Blackpool trams
 

Well it looks like the end of an era. The old trams that many enjoyed on their visits to Blackpool are being replaced by modern types. the old ones with a few exceptions are being sent to museums.:( I would not doubt for a minute that we need to move on, but I am sure many will miss the old uns, like we now miss the steam engines and older diesel and electric traction.. We had a living working museum, about 14 miles long. who will miss the old balloons?

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/corpora...9&pageid=26959
Thought this may interest some members.
mickey

Pretty sure the old trams are staying, but only operating between the pleasure beach and the Tower or somesuch, and only during the season.

But I think they'll be keeping a maintained fleet, and moreover, it won't be hard to find an old tram during the summer.

Not sure Blackpool's tramway really would benefit from modern trams though, it's always seemed like more of a tourist railway than anything. There's no real commuter benefit?

Maybe if the just spent a bit on restoration they would last another 50 years, I have often thought that the state they allowed them to deterorate to was a disgrace, after all they were and are the image most people remember after the tower and you can't buy publicity like people's memories. That's what fetches the punters back.. Incidently, they ought to restore Uncle Tom's Cabin at the same time???

Couldn't agree more Yorky

I agree too Yorky

If the old Balloons go it will be a great shame and Blackpool will not be the same without them.

ccmmick.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiseman...7622518143603/

Taken from a couple of days in Blackpool last year

Love the shots. Very well done. That may be a record that you may not be able to repeat.
mickey

Great piccies, who is the idiot that wants to destroy Blackpools Heritage? some B***Dy bean counter! Whats in it for Him/Her? It certainly won't be for the good of the town.

Cheers Guys, I think I'll need to get another trip in before its too late............

To me the trams were never the same after they replaced the toot toot horns.The old seaside town atmosphere died that year.

http://www.tramway.com/fts/fts_passenger1.html
Thought you may find this of interest,
mickey

http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/whatson/...ooltramway.htm
Info of anniversary event.
mickey

Thanks for the info Mickey, might be worth going along for some of these events. It would be a pity to see the old trams replaced, but I suppose the disabled accessability is a strong argument for the changes. It would be ideal if they could run the old uns as well as the new uns then everybody would be happy. Anybody who has been to San Fransisco will know about the trams that run along the harbour there. They are fantastic restoration jobs from all over the world, including Blackpool, and they are all running in their own liveries

They are.

"“By Easter 2012 we will have ultra modern trams providing an efficient public transport network for both residents and visitors without sacrificing our wonderful heritage trams.”"

The old trams are staying during the summer, between the pleasure beach and the tower. Just people won't listen to me for some reason. That isn't to say all of them are, some are being scrapped, some sold, but they're still going to be around for a long time to come in some form, a more senseable one.

Deathbyteacup.
I want you to be right, my question was basically who would miss the old era?
I know that change must come.There is talk of running the new trams through to Preston. I hope many of the old trams will go to good homes.
The reason I am concerned is because, like in the steam era, once a vehicle is scrapped it's gone. (I know they can be rebuilt), but the majority wouldn't be. Trams and metros are not my speciality. I just like the old stuff.:):)

mickey

I agree with Deathbyteacup, they are still going to run heritage trams during the season over the stated area. They will recover the sevicable components from the worst ones before scrapping them to ensure thoose remaining have a future. I go most years and find the older trams are mostly appreciated by tourists compared to the modern ones.
Regards

But as somebody said earlier who is going to use the new trams? I suspect this modernisation may be a bit of a white elelephant and when the bean counters see that nobody is using the new trams (Blackpool Corporation run a frequent bus service shadowing their tram route) I can see the whole route used by the new trams closed, and a very limited heritage service from Pleasure Beach to The Tower only running in the Summer.

They did re body some of the Ol trams with Bus Type Bodies which where really cramped in side.

But im affraid I think its going to end up like the Manchester Metro Link a Compleate Mess.

