Hilton Hotel mega tram hire

The Western Train, Frigate, 272+T2, 147, 706 and 717 lined up at Little Bispham loop before the private hire tours

On the evening of 10th June, the Hilton Hotel in Blackpool hired a grand total of seven heritage trams for a large party of guests. The trams all assembled on the turning circle at Little Bispham, before slotting in between service trams in groups of 2 or 3 and travelling south to the Hilton Hotel to pick up their passengers, the first group of trams arriving at the Hilton shortly after 7:00 pm. A temporary private hire heritage stop was positioned next to the southbound line opposite the Hilton Hotel as the loading point for the assembled guests. All the passengers were offered complimentary drinks to consume on board the trams during their round trips. The trams used for the private hire were (in order of arrival at the Hilton) the Western Train, the Frigate, Twin Set 272+T2, Standard 147, open-top Balloon 706, Balloon 717 and finally Bolton 66. The first three trams proceeded to the Pleasure Beach, while 147, 706 and 717 turned at the Tower, in the event Bolton 66 was not needed so it returned to Rigby Road depot without being used for the hire. The guests were off-loaded opposite the Hilton Hotel on their northbound return journey, with many of them taking the opportunity to photograph their heritage car in the evening sunshine. After the passengers were dropped off, each tram then proceeded north empty before reversing and returning back to Rigby Road depot, thus completing one of the most ambitious private hires ever to be undertaken on the tramway.

The Western Train, Frigate, 272+T2, 147, 706 and 717 lined up at Little Bispham loop before the private hire tours

The temporary private hire heritage tram stop opposite the Hilton Hotel with drinks ready for the invited guests

The Western Train loading up at the temporary tram stop at the Hilton Hotel with 736 and 272+T2 waiting behind

Frigate 736 and Twin Set 272+T2 loading up at the temporary tram stop opposite the Hilton Hotel

Standard 147 and open-top Balloon 706 Princess Alice loading up at the temporary tram stop at the Hilton Hotel

Balloon 717 and Bolton 66 were the last two trams to arrive at the Hilton Hotel, in the event 66 was not required

The Western Train unloading its passengers opposite the Hilton Hotel while some guests take photos of their tram

Balloon 717 and Twin Set 272+T2 waiting near the Wilton Parade tram stop before proceeding north to the Hilton

Balloon 717 gleaming in the low evening sunshine as it approaches the Hilton Hotel to unload its passengers

Twin Set 272+T2 approaching the Hilton Hotel where it will disembark its full load of passengers

Twin Set 272+T2 unloading its passengers as 717 heads north empty and 706 returns back to Rigby Road depot

Twin Set 272+T2 heads north after unloading its passengers at the Hilton, while 147 returns empty to Rigby Rd depot

Pantograph 167 undertakes full system tour

Pantograph 167 rounding the curve from the promenade, making its way towards the Starr Gate terminus

Pantograph Car 167 was hired by a private party on the afternoon of 5th June and performed two full round trips of the tram system from Starr Gate to Fleetwood Ferry and return. The tour commenced adjacent to Starr Gate depot shortly after 1500, loading up just north of the LRT platforms on the northbound line. A round trip to Fleetwood Ferry and back then took place, with occasional photo stops en route. On the return to Starr Gate, 167 moved forward beyond the points onto the single track loop line where the trolley pole was turned. On the second trip to Fleetwood a meal break was taken in the port, with 167 laying over on the inner loop at Fleetwood Ferry, before completing the tour by returning to Starr Gate. See Blackpool Trams on Flickr for more photographs taken during the private hire of Pantograph 167 on 5th June.

Pantograph 167 at Fleetwood Ferry on its first visit to the town during the full system tram tour

Pantograph 167 passing Fleetwood Library at the Victoria Street tram stop in North Albert Street

Pantograph 167 passing the clock tower on the curve from North Albert Street into Lord Street in Fleetwood

A head on view of Pantograph 167 southbound on Lord Street in Fleetwood

Pantograph 167 passing over Anchorsholme Crossing on the first southbound run from Fleetwood Ferry

Pantograph 167 stopped at Burlington Road West for a photo opportunity on the first southbound run of the tour

After performing the first round trip of the system, Pantograph 167 has its trolley pole turning at the Starr Gate terminus

Pantograph 167 pausing for a photo opportunity opposite the Solaris Centre on the South Promenade

Pantograph 167 on North Albert Street, passing the Pharos Lighthouse on its way towards the Bold Street terminus

Pantograph 167 at the Fleetwood Ferry tram stop in Bold Street behind Flexity 012

167 moving onto the inner loop line at Fleetwood Ferry where it was parked during the evening meal break

Heritage Bus Service for Totally Transport

Former London Transport RML887 operating on the Seafront 12 promenade service in June 2012

During the 10th Totally Transport event along the New South Promenade in Blackpool on Sunday 22nd June, the Lancastrian Transport Trust are planning to operate Blackpool Leyland PD3 No 529, Lytham Leyland PD1 No 19 and Ribble Atlantean No 1805 on a heritage service that will commence from the Totally Transport venue, no fares will be charged but donations are welcome. Operating on the Seafront 12 promenade route during the day will be former Blackpool Transport Routemaster 521 (RM1583) and RML887 in London Transport red. The Routemasters will be operating in regular all day service between the Cabin and the Pleasure Beach between approximately 0930 and 1800, normal Seafront 12 fares will apply and NOW cards are accepted.

