OMO car bogies leave Rigby Road

A pair of OMO car bogies and motors loaded up on the back of a lorry in Blundell Street on Monday

A set of English Electric bogies from an OMO car and two traction motors were noted loaded on the back of an articulated lorry in Blundell Street on Monday morning.

A side view of the OMO car bogies loaded on the lorry in Blundell Street ready for departure

Big Blue Hotel advert

Flexity 005 is now carrying an advert for the Big Blue Hotel at the Pleasure Beach

Sunday saw three Flexity 2 advert trams on timetabled service. Flexity 005 has received a new advert for the Big Blue Hotel at the Pleasure Beach, and 005 together with 006 (Ice Skating Arena) and 011 (Redrow Homes) were all noted in service during the day.

Flexity 006 at the northbound North Pier tram stop

Redrow Homes advert 011 heading south past the Metropole

Flexity advert trams 011 and 006 at North Pier

Second Flexity advert

Flexity 006 is now carrying an advert for the Pleasure Beach Ice Skating Arena

Flexity 006 has become the second of the new trams to carry advertising, receiving an advert for the Ice Skating Arena at the Pleasure Beach. The advert is on both sides of 006, which is seen here at Victoria Street in Fleetwood this morning.

Turned Out Nice Again

George Formby Boat 230 was used instead of the planned Standard 147 on Sunday's Heritage Tour

Sunday's planned Heritage Tour output of Centenary 648 and Standard 147 was modified in view of the sunny weather to 648 and George Formby Boat 230, which had to return to the depot after its launch yesterday due to the wet weather. The chance to ride Boat 230 instead of Standard 147 was welcomed by enthusiasts and visitors alike. The icing on the cake however came around lunchtime, when due to problems with Centenary 648, the decision was taken to bring out prototype Boat car 600, thus providing an all green and cream Boat experience on the heritage service for the first time this year.

Boat 600 on its first southbound run of the day passes 230 at North Pier

230 posed alongside 600 that was taking its lunch break at the Pleasure Beach

The wooden name plaque on the side of 230 with "George Formby OBE" in an Art Deco style font

The new Heritage Tram Tour uniform

The above photo shows one of the new wooden name plaques that are fitted next to the doors on each side of Boat 230, displaying the name "George Formby OBE" in an Art Deco font. This weekend also saw the first use of the newly issued Heritage Tour crew uniforms. The uniforms consist of a waistcoat, jacket and tie, with the jacket proudly displaying the Heritage Tram Tour logo.

Boats 600 and 230 pass each other at Wilton Parade

Boat 230 southbound at the Metropole Hotel

600 picks up passengers at the southbound stop at North Pier

Centenary 648 joins heritage fleet

Centenary 648 at the Gynn on its first northbound run on the Heritage Tour

Centenary 648 has joined the heritage fleet, and began its first day of use on the Heritage Tours this morning. 648 was originally destined to be part of the National Tramway Museum collection at Crich, however the NTM turned down 648 due to a lack of depot space, so Crich's loss is now Blackpool's gain. The tram is being retained by Blackpool to represent the final form of traditional British tramcar design, and while this just looks like a modern tram to the general public, it is very gratifying that at least one example is being kept in operational condition, and even better that it is going to see further use on the tramway for which it was designed. Unfortunately a problem with the controller meant that 648 had to return to the depot late on Sunday morning.

648 heading north on Heritage Tour service at the Pleasure Beach

Boat 230 unveiled as George Formby tram

The George Formby Boat car passing the Tower on the way to the unveiling ceremony at North Pier

Boat 604 has been repainted into 1970s style livery and fitted with discs carrying the face of George Formby in the trolley tower. At 14:00 today the tram's name plates which read "George Formby OBE" were unveiled at North Pier, also the fleet numbers were revealed to show that the tram has been renumbered back into its old identity of 230 using gold transfers. The members of the George Formby Society were then transported to the Imperial Hotel while playing their ukeleles along the way. The damp dismal weather did not affect people's spirits, and the event went off smoothly apart from when a gust of wind prematurely unveiled the name plaque as the tram arrived at North Pier!

A gust of wind prematurely uncovered the name plaque as the tram arrived at the North Pier loop

Flexity 007 passing former Boat 604 which has just been unveiled as 230, complete with gold fleet numbers

The "George Formby OBE" name plate is unveiled at North Pier

The ukelele playing George Formby Society members being transported to their convention at the Imperial Hotel

First Flexity to carry adverts

011 with its new Redrow Homes advert, seen on Sunday 10th June at the Pleasure Beach

Flexity 011 was noted in service today carrying advertising for Redrow Homes on one side of the tram only. The vinyl adverts are applied over the full length of the roof panels above the windows, and below the windows on the centre section. While advertising is not normally something to be condoned, in this case at least it will give some individuality to an otherwise identical fleet of trams.

A closer view of the advert on the centre section as 011 traverses Pharos Street in Fleetwood