The range available includes bears, soft toys, Illuminations related products, clothing, books, calendars, DVDs, souvenirs, scale models and gift vouchers. We offer a range of souvenirs that complement our tours. The last in the UK was Glasgow in 1962. Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours will put a bespoke package together to make your day one to remember. Blackpool - Blackpool's Heritage Fleet Takes Winter Break. Blackpool Transport is the proud operator of Blackpool’s £100 million tramway. The Princess Alice is an elegant open top double decker christened following a royal visit. Among the trams that have returned to Rigby Road depot recently are Brush cars 632 & 259, Coronations 304 & 663, Another view showing 631, 711, Trawler 737, 715, 632, 701 & 259, all part of the heritage fleet apart from Balloon 711, North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust on Facebook, The last of the LTT trams return to Rigby Road. Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours are a brilliant way to take in the sights and the Lights. One-hundred and eight of those older trams were sold to use in other locations around Britain or sold for scrap and their faster, quieter, smoother replacements are expected to break even in around ten years. ... image caption Blackpool's new Bombardier trams will run alongside its heritage trams. Just get in touch with Emma on 01253 209521 or email heritage.trams@blackpooltransport.com – and please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast! Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours are running at weekends, weekdays, Public Holidays and special events. The full video from my day trip out to Blackpool on Monday 4th May 2015. The regular timetable is enhanced with a regular programme of special events. Not only must all the heritage trams always look beautiful and well preserved but crucial technical considerations require a sound knowledge of heights loaders, paint types, tracks, rails, winders and other mysterious trammy terms. Martin is employed, as a volunteer, to organise staff training and rotas and the number of staff and trams required each day that the trams are operational. Blackpool Tramway is one of the oldest electric tramways in the world dating back to 1885. Meanwhile, the Hopton Road depot is open on request to visitors fascinated by the old heritage trams and guided tours can be arranged to this all-weather attraction conveniently close to the town centre. the world famous Blackpool Illuminations sparked into life and as complimenting as salt and vinegar on the aforementioned fish and chips, our illuminated trams join their fellow heritage trams, bringing that extra sparkle to the world famous Fylde Coast. At least one months notice is required, and a non-refundable deposit. The new winter timetable will be worked by the modern Flexity 2 fleet, with an improved service over recent years. Like the other two she is a well used vehicle, unlike the other two she is owned by Fylde Transport Trust (FTT) and loaned to Blackpool Heritage Trams in a long term agreement. The last English city to lose its conventional trams was Sheffield in 1960. Blackpool is one of the three surviving non-heritage tramways to use double-deck trams, the others being Hong Kong and Alexandria, Egypt. Martin oversees teams made up of Blackpool Transport employees and about twenty-eight volunteers, some of whom travel huge distances across Britain to drive, ride on, tinker or mess about with or just to be near their favourite models for the holidays or if lucky, throughout the Blackpool tourism season. In a twist of fate, and following two years stored in the North East, Beamish offered the unrestored tram back to Blackpool in 2016, with the tram arriving back home at Rigby Road in the care of the Blackpool Heritage Trust (BHT) on 8th December. The four year project, which concluded in April 2012, saw the replacement of 11 miles of track, creation of a new depot and introduction of a fleet of 16 state-of-the-art trams. The line dates back to 1885 and is one of the oldest electric tramways in the world. The fleet of bright heritage trams parading up and down the promenade this year together with the new modern trams rejuvenating the coast, remind everyone of local heritage, business and tourism but also recall the poignant history of the older, rickety yet ever reliable trams crashing through Blackpool’s winter rains and winds throughout the year. The first new tram as part of a £100m upgrade of Blackpool's fleet is unveiled. https://blackpooltram.blogspot.com/2013/12/expansion-of-heritage-fleet.html The volunteers are easy to work with, according to Martin, who appreciates they work with heritage trams from choice and acknowledges their passion for their subjects. The switching off of Blackpool's illuminations on November 4 marked the end of heritage tram operations in the town for 2012. Next and walking down towards the south Pier, we see 711 Balloon tram which had been specially repainted into its 90's livery. Transport costs to return the tram to Blackpool were covered by Peter Watts of PW Consultancy. Due to a change of priorities in the transport collection at Beamish, it was decided that Brush Car 621 could be released for return