heritage trams Archives - Blackpool Social Club

08 May

Video: Coronation heritage tram parade

Nipping down to video the heritage tram parade was my concession to the Coronation events on Sunday 7th May, which otherwise have rather passed me by. Well anyway, I like trams, so I caught the service 6 bus, so that I could watch some go by. Here's my video, which I hope you enjoy. https://youtu.be/-iwNA4meB0g I disembarked at New Bonny Street and walked south down the Promenade to find a reasonable spot to set up my tripod, which I'd dug out of the loft that morning. There was plenty of time, so I was able to take some framing vids…

15 Sep

Catching the 241 balloon tram

David Simper0 CommentsHeritageballoon tram, Blackpool, blackpool trams, heritage trams, tram restoration, trams

On a recent tour of the heritage trams operation at Rigby Road depot I was lucky enough to catch some of the final pieces of work being carried out on the balloon tram 241. Here we share a brief history of the vehicle and an idea of what it will look like on completion. In January 1933, legendary manager of Blackpool Corporation Transport, Walter Luff, took office and quickly acquired a fleet of streamline trams from the English Electric Company in Preston as part of a five-year tramway modernisation plan. One of these trams was a prototype open-top double-deck bogie…

04 Jun

Jubilee Tram Parade attracts promenade crowds

David Simper0 CommentsHeritage, Local Newsblackpool heritage trams, heritage trams, jubilee tram parade, public transport, trams, vintage trams

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Blackpool has one of the finest heritage tram fleets in the world. These were out in force to help celebrate the Queen's platinum jubilee on the 2nd June 2022, with a Blackpool jubilee tram parade. We have two videos capturing the event. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Starting from Pleasure Beach, a dozen vehicles progressed north along the Promenade towards Little Bispham, before breaking at the Tower Headland for an extended photo call. People thronged the route, showing that the heritage trams, including three of the Illuminated vehicles, have lost none of their allure. At Tower Headland all ages crowded round the vehicles, admiring…

01 May

Blackpool’s famous ghost tram tours return

David Simper0 CommentsHeritageBlackpool, blackpool trams, ghost stories, ghost tram, heritage trams, spooky, story teller, story telling

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Now everyone loves the retro-ambience of the Blackpool's lovingly restored and maintained heritage tram fleet. With their interiors restored to as close as possible original condition, the passenger is transported back to the first half of the 20th century. Could you be sitting in the vehicle that fictionally despatched Coronation Street's character, evil Alan Bradley? But what if there are real life ghost stories associated with a tramway system that's now well into its second century? What stories can these beautiful vehicles tell? Now you can find out by joining a ghost tram tour, that's bound to give you…

04 Mar

Blackpool’s heritage tram force continues as a resort linchpin

David Simper0 CommentsHeritage, Local NewsBlackpool, blackpool tram depot, blackpool trams, heritage trams, trams, tramtown, vintage trams

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] One could say that without the trams, the Illuminations and the Pleasure Beach, Blackpool would be finished, the image destroyed (other attractions are available) and the soul removed. Despite the Blackpool Tramway system's top to bottom refurbishment and the marvellous Flexity 2 modern trams’ advent in 2012, the heritage trams (formerly 'the trams') continue to ply the promenade adding to the resort's somewhat retro ambience and providing tours from specially configured tram stops. Following #blackpool on my Instagram, after the Tower over the comedy carpet, the Western Train illuminated tram has to be the most frequently occurring image.…