TRAMTALK

As the weeks go by - electrification work along the railway from Kirkham to Blackpool North takes on an air of urgency for completion by the scheduled deadlines and before the first of the seasonal crowds descend on Blackpool and the Fylde coast (by rail). A well organised set up at Blackpool North by the Rail Replacement partnership is now embedded at the station entrance with queues of buses ready to collect rail passengers bound for Preston Station. A direct bus replacement service between North Station and Preston avoids delays traversing the A585 out of Poulton. Rail service variants, one of which follows the station stops between Blackpool North and Kirkham then on to Preston are evi

A damp drab and miserably cold January weekend - what better reason than to fill the promenade with old trams on sparsely filled 'heritage tours'. The use of the current occupants of Rigby Road Depot for special hires, wedding parties and the like in out of season months is perfectly understandable - drawing important and welcome private hire fees to the coffers of the team responsible for Blackpool's heritage tram set up. I am informed such 'hires' are the most profitable income stream compared to out of season 'tour' operation. What is questionable is the novelty of scheduling an output of cars out of season when even Blackpool landau owners and most of the promenade 'attractions' have

The Marton tram service has managed to retain its allure for both transport historians and heritage interests, as well as Blackpool residents through the years. Even though the trams last ran along Church Street and Whitegate Drive over fifty five years ago impressions are still fresh for those fortunate enough to have been around in their final decade of operation. Not only was there a dedicated fleet of smooth running trams to operate what had been a three minute frequency service between Royal Oak and Talbot Square, but there was also an equally impressive depot building along the route. Complete with imposing facade and an airy interior housing rows of trams during the winter season,

Capital trams on display at the National Tramway Museum in Derbyshire in 2016 One of the more notable achievements amid the Derbyshire quarry landscape at Crich has been the emergence of a series of distinguished tramcar restorations - the latest of which is make steady progress towards final completion. Whilst the capital had the UK's largest tramway system and total number of trams, their memory and recognition in London itself has been desultory as far as official museumdom is concerned. In fact at the end of the tram operation in 1952 only two examples were set aside by London Transport for preservation. A single enthusiast managed to add to this with purchase of an HR2 class (Hilly

Outside the BLESMA home on Lytham Road is probably the most disgraceful bus shelter in Blackpool. It would appear no Council attention has been given to it since its erection in the dim and distance past. Just how the shelter was allowed to get into this state without local concerns being voiced with the Ward Council Member is remarkable. Nonetheless this is how a Blackpool bus shelter looks in 2018 on the supposedly better class of neighbourhood in South Shore. No glazing, no timetables and a wholly filthy roof cover complete with moss growing on the sides. Photos : John Woodman January 20, 2018

Ghosts from former times continue to emerge into the daylight whenever excavations take place in Blackpool's main highways. In this case it is strengthening bridge work ongoing at Squires Gate with reinforcement of the roadway over the south Fylde railway line running between Kirkham and Blackpool South Station off Waterloo Road. Contractors scraping off the top layers of successive tarmac managed to reveal one rail from the former tramway which connected the Lytham St Annes tramway with its depot as well as the Blackpool Corporation tramway which was connected at Lytham Road. Some evocative views of this lost tram service last used in 1961 by Blackpool's Circular Tour cars as well as spec

Leopold Grove, Blackpool provides the rarest glimpse of both past greatness and the town's new beginnings. Marvellous visuals on protective hoardings provide images of the soon to be created conferencing centre joining together old designs and the new. While this is not going to be some amazing new edifice it will nonetheless stand to serve as evidence of what is actually achievable in a compact space abutting period structures, themselves iconic marvels in their time. The Winter Gardens and the Opera House built in era when Blackpool was undergoing earlier transformation will soon be joined by the 2019 Winter Gardens Conference Centre on a site that stands apart from long familiar Church

A passing encounter at Rigby Road today saw the standby snowplough being shunted briefly on to Hopton Road - no doubt in preparation for any contingency during the current weather conditions this January. Whilst Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England have had to deal with sustained snowfall during the past few days - so far the west coast has only had to face severe gale force winds and high tides. I qualify the word 'only', given the wind chill factor making the exposed Fylde coastline a bitterly cold place to be for any length of time. Balloon Car 711 in its Blackpool Council branded colours certainly looks impressive married to the yellow snow plough fixture but ha

Despite the disparaging remarks and sad comments appearing on social media regarding the experience of the UK firm Trampower Ltd. the persistence of its Principals in pursuing a British designed and developed low floor tram is to be applauded. In fact their initiatives over the past decade have been supported directly and indirectly by Blackpool's public owned transport operation to the extent that the very first low floor tram to operate in Britain (albeit on test) was along the seafront line as far as Fleetwood. So the new era for Blackpool's tramway actually dawned with a partnership between Trampower and Blackpool Transport Services Ltd. Even if it was stillborn. In the 1920s and e

Blackpool is no stranger to Cardiff buses (or tram) given the number of buses leased or purchased by Catch22Bus over the past few years all of which arrived complete with bi-lingual signage and initially with Cardiffbus livery. Only one Cardiff (or indeed Welsh) tram has operated in Blackpool and this was for a few weeks and not for passengers. Cardiff Corporation Tramways Water Car 131 did what it said on the label, carried water in a large tank and spread it over the street track in the days of that city's tramway operation. Ironically it became the sole surviving preserved Cardiff tram after the system closed in the late 1940s. Trolleybuses took over many routes until they too succum

