TRAMTALK

Road resurfacing ongoing together with new sidewalk edging in a schedule which requires completion in the next three days. Lines of contractor trucks and vans on Talbot Road today The scenes on Talbot Road around the important junction with Dickson Road and Topping Street provide views of frenzied contractor activity in an effort to complete the road surfacing before next Monday. This will allow traffic flow to the south and west of the by now infamous Wilko property whilst work begins on the eastern side of the site. It would appear that serious delays have caused demolition of the Wilko structure and its multi level car park (rarely used) to be deferred. Understandably this will have an

Whilst Blackpool's transport system never operated trolleybuses (although there were credible proposals considered by the Transport Department in the 1940s) the town did in fact supply four UK systems in the postwar period. Naturally the builder was HV Burlingham on Preston New Road. The first contract came from Portsmouth who received a delivery of double deck vehicles with bodywork styling similar to the buses then being delivered to Blackpool in the early 1950s. Although they were of course to a rear platform format. An example is now part of the trolleybus collection at Carlton Colville near Lowestoft where trolleybuses and trams are seen in operation. Glasgow Corporation was the n

Blackpool Council's roadside electronic information boards give warning of the closure of the promenade from November 5th for thirteen weeks. This will allow work on installing the track connection from the promenade at North Station linking the existing pointwork from the 2011 upgrade to the new line up Talbot Road. Demolition of the 'Sands Venue' on the former Palatine Building site is also ongoing and traffic closure on the promenade will facilitate completion of the remaining structure's removal. A new luxury hotel is to be erected at this location, hopefully transforming this section of the seafront look of Blackpool. Rubble and dislocated tram rail from an earlier era when Layton's

The gentle curving tracks emerging from Talbot Road and crossing the junction with Dickson Road and Topping Street (left hand side) have been laid as far as possible up to the entranceway in front of the soon to be demolished Wilko structure. Now long overdue. Will no one rid us of this concrete blot in Blackpool's town centre renewal?

News just in from Sheffield on a significant road incident involving one of the much heralded tramtrain units on the inaugural day of the new Rotherham and Sheffield service adds further woes to the overall scheme. After extensive delays and enormous cost overruns the initial tram train operation introduced on heavy rail and light rail lines of the Sheffield/South Yorkshire system - has publicity of the wrong kind on the first day of their service. Reports from the scene show a badly damaged front end of one of the new tramtrain units which came to grief at a road junction with a heavy goods lorry. Problems with traffic lights at the junction are being given as a possible cause for what

The last time I took a tram to the airport involved trundling along Lytham Road in a noisome rail coach as far as Squires Gate Lane. Blackpool was possibly the only place in Britain which had 'Airport' as a destination on its tram indicator blinds. The Airport itself was a modest affair consisting of some wartime structures repainted and given a modest makeover to double as check in desks and information area for the handful of flights (mostly to the Isle of Man) which provided regular services year round. Much later in life I was able fly direct to Prague from Blackpool in the brief period when scheduled flights out of the UK from Squires Gate were possible. Thus it was with great int

The latest title from Rigby Road Publishing - Broadway to Blackpool - the story of centre entrance double deck tramcars - is now available at Blackpool Visitor Centre, Toys2Save at Cleveleys and Brooks Collectables shop on Waterloo Road next to the Promenade. A profusely illustrated 120 pages book with especial focus on the Hedley - Doyle design for Manhattan's New York Railways company just before World War 1 - is a unique storyline on how Blackpool came to be the last operator of double deck trams with centre entrances (at least until 2011) and on heritage tours thereafter. Priced at £26.00 with £2.40 for post and packing - the book can be ordered through the online Shop pages on this si

Three Managing Directors of Blackpool Transport Services since 2001 to the present time. All three putting their personality and individual style on to Blackpool's buses. Starting with Steve Burd who rebranded the bus fleet and operation as well as introducing the 'Trident' double deck bus design which has lasted right through to 2018 although now in sharp decline numbers wise. Steve's focus was on individual route identification with distinctive themed colours for each service. This resulted in a kaleidescope of liveries traversing the town. Accompanying this strategy was transformation of Blackpool Transport into 'Metro Coastlines' with Services becoming 'Lines' in marketing and inform

A brief encounter at the Heritage Tour tram stop near North Pier with James Millington fortuitously provided advance notice of the rare outing of Birkenhead open top car 20 on a private tour to Bispham today. James and colleague were crewing immaculate Boat Car 225 aka 600 on what has been a brilliant sunny day in Blackpool. Some images of James's dextrous? handling and driving skills are seen below. The traditional bamboo pole is held ceremonially (so it would seem) whilst James converses with his 'Guard'. And below : James heads into the sun with official sunglasses on the crossover at North Pier. Without an exact timeframe of the Birkenhead tram tour other than 'roundabout 4 pm' I

