one of the modified Balloons. Flat fronted Balloon 724 was rostered for use on a special to Fleetwood Ferry and departed from Starr Gate just after 12:40. This trip would have been memorable on several levels, the first use of a Balloon on the upgraded tramway and the first passenger operation of a double deck tram from the new depot.

724 dropping down into Gynn Square in the first use of double-deck trams in passenger service in 2012

Balloon 724, now out of service, being passed by 008

Unfortunately after a short while the old problem with the new doors reared its ugly head again, and by the time Norbreck had been reached, 724 had to disembark all its passengers who got onto following Flexity 008, which was running a short working to Thornton Gate. Also out on the tramway today was Balloon 713 operating on test from Starr Gate depot.

Balloon 713 returning to Starr Gate after a test run by reversing over the crossover at Foxhall

Twelfth Flexity 2 Arrives

Flexity 012 coming down Squires Gate Lane bridge on the final approach to Starr Gate depot

On a busy second day of the upgraded tram system, the day was made even busier by the arrival of the twelfth Flexity at lunchtime. Flexity 2 number 012 arrived in the usual timeslot, just before 13:00 this time, and was duly unloaded in a swift and professional manner by the regular transporter crew.

The two newest Flexities pass each other, 011 on timetabled service and 012 on its delivery transporter

First Day of Flexity 2 Service

Flexities 010 and 004 pass at North Pier in the afternoon

Besides the rather unfortunate derailment of 006 in Fleetwood on the first timetabled journey, the rest of the day was fairly incident free, although it wasn't unusual to see 45 minute headways at times, instead of the advertised 20 minute service, and sometimes bunching occurred, where two trams passed by in close succession. The Flexities in passenger service at various times during the first day were 001, 004 and 006-011, 002 being restricted to driver training duties for the day.

Flexity 001 passing The Sands Venue, having just pulled away from the Tower stop

Flexity 007 approaching Cleveleys tram station

007 seen later in the day, running down Lord Street in Fleetwood in the late afternoon sun

First Flexity to run in Service Derails

Flexity 006, with lights ablaze in Starr Gate depot, preparing to become the first Flexity 2 to run in passenger service

Flexity 006 showing the onboard information displays

The first passenger journey on the new light rail system in Blackpool took place on Wednesday 4th April. Flexity 006 was the tram which made the inaugural passenger run, leaving Starr Gate terminus at 05:00. Most of the passengers were local enthusiasts wishing to experience this special occasion. The tram left Starr Gate as planned, beginning the historic trip to Fleetwood. It was soon realised that all was not as it should be, when it was found the onboard heating system was not working.

Flexity 006 about to make history by being the first tram in service on the new upgraded light rail system in Blackpool

Onboard view of the derailment upon exiting Bold Street

A little further on (somewhere around the Cabin) the onboard passenger displays and stop announcement system ceased to function, also the bell pushes weren't working. During the night the Fylde had experienced quite strong winds, and progress was delayed as the tram had to stop four times in Cleveleys and Fleetwood for the crew to clear wind blown debris from the track. The arrival at Fleetwood Ferry was slightly later than timetabled due to all the unscheduled stops that had to be made.

Flexity 006 derailed at Fleetwood Ferry, with route 14 bus 307 commandeered to take the passengers to Ash Street

Close up of the front bogie derailed on the Bold St curve

Unfortunately on leaving the stop at Fleetwood Ferry in Bold Street, the tram derailed on the curve onto The Esplanade due to wind blown sand in the grooved track. Derailments at this point have not been uncommon in the past due to the proximity to the beach, but to happen on the inaugural run of the new light rail system must have been rather embarrassing for Blackpool Transport, although it was through no fault of the tram crew themselves.

The grooves in the tarmac show that Flexity 006 departed the track at the curve by about a foot before it came to rest

The above photo taken after 006 had been rerailed and moved back into Bold Street shows that the front bogie ran straight on after hitting the sand filled track, and came to rest about a foot to the left of the rails in the middle of the word "Tram".