The Great North Rail Project team are working day and night to ensure completion of the electrification and upgrade of the railway between Preston and Blackpool North. Substantial evidence of this is in public view at Blackpool North where realignment of the tracks and platform infrastructure is well advanced. Installation of the overhead power masts will begin to make their appearance once the groundwork is ready. However overhead masts are now installed on much of the line as far as the bridge over Devonshire Road. Examples can be see closeup at Layton Station which remains accessible to allow pedestrian crossing over the footbridge . Layton is getting more refined shelters on each p

Work is commencing on visitor and leisure analysis for the proposed redevelopment at Wyre Dock described elsewhere on this site and www.wyredock.com. The team carrying out this initiative jointly funded by ABP and Wyre Dock Development Ltd. arrived this week to walk through the proposed location and begin a series of interviews with involved organisations, companies and Fylde coast interests. Of especial note in their onsite tour was the 'Alan Bradley' tram aka 710 which is looking slightly the worse for wear given its outdoor storage in recent years. The publicity value of the tram due to it being a lead 'actor' in the most watched episode in the long running 'Coronation Street' produc

Given that work has started on the next Rigby Road title - this time dealing with a sequencing of bus types through the years operated by Blackpool's tramway/transport system from 1921 to the present day - a few scenes taken at random today of the current fleet is timely. Below a sure fire way of dating images is through the advertising - especially of new movies being launched and in this case the reputedly Oscar nomination acting of Gary Oldman as Churchill in the new release out today : 'Darkest Hour'. Steamed up windows on this 'veteran' still holding down the trunk route 7 - but not for much longer as it will soon be 'Palladiumised' with ADL models. Optare 'Solos' still are an omni

The Blackpool bus shelter saga hasn't gone away. Despite annual revenue of £300.000 upwards from the advertising contracts on both bus and tram shelters which accrue directly to the Council coffers, little if any of this revenue would seem to be utilised for the upkeep of shelters, maintenance or repair. The only maintenance that is certainly evident is a contractor's replacement and installation of advertising posters on a regular basis. The growing list of Council owned shelters (which includes those on the tramway) in need of basic repair or complete renewal lengthens daily. A drive around the town provides ample evidence of the deplorable condition of this aspect of Council infrast

Preston doesn't appear normally in the columns devoted to tram matters. PrestonBus is familiar sight in Blackpool these days in similar fashion to Blackpool Transport's Palladium colours now a frequent sight in Preston (and Kirkham) on rail replacement services. Preston's former association with trams however does still linger on in the form of the massive assembly plant on Strand Road which formerly was home to the United Electric Company and later English Electric - builders of trams for both domestic and international markets. Currently the building is leased to Alstom - themselves no slouch in rail manufacturing. This week a consortium or partnership involving Trampower Ltd., and a Pr

Now that the New Year's festivities are over it is time to recommence preparatory work on the tramway extension to Blackpool North. January 8th saw a fresh set of road diversions springing up around the town centre as traffic was banished from Talbot Road to the Promenade from Abingdon Street, as well as most of Talbot Square and Clifton Street. This has meant that most (but not all) of Blackpool Transport's bus services have had to be rerouted along with loading (and unloading) points. Blackpool's Central Library has found itself the focal point for bus services with new stops aligned along Queen Street - and lines of buses jostling to gain parking places on what is a narrow roadway not

Pity the poor students attending Blackpool & The Fylde College at the main Bispham campus having to wait to catch a bus home. Directly opposite the College's main entrance is a ravaged excuse for a bus shelter providing little or no protection from wind, rain or sleet during winter's harsh weather. Courtesy of Blackpool Council this is what our future graduates and skilled learners have to contend with on a daily basis in plain view of the College's headquarters and Principal offices - directly in the background. Note the missing timetable information and rudimentary metal bar pretending to be seating. Perhaps the College could take responsibility for providing and funding a fit for

2017 commemorates the centenary and founding of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) predecessor of the Royal Air Force. World War One saw the emergence of aircraft as an important arm of military strategy - in particular in observation of ground positions on the Western Front and the effects of artillery bombardment on enemy trenches. The need to protect observation from balloons and low flying aircraft led to the formation of 'fighter' squadrons for defensive (and subsequently offensive) roles. As the numbers of aircraft grew so did the need for enclosed structures to house and repair them on an ever increasing basis. Large wingspan of biplanes of the day meant a requirement for similarly large

Warbreck Ward boasts? one of the worst bus shelters on the Fylde coast. Found on Warbreck Hill Road inbound this abysmal structure passed its sell by date years ago and is quite evidently an orphan child of the Council's street furniture team. The plastic substitute glazing has obviously received a glancing blow from a low life whilst the general appearance and condition of the 'shelter' invites public contempt. What would be best is to put it out of its misery and remove it entirely as expeditiously as possible. Blackpool Council's contribution to Warbreck Court's street space. Further north the nearest bus shelter to Red Bank Road and the busy Sainsbury's at that point is an equally depr

Whilst Council-owned Blackpool Transport Services Ltd. goes to extra lengths to promote exemplary bus design and services to the Fylde coast community - the absolutely deplorable state of Blackpool's bus shelters within the Unitary Authority deserve recognition as probably the worst in Britain of any public body. Just a few examples to mark the year - with outstanding evidence in Bispham to begin this bus shelter hall of infamy. Lets start with the 'Quirrel' Bus Stop on Bispham Road. All glazing panels missing with exception of the end advertising section which seems to get attention from the contractors. This is sited in the Greenlands Ward - Blackpool Council Members please stand up an