News ArchiveTram Sunday Cancelled (posted 8 Mar 2010)
The Fleetwood Transport Festival committee has announced the cancellation of this year's event scheduled for July. Plans for a relaunched event in 2011 are underway.
Long Weekend at Heaton Park for Princess Alice (posted 5 Feb 2010)
The Manchester Transport Museum Society have announced that open top Balloon 706 "Princess Alice" is the special guest visitor to their end of year event on 21st November. This is its first trip away from Blackpool in its 76th year - and the first double deck electric car to operate at Heaton Park in its history - and indeed the first since car 1007 closed the system on 9 January 1949. See the MTMS website for more info
Totally Transport Extends (posted 15 Jan 2010)
TotallyTransport the flagship Promenade Motor Show in Blackpool on 27 June has announced an extension to its event site. For five years the event has used New South Promenade from Starr Gate to the Star Hotel but this year will carry on northwards in front of Ocean Boulevard to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and the Sandcastle. This will maintain the link with the tramway during its closure between Starr Gate and Pleasure Beach.
Welcome Evening Announced (posted 1 Jan 2010)
The Anniversary Week will kick off the a Welcome Evening at Uncle Tom's Cabin on Thursday 23 September. Visitors will learn about the background to the event; the visiting trams; the event programme and the organising groups. A tramway quiz, a hot pot supper and a public bar will complete the line up.
Visitors confirmed for Anniversary Celebrations (posted 1 Jan 2010)
Blackpool Transport has confirmed that ten trams will be visiting from British museums for the 125th anniversary. Three are likely to arrive in late Spring with Marton Box 31 from Beamish; Manchester 765 from Heaton Park and Liverpool 762 from Birkenhead Tramway all offered for the main summer season.
The Tramway Museum Society has agreed to lend six cars form the National Collection housed at Crich Tramway Village to visit for the September event week. These have now been confirmed as Blackpool Standard 40, Blackpool Pantograph 167, London County Council open topper 106, Johannesburg 60, Leeds 399 and Porto 273.
In addition to the visitors cars from Blackpool Transport's heritage fleet such as Standard 147 and Boat 600 plus vehicles owned by the Lancastrian Transport Trust such as Coronation 304 and Standard 143 will be in use. Profiles of the vintage cars can be found under "Resources"
December 2009:
125 Years of the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway September 2010
Blackpool Transport is proud to announce a week long celebration of its iconic, historic electric tramway – the very first in the UK and still in operation today. Working with the local tramway enthusiast community a packed programme of events will take place between Thursday 23rd and Wednesday 29th September. Ten visiting trams are coming from museums around the England, plus examples from Blackpool Transport and the Lancastrian Transport Trust’s vintage collection. About 20 vintage trams will be in use during the week – as well as ‘normal’ fleet – most of which are in their 70s!
The celebrations are launched on the Thursday with a “Welcome Evening” in the conference room at the famous Uncle Tom’s Cabin featuring presentations, a quiz and a Hot Pot Supper with time to socialise at a cash bar.
Friday 24th is turned over to the enthusiast groups who are putting together a package of tram tours. The Friday also sees the World Fireworks Championships and museum trams are expected to join the famous Illuminated Trams on tours of the World Famous Illuminations. Local preservationists, the Lancastrian Transport Trust will be organising one of its popular ‘Beer and Buses’ events out into the Fylde countryside.
Saturday 25th will see the biggest vintage tram operation ever attempted in the town with no less than 10 vintage cars rostered on a special Pleasure Beach to Cleveleys service operating up to every ten minutes during the day.
Sunday 26th will provide a rare opportunity to see behind the scenes at Rigby Road Depot – including the 75 year old tram depot, the workshops and the bus garage. A selection of trams will be on display at the front of the tram depot; while the bus yard will showcase the vintage bus collection of the Lancastrian Transport Trust and other preservations – plus of course the modern fleet of Blackpool Transport. Inside the bus depot will be entertainment, tram models and transport memorabilia stalls.
Sunday will also see a repeat of the Pleasure Beach to Cleveleys vintage tram service and a shuttle service to/from the tram depot will also be in operation.
Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th will see further events organised by the enthusiast groups. Wednesday 29th marks the anniversary of the official opening and will feature a short parade of Blackpool trams, further tram tours and the week will conclude with an Anniversary Dinner at the Chequers Plaza Hotel.
A dedicated website www.blackpooltramevents.co.uk has been launched – sponsored by Trams Magazine – and will be kept up to date with news and development of the anniversary events plus other Blackpool tram events during the summer. It features profiles of the vintage trams and even details of how you can drive a tram yourself as part of Blackpool Transport’s Tram Driver Experience scheme!
Blackpool Transport’s Customer Services Manager Bryan Lindop is delighted that the occasional will be marked in style: “Blackpool’s Tramway is undergoing a substantial upgrade to a modern system from 2012 and our 125th anniversary celebrations will mark the end of an era and a great chance to showcase our vintage trams and those of our partners in the event”.
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