Cabin departure on Blue Timetable

Standard 147 heading north at the Cabin LRT platforms, with southbound Flexity 006 pausing to pick up passengers

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours's basic service is provided by the blue timetable, which operates a shuttle service between the Pleasure Beach and North Pier using two trams. Commencing on 9th May 2015, the first trip in the morning that normally departs from North Pier at 1000 has now been extended so that it begins from the Cabin heritage stop. Similarly the 1640 departure from the Pleasure Beach in the afternoon now runs through to the Cabin instead of terminating at North Pier.

Standard 147 heading south after changing tracks by using the crossover at the Cabin

Centenary 642 leaving the siding at the North Pier heritage stop, with Flexity 002 passing by on its way south

Standard 147 on heritage service, passing the newly restored frontage of the Blackpool Tower building

Trident 330 receives new Tower advert

Dennis Trident 330 southbound at New Bonny Street with a new overall advert for Blackpool Tower

Another Blackpool Transport bus has just been given a new overall advert, the third one to be applied this year. Dennis Trident 330 has received a new vinyl wrap advertising The Blackpool Tower. The previous BTS vehicle to carry overall advertising for Blackpool Tower was Trident 312 in 2012.

A rear three-quarter view of Dennis Trident 330 showing its newly applied overall advert for Blackpool Tower

The previous Dennis Trident to carry overall advertising for the Tower was 312, seen at Talbot Square in June 2012

New Madame Tussauds advert on Trident 329

Dennis Trident 329 at West Drive in Cleveleys with the new 2015 overall advert for Madame Tussauds

The second overall bus advert that Blackpool Transport have outshopped this year has recently been applied to Dennis Trident 329. The new vinyl wrap on 329 is an advert for Madame Tussauds in Blackpool, the previous overall advert for Tussauds being carried by Trident 315 in 2012.

A rear three-quarter view of Trident 329 showing its newly applied overall advert for Madame Tussauds

The previous Madame Tussauds advert on Trident 315, seen being passed by Classic Bus RM 1568 in June 2012

Second Select Dart enters service

Former Select Bus of Swansea Dennis Dart T145 DAX on Talbot Road in Blackpool headed for Cleveleys

The second former Select Bus of Swansea Dennis Dart has now entered service with Catch22Bus. T145 DAX has been pressed into service in the Select white and blue livery (as T144 DAX was a couple of weeks ago), both 144 and 145 were originally in the fleet of Cardiff Bus. 

Former Select Bus of Swansea Dennis Dart T144 DAX on 29th April, with an orange Catch22Bus front panel fitted

Two New Flexity Adverts

Flexity 005 reversing at Foxhall on the temporary split tram service, showing off its new Stay Blackpool.com advert

Two of the Flexities have received new single-sided adverts in the last week for the same sponsor. Flexities 005 and 013 are both now carrying adverts for Stay Blackpool.com above the side windows along the full length of the tram and below the centre section windows. The adverts are very simple with "stay blackpool.com" displayed on a pink and blue background, although each tram has the advert arranged differently on the body sections. Both trams are pictured here working on the split tram service that is in operation due to filming that is taking place this week on the Promenade in front of the Tower.

Flexity 013 crossing back onto the northbound line at North Pier, after terminating here on the split tram service

The Stay Blackpool.com advert is identical on the centre-section of both trams, it is seen here on Flexity 013

Flexities to Star in Hollywood Film

Flexities 009 & 007 along with many cars and film extras simulating a busy Promenade during filming on 7th May

Well maybe not quite 'star', but two of Blackpool's Flexity trams should certainly feature in the new Hollywood film "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiars" that is currently being shot in the resort. The film is due to have its cinematic release in 2016, and is being directed by Tim Burton and stars several well known actors such as Samuel L. Jackson, Judi Dench, Terence Stamp and Rupert Everett, to name a few. The scenes being shot in Blackpool are set in winter, and the Promenade in front of the Tower has been covered with artificial snow including the tram tracks. The Promenade around the film set is closed off to the public and traffic each day, causing havoc for the bus and tram services. Two Flexity trams have been requisitioned to act as props for the duration of the filming, the trams chosen being 007 and 009 as these two feature no advertising. The trams are parked either side of the zebra crossing in front of the Tower with their lights on each day, and are used to simulate a busy street scene, along with many cars and dozens of members of the public employed as extras. At the end of each day's filming Unimog 939 sweeps the tram tracks clear of the artificial snow using its rotary brush attachment, so that normal tram services can resume again at 1500.

Flexities 009 and 007 on set during filming of the feature film "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiars" on 7th May

With Flexities 007 & 009 back at Starr Gate depot, Unimog 939 begins clearing the tracks of artificial snow on 7th May

Flexities 009 & 007 take their places while an aerial stunt is being filmed in front of the Tower on 8th May

Widened Balloons on Split Tram Service

While Flexity 004 unloads all its passengers at Manchester Square, Balloon 711 heads off south towards Starr Gate

The area in front of Blackpool Tower has been barriered off this week in order to shoot some scenes for a Hollywood film. The filming has necessitated that the tram service be split in half since 6th May, with the northern half running from North Pier to Fleetwood Ferry and the southern half operating between Manchester Square and Starr Gate. Due to some of the Flexities being out of commission at the moment, the southern section has seen the use of widened Balloons in passenger service, with 711 and 719 having both been utilised so far this week.

Balloon 719 crossing over the points at Foxhall Square before heading south again on the split tram service

Flexity 004 and Balloon 719 sat at the northern terminus of the split tram service at Manchester Square

Balloon 719 heading off south from Manchester Square on the southern half of the split tram service

Balloon 711 heading north from Starr Gate, having replaced 719 in service which had suffered a faulty compressor

Balloon 711 arriving at Starr Gate terminus after the short run from Manchester Square

711 waiting at the platform at Starr Gate after 719 had returned to the depot confines with compressor problems

Balloon 711 reversing over the crossover at Foxhall Square

Balloon 711 laying over at the temporary terminus at Manchester Square