to Blackpool where it … The service resumed on 29 August, Bank Holiday Weekend. Heritage trams. Where and when can we see them? Martin, who before moving to Blackpool in March was a volunteer at the Crich Tram Museum in Derbyshire, is also a driver for Virgin Trains and now works alongside Brian Lindop, the Head of Heritage Trams. Heritage Fleet: Maroon and Cream: Bolton Standard Tram: 612: 8: rebuilt 1974: Stored: Plum and Custard: OMO Car: 304: built 1953: Stored: Green and Cream: Blackpool Coronation with VAMBAC Controls: 324: 660: built 1953: Stored: Green and Cream: Blackpool Coronation with conventional Controls: 327: 663: built 1953: stored: Green and Cream: long term restoration program: 143: built 1924: Heritage Fleet 100 year old, young 70 year old ones including the open top trams and more will be running along the promenade from Blackpool Pleasure Beach to Fleetwood stopping only at the special Heritage Tour stops enroute. 509 talking about this. Blackpool Heritage Trams are a mixed fleet of restored vehicles that run on the Blackpool Tramway, which runs from Blackpool to Fleetwood on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire, England. Given Workshop time in 2017 it now forms a key role in the 80th Anniversary of this class, taking its place in Blackpool’s heritage tram fleet. One tram is named after local film star musician, George Formby, another is named for a retired Blackpool Transport employee and the Walter Luff remembers a manager of General Motors whose daughter attended the inaugural ceremony. News Politics Here's the latest addition to Blackpool's tram fleet Passengers in Blackpool will be able to sit on a tram while waiting for a tram thanks to the latest arrivals in the town centre. The Black… Blackpool Tramway has the following main operational fleet (at March 2020): There is a Lytham heritage tram, as seen on a classic transport poster and three of Blackpool’s familiar standard boat trams live in San Francisco. It opened on 29th September of that year and originally ran between Cocker Street and Dean Street. However it has retained the best of the iconic original Heritage Tram fleet, with some vehicles that are over 80 years old that have been retained and restored. Blackpool was the only town in the UK that retained its trams: between 1962 and 1991 Blackpool had the only urban tramway in the UK. Great news! The Blackpool Heritage Trust are developing exciting plans to add to the diversity of the operational Heritage tramcar fleet, but we can't do this without your help! The fleet of bright heritage trams parading up and down the promenade this year together with the new modern trams rejuvenating the coast, remind everyone of local heritage, business and tourism but also recall the poignant history of the older, rickety yet ever reliable trams crashing through Blackpool’s winter rains and winds throughout the year. So keen is he, that Martin is now the Operations Manager for Blackpool Heritage Trams. The heritage trams run alongside the sixteen new, modern flexibility tram service which arrived in 2012 following the upgrade of eleven miles of track and a new depot. Brush 634 arrived back at Rigby Road on 26th February 2016 having been donated to the … He explained that each heritage tram is a unique personality with its own quirks, even within the same model range. While the tramway is closed, purchasing items will help support the line with vital income. To browsers in Tower Models of Cookson Street or for those visiting the toy shop while waiting for the Fleetwood ferry, shiny colourful heritage trams are as familiar a sight as the sleek new glossy trams that arrived with the new tracks in the last few years to replace the old cream and green vehicles. In previous years the vintage tram service ran for just nine days but now they run every weekend and Bank Holidays between North Pier and the Pleasure Beach from Easter until the end of the Illuminations. Some of the most famous heritage trams known to residents and tourists are the rocket, ship and gondola trams which roar up and down new the tram-tracks each year below the miles of overhead attractions and past the promenade tableaux during the Illuminations. Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours A dedicated team of volunteers keep the fleet of vehicles both restored and operating along Blackpool seafront. As part of this agreement the tram has had some tweaks to … Newly arrived former LTT Balloon 715 and Brush cars 632 & 259 seen at the front of the depot on 17th December. What are they? Travel the promenade and enjoy an iconic, traditional part of Blackpool. The professional standards are therefore very high. This is one and only in the fleet to be repainted. A proposed move for 648 to Crich fell through and 648 joined the Heritage fleet at Blackpool. Blackpool’s famous Heritage Trams are running again! Excluding museums, it is one of only a few tramways in the world to still use double-deck trams. And then there is 715. They are, however, outnumbered by single-deck trams. The recent rounds of tramcar movements in Blackpool over the last six months has seen a major expansion in the number of trams that will potentially be available for Heritage Tour duty in the future. Blackpool Heritage Trams