Track Welding

Track welding taking place on the curve at Starr Gate on 22nd February

Part of the ongoing engineering work on the Blackpool Tramway over the last few weeks has been track welding. Strange white tunnels have been popping up along various curves on the tram system, including at Starr Gate, the Metropole and Gynn Square. The white tent like structures are presumably to protect the welding gang from any inclement weather, although welding has been undertaken in some locations without the aid of these tents, notably at Cleveleys. Where worn rail was identified on curves of the sleeper track sections, the solution was simply to replace the old rails with lengths of new rail. On grooved tram track, where the rail is embedded in concrete, it is less disruptive to build the worn rail up (usually on curves) by the use of track welding on the surface of the rail.

The white tent concealing the welding work taking place at Starr Gate on 22nd February

Track welding on the northbound curve near Cleveleys tram stop on 1st March

Grinding the freshly welded rail alongside the Metropole Hotel on 16th February

All Change at Little Bispham

Flexity 016 waiting at Little Bispham, with a stop barrier blocking the northbound line

On the afternoon of Monday 1st March, the northern terminus of the partial tram service (due to ongoing engineering work) was moved from Bispham to Little Bispham. Trams have been running between Starr Gate and Little Bispham for the past week now, with passengers who wish to travel further north having to transfer to the number 1 bus service at Little Bispham. Blackpool Transport updated their service information this morning to notify passengers that the trams will continue to terminate at Little Bispham until further notice, as the engineering work is subject to further delays.

Flexity 008 turning short at Little Bispham on Tuesday 2nd March

Starr Gate bound Flexity 016 passing the track barrier at Little Bispham

Flexity 012 entering the loop at Little Bispham on 6th March

Flexity 016 entering Little Bispham turning circle on 6th March

Flexity 017 passing the northbound track barrier at Little Bispham on 6th March

Flexity 003 heading south out of the turning circle at Little Bispham on 2nd March

Flexity 015 exiting the loop at Little Bispham on its way to Starr Gate

Unimog 939

Unimog 939 returning to Starr Gate depot on 22nd February

Recently refurbished Unimog 939 has been out and about attending to the overhead during the recent tramway closure for essential engineering work. The Unimog has received a new paint scheme of overall yellow, replacing the previous colours of orange and yellow. During its overhaul a modern flashing light bar has been fitted to the roof of the cab, replacing the single orange warning beacon.

Unimog 939 attending to the overhead at Norbreck on 22nd February

Unimog 939 on New South Promenade on 22nd February

Unimog 939 working near Beach Road in Cleveleys on 1st March

Unimog 939 with the snowbroom attachment fitted, towing Brush 634 in February 2016

The Unimog recovering 706 which had lost its trolley head, near Central Pier in September 2015

Tram service extended to Bispham

Flexity 012 entering the centre track at Bispham, with an orange barrier blocking the northbound line

Since Monday 22nd February, a partial tram service has been in operation in Blackpool due to essential engineering work taking place on the system. The work had actually begun a week earlier, but involved a complete closure of the tramway during its initial stages. During the first week of resumed service, trams initially only operated between Harrow Place and Cabin, extended later on in the week back to Starr Gate. By Monday 1st March enough track was clear to enable a Starr Gate to Bispham service to be operated, with trams reversing on the centre road at Bispham. All the photos shown here were taken on 1st March.

Flexitity 010 crew manually setting the points for the southbound line at Bispham

Flexity 012 switching to the southbound line at Bispham

Flexity 002 waiting on the centre track at Bispham, with the line to the north barricaded

Flexity 012 terminating at Bispham while 010 awaits its departure time for Starr Gate

Flexity 010 terminating on the centre road at Bispham before reversing direction

Harrow Place to Cabin Tram Service

Flexity 013 having crossed over to the northbound track, just north of Starr Gate tram depot

Service on the Blackpool Tramway was suspended from Sunday 14th February until Sunday 21st February due to engineering work. From Monday 22nd February until Saturday 27th February, a partial service between Harrow Place and Cabin will be in operation, due to ongoing engineering work continuing both north and south of this section of the tramway. Northbound trams used the crossover just beyond the Cabin tram stop to reverse, while southbound trams continued empty past Harrow Place to the crossover just north of Starr Gate tram depot to reverse.

Flexity 008 crossing over at Cabin, notice the barriers on the northbound line

Flexity 015 beginning its northbound run at Harrow Place on 22nd February

Flexity 008 arriving at the southern terminus at Harrow Place

The socially distanced seating arrangements in Flexity 013

Flexity 013 using the crossover to the north of Starr Gate tram depot on 22nd February

Southbound Flexity 003 using the crossover near Starr Gate tram depot at 08:15 on 23rd February

Flexity trams 005 and 018 at the Cabin on 23rd February

Moving the Tamper from track to track

The Plasser tamper being loaded from the southbound line onto its transporter at Cabin

The Plasser tamper currently in use in Blackpool was moved from the southbound to the northbound track today. The tamping machine failed to negotiate the crossover at the Cabin yesterday, due to it's long wheelbase and fixed (non-bogie) wheel arrangement. The only way to effect the transfer was to load the tamper onto its low-loader, move the truck across to the northbound line and unload it again.

The tamper and transporter lining up over the northbound track

The Plasser tamper sat on its jacks after the transporter had been moved out of the way

The tamping machine being lowered down on its hydraulic jacks

The Tamper sat on the northbound line near Cabin, ready to continue work again

Plasser Tamper on the Tramway

The Plasser 09/16 CAT ZW Tamper in action near Admiral Point

The third day of track maintenance work on the Blackpool tramway saw the arrival of a tamping machine. A Trackwork Plasser 09/16 CAT ZW Tamper was in operation all day on 17th February, tamping the ballast on the southbound track between Little Bispham and Cabin. An attempt was made to switch the tamper to the northbound line at the Cabin, but it got stuck on the crossover.

Blackpool Transport Enviro 445 heading north past the tamping machine

The Plasser tamper working its way south along Queen's Promenade

A close-up of the complicated tamping machinery in operation

The Plasser tamper working slowly southwards from Little Bispham

A broadside view of the Plasser 09/16 CAT ZW Tamper in action