Former Lytham St Annes Leyland PD1 No 19 in Clifton Street during a classic bus running day in May 2013

Former Blackpool Routemaster 521 at the terminus of the Seafront 12 service outside the Cliffs Hotel on 27th May

Former Blackpool Corporation Leyland PD3 No 529 operating on a Catch 22 classic bus running day in May 2013

Dart 356 makes its debut on the Catch 22

Ex Stagecoach Chesterfield single door Dennis Dart R356 LER making its debut on the Catch 22 route on 4th June

Former Stagecoach Chesterfield Dennis Dart R356 LER has made its debut into passenger service wearing the new turquoise and orange colour scheme on Oakwood Travel's Catch 22 route. After some preparatory mechanical and electrical work, including the addition of a new LED destination display, 356 entered service on the 22 on 4th June.

Single door Dennis Dart R356 LER in Cleveleys on its first day in service on Oakwood Travel's Catch 22 route

New Overall Advert on Dennis Trident 313

Trident 313 at the Fisherman's Walk bus stop in Fleetwood showing its new advert for Legends at The Sands Venue

Blackpool Transport Dennis Trident 313 entered service today with a colourful new overall advert for 'The Sands Venue', which is located opposite the Tower tram stop. The vinyl wrap advertises the Legends show at the Sands on the offside and rear of the bus, and a general advert for the Sands restaurant and entertainment venue on the nearside.

A rear offside view of the Legends advert on Blackpool Transport Dennis Trident 313, seen as it was leaving Freeport

Blackpool Dennis Trident 313 seen leaving Freeport, showing off its new overall advert for The Sands Venue

The Heritage Fleet returns from Starr Gate depot

With heritage trams shunting on the depot track fan, Flexity 001 arrives at the Starr Gate terminus while 016 departs

The majority of the Heritage Tram fleet have departed from their temporary home at Starr Gate and returned to Rigby Road depot. The morning of the 29th May saw nine of the heritage trams depart from Starr Gate depot beginning at 1030. The trams left from Starr Gate depot in the following order, 600, 717, 147, 230, 272+T2, 631, 706, the Western Train & Bolton 66. Heritage trams still remaining at Starr Gate are Boat 227 and Pantograph 167. While all these tram moves were taking place, the refurbished bogies off Box Car 40 were delivered to the fitting shop at Rigby Road depot.

Boat 600 departing from Starr Gate on its way back to Rigby Road depot, with Balloon 717 in the background

Balloon 717 departing from Starr Gate on its way back to Rigby Road depot

Standard 147 departing from Starr Gate on its way back to Rigby Road depot

Boat 230 leaving the confines of the depot at Starr Gate at the beginning of its journey back to Rigby Road

Twin Set 272+T2 leaving the confines of the depot at Starr Gate at the beginning of their journey back to Rigby Road

Engineering Car 754 and Pantograph 167 were moved onto the depot head shunt during the exodus of heritage trams

Brush Car 631 departing from Starr Gate depot on its way back to Rigby Road depot

The Western Train departing from Starr Gate on its way back to Rigby Road depot

The Western Train about to cross the Promenade at Manchester Square as Flexity 006 heads off north

Bolton 66 and 706 heading down Lytham Road, the last of the heritage trams to return from Starr Gate on 29th May

Box Car 40's bogies that were refurbished at Crich being delivered by lorry to the fitting shop at Rigby Road depot

Routemaster 521 enters service on the Seafront 12

Former Blackpool AEC Routemaster 521 at the Cliffs Hotel, with Flexity 007 departing from the adjacent tram stop

Former Blackpool Routemaster 521 (583CLT) entered passenger service on the Oakwood Travel operated Seafront 12 route today. 521 (formerly RM1583 with LT) has been in preservation with the Lancastrian Transport Trust since 2003, and was one of a batch of six ex London Transport AEC Routemasters that were purchased by Blackpool Transport in 1986 for use on their crew operated routes, 521 being the first to enter service. The fleet of Routemasters were used on various routes thoughout Blackpool during the 1980s and 90s, but were all sold off to Reading Mainline in 1997. 
See The Blackpool Routemaster by Paul Turner for a full history of the Routemasters in Blackpool.

Routemaster 521 and ex Lothian Buses Volvo Olympian P269PSX with Blackpool Transport Trident 348 at North Pier

Routemaster 521 laying over at the northern terminus of the Seafront 12 service outside the Cliffs Hotel

Routemaster 521 passing through Gynn Square heading for the northern terminus of the Seafront 12 route

Routemaster 521 at Talbot Square with southbound Flexity 005 passing by on the way to Starr Gate

Routemaster 521 passing St Annes sandhills in 1987 on the Blackpool to St Annes route 12

Routemaster liveried Balloon 701 at the Tower in 1992, this tram is due to receive the same livery again this year