have launched a new online shop, selling a variety of products. The Blackpool Tramway now has a fleet of modern low-floor trams to quickly and efficiently transport thousands of people every day. Our tram collection is housed at Rigby Road depot courtesy of Blackpool Transport Services. The first new tram as part of a £100m upgrade of Blackpool's fleet is unveiled. Blackpool is only one of three places which operate double decker trams, the others being Alexandria in Egypt and Hong Kong. The Tramway still retains a number of the original Heritage Fleet for Tours, summer and Illuminations services (please see the Heritage Trams section for more information). Operating every day except Christmas Day, they travelled along the tram lines, carrying residents and visitors from A to B. The new trams (Bombardier Flexity2’s) have level boarding and step-free interiors and designated disabled/pushchair areas making them accessible to all. Meet the Illuminated Heritage Trams seen on the Blackpool tramway during the autumn evenings of the Illuminations season. However, the best of the iconic and original Heritage Trams, many of which are over 80 years old, have been retained and superbly restored, and these are available to offer you a traditional tram ride along Blackpool’s famous coastline. Martin has been passionate about trams since the age of five when he came to Blackpool on holiday from his London home. The opening of Manchester Metrolinkin 1991 heralded a revival. Plus Dine and Ride, Fish & Chips ride, Illumination Tours, Santa Specials. The Blackpool Tramway. Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours are Back on Track! Offered back to Blackpool’s Heritage Tours operation it returned to Rigby Road having completed a remarkable full circle over five years. Elton John is believed to be a fan, keeping a Melbourne tram in his back garden. The official site for news and information about Blackpool's Heritage Tram Tours. Apparently, there are at least a further twenty-three vintage, unusual, old and very old heritage trams in assorted shapes and sizes living in the Hopton Road tram depot, the oldest dating from about 1901. Follow the links to photos, videos and more information about each one. Our Trams. Up until 2011, the “Heritage” cars were the service fleet trams. Throughout the year a Heritage Tram service runs at weekends. Details of their activities can be found at blackpoolheritage.com Back in 2015, Martin Gurr, tram-lover and long-term co-ordinator of the tramway promotions was at Blackpool Transport’s Rigby Road depot to let us in on some trade secrets. ... image caption Blackpool's new Bombardier trams will run alongside its heritage trams. lines closed during closure, please email, //   privacy and cookie policy   //   terms of use   //   copyright Blackpool Council 2020, One of the Blackpool Heritage Trams fleet, Image by Rept0n1X, CC-BY-SA 2.0, Martin Gurr, image supplied by the author, Tram 600, image produced by Mike Peel, CC-BY-SA 4.0. As each tram is restored it will be placed on loan to BTS so that they will be able to use it as part of their Heritage Trams Tours. The Blackpool Tramway now has a fleet of modern low-floor trams to quickly and efficiently transport thousands of people every day. About Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours. We are the operators of Blackpool’s Heritage Trams, offering a variety of tours using our Heritage trams, some of which date back to the early 1900s, the iconic streamlined single and double deck trams of the 1930s and the retro trams of the 1980’s . The Blackpool Tramway now has a fleet of modern low-floor second generation trams that operate its main daily service. While most remain anonymous, a few bear their own names. You can check the tour timetables over on our Heritage Tram Tours website. While some of the new arrivals still require a considerable amount of restoration work, and others are currently basket cases (ie former works car 259), some of the arrivals can hopefully be put to use again in the not too distant future. Blackpool Trams were running their heritage trams in additional to the new low-floor fleet. In Septemeber. The Blackpool Tramway now has a fleet of modern low-floor trams to quickly and efficiently transport thousands of people every day. Then a multi-million pound upgrade transformed the Blackpool tramway. Seen at North Pier tram stop is Standard 167 and Balloon 723 with the Blackpool Tower dominating the skyline. There are monthly and yearly examinations to be passed and lessons to be learned as, while Transport employees undergo training and work with trams ordinary and not so ordinary all year round, the army of volunteers, several on holiday from the Tramway Museum in Crick in Devon, must learn to drive, conduct, repair and restore Blackpool’s stock of heritage trams, some also being responsible for administration, others for promotions. Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours invite you to enjoy an experience like no other as you take a ride along the world famous Blackpool Tramway aboard a piece of moving history! It is operated by Blackpool Transport (BT) and is the last surviving first-generation tramway in the United Kingdom. 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