I would'nt consider the Metrolink to be a complete mess mind, It is well used and gives a reasonable frequent service and has increased frequencies between Victoria and Bury....like with all metro systems they could do things better. Not quite a tram, but if you want to see a complete mess just look to the Tyne & Wear Metro since the Sunderland extension............

its a great shame to see the old trams go to any extent i love the fast bit off road out to fleetwood
has the council done surveys as to the usage by locals as aposed to tourists

i have always thought of the trams as a tourist attraction rather like a heritage railway

I hate progress

I live in Blackpool and I can't believe that our Living Museum is going.
Yes they are keeping a handful of heritage trams.
They are building a huge new shed on the Promenade for the 16 new trams. There will be room for only a few old trams.
The old tram depot should become the major museum in GB , so most of the old trams could stay in Blackpool, and still be available for work. It would be a major tourist attraction.
The trams are already being disposed of to museums, farm parks etc.

Picture of the new shed.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...l/DSC00596.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...l/DSC00605.jpg

I feel the same way as you do Darkrider. Although I'm not a sandshifter by birth I do like this town, and I think it will be the poorer for this decision.
mickey

Those of you who download Railway Herald may have spotted an advert for a tram magazine, also a free download, and well worth a look as it contains a lot of pics and info about the Blackpool system. It's at http://www.railway herald.org to sign up. Or http://www.tramways-monthly.com if you only want that one.

Regards, 62440.

Smashing!
Thanks for that.
mickey

Good picys!!

in reply to Deathbyteacup, there is a benefit to those who are in the Cleveleys and Thornton Gate area. Trams are every 10 minutes to Blackpool - which makes it a quicker method than bus - and every 20 minutes to Fleetwood.

Not all the Balloons have been sold. At present there are several working Balloon cars on the promenade.

There are nine confirmed sales. The first four have been sold to Heaton Park in Manchester. Balloons 702 and 704 (neither of which have made a big contribution to service in the last few years), Railcoach 680 - though operates as a stand alone was intended to haul a trailing car and Railcoach 623; still wearing wartime livery.

Another five units 708, 710, 716, 721 and 726. One or two of these could go to Birkenhead.

I 'think' some of the centenary trams are also to leave the resort. There was a rumor 648 was up for grabs and has been sold. This yet, cannot be confirmed either.

heyy everyone how are you

i have just got back from blackpool a week a go and i have fund out a few things you might be intrested in:-

track widening
balloon trams are going very quick.
new ones are not coming untill 2012.
all twin cars are staying .
all centenery cars are staying.
not many trams in operation.
crap service .
fleetwood shut from ash street .
some trams are not allowed north of bispham because they have got no transponders.
tramway is going around the front of the hotel at north peir instead of back.
some one cuts down over heads from cleveleys to fleetwood ferry
trams just reopened to ash street
cant go past ash street tramway dug up for widening
starr gate closed
all trams turn around at pleasure beach
cenenery cars causeing problems like pantograph colapse


the list goes on

some lovely pictures

some of the ballons in those pictures have gone all ready

I cannot believe it as someone who likes to go every 3 or 4 yrs just bor the atmasphere or the fish n chips pleasure beach and the trams always do the whole run out to fleetwood
are the trams really a commuter service or a tourist attraction
it is like the north york moors railway going over to deisel cos it is more efficent I think it is a big mistake

Apparently they want to run it as a modern commuter tramway, but I personally think it's appeal is as a tourist tramway. I don't think it serves the residents of Blackpool any better than a bus does.

Its the same story Yorkie, some bloody person who could not give a **** about Blackpool or memories, as long as he / she gets credit for killing it !!

48111

No, you cant be serious, North Yorks going over to diesel ???
Well that just about sums things up mate when a railway like the North Yorks calls it a day on steam.

48111

I have read this again and I think colchesterken was using it as an example rather than a statement of fact.

Morning Philip, ok mate.

48111

not any more all the track is dug up and road closed


no road and no rails=no trams and no cars

may be to fleetwood and back (when it opens)

Can i defend myself I was saying running moden trams in blackpool which is after a tourist attraction,is as daft as one of the heritage railways going over to diesel because it is more efficent
I dont thing the place will be the same

Tell you what lads, whether you're in favour or not, it's an interesting debate.
mickey