Almost sixty years have passed since the town's principal civic space saw trams traversing in front of the Town Hall. Work on reversing these decades is now advancing rapidly with groundwork ongoing in Talbot Square where trams once terminated to and from Layton. More tram rail is being prepared for installation which brings the new tram extension into the Square from Talbot Road, whilst excavation of the area which will require the track connection onto the promenade roadway is unveiling yet more evidence of that first generation tram track. Newly laid track from Talbot Road being prepared for pumped concrete over the metal mesh. Below : a new tram station platform will be built direct

The past weekend sees realignment and restructuring of rail transport in south wales with the Government in Wales taking over responsibility from Westminster control (but not oversight). The current franchise holder - Arriva Wales relinquishes its contract with KeolisAmey taking over and commitment of £5 Billion to renewal of equipment, infra-structure and operations under terms secured with the devolved Welsh Government. An integral aspect of the agreement involves creation of a South Wales Metro system which dovetails existing commuter lines in the region, with mainline rail services and a new light rail operation - much of which (like Manchester and West Midlands) utilises existing subur

No, not the Rome one. Manchester's Metrolink goes from strength to strength with admirable infrastructure design and operation. What is especially noticeable for a visitor from Blackpool is the almost silent running on street track, expecially over points and track junctions. St Peter's Square exemplifies the level of investment and construction which makes Manchester's trams now such a great asset to the city's urban environment and the sense of dynamic growth here 'up north'. Of particular relevance are the classical high platform station shelters and layout which have echoes of the Paris Metropolitan station canopies and signage going back one hundred years. Contrast this with the d

Two amazing images taken this week by Colin MacLeod from a vantage point overlooking the Talbot Road Dickson Road junction. Tracks have now been inserted curving from Talbot Road to the entry point on the Wilko property providing a marvellous sight for those who recall the tram service which once arrived more or less at the same point (but from Gynn Square and along Dickson Road) bringing travellers to Blackpool North Station - from Bispham, Cleveleys and Fleetwood. Now if only someone could get a move on and demolish the depressing Wilko structure in its entirety so that the extension work can be completed in 2019. Both Images : Colin MacLeod - good on you Colin and Happy Birthday !

Taking benefit from checking out the roof of Centenary 641 this week Colin MacLeod took the opportunity to record two of Blackpool's sponsored trams in service yesterday. Blackpool Transport's by now fragile (heritage) Inspectors 'Office' functioning as a Heritage Tours information point in season - is captured at the Pleasure Beach loop as one of the 'Pretty Little Things' heads northbound. While below : the slightly ominous JD Sports effort is en route to Starr Gate on its first day in service. Nul Points for design on this tram. Both Images : Colin MacLeod PS Happy Birthday Colin - telegram fr

A remarkably warm and sunny morning saw Colin MacLeod take advantage of the weather to carry out housekeeping on the roof of Centenary 641 which has stood through winter and summer extremes at the Pleasure Beach. Essential weatherproofing is needed at some points which Colin was attending to. The tram's bogies got another coating of black paint in recent weeks to offset the seaspray laden showers, together with salt and sand that tend to discolour external surfaces. As Blackpool's once cream painted tram fleet can attest to. Below : Colin peers over the roof of Centenary 641 from his housekeeping chores. Below : A smart Catch22Bus and BTS Driver Training take the air at the Pleasure

The new title 'Broadway to Blackpool' by Rigby Road Publishing is now with the printer and we are expecting copies next week. Preliminary work is now underway for the Blackpool bus book. Talbot Road continues to reveal its secrets as contractors uplift levels of surface roadway that has long covered the first generation tramline serving Layton. Contractors are busy at both ends of the extension with Talbot Square traffic flow being reconfigured to allow the track connection on to the Promenade; while the focus on completing the tramway up to the Wilko entrance is advancing quickly. Some images taken today of the activity. Above : the approach into Talbot Square from Talbot Road with new

Contractors are now immensely busy completing track installation on Talbot Road. Work is also beginning on preparing ground for the double track junction leading into Talbot Square from the Promenade tramway. However the most impressive activity presently underway is directly in front of the entrance to the Wilko property on the corner of Dickson Street and Talbot Road. Ironically this was the site of the original North Station (or as it was first called 'Talbot Road Station') terminal building with red brick frontage and elegant Edwardian arched glass canopy interior. What an immense heritage prize this would have been if saved from demolition to be replaced by the grim concrete 'Lubyan

Two less familiar trams on the Fylde coast having their centre entrances covered over this week ahead of the winter's deprivations.