Tram Talk

The structural work on the former Yates Wine Lodge key site between Talbot Road and Clifton Street (named for local worthies in the 19th Century when one touched one's forelock to socially superior beings!) - is nearing completion. And what an impression it is making to the town centre's civic space. Dominating even the Town Hall, itself badly in need of a lot of tlc, the newbuild will forever change the look of Talbot Square, particularly when trams start to pass by en rou

Blackpool Transport Services Ltd. has a new Chair - Clr Paul Galley. Representing Anchorsholme Ward as Conservative Councillor over a decade - the Company has secured a strong proponent for public transport integration on the Fylde coast. Joining with fellow Directors and Managing Director Jane Cole, the BTS Board represents the interests of the community above and beyond the boundaries of Blackpool's Unitary Authority through its services Over Wyre to Knott End, and the s

It is rare that Blackpool hits the main news programmes with a hot topic featuring trees. But the town managed it this week with media attention being given to Cookson Street of all places. A neat row of ten saplings planted along a section of this town centre artery created a sensation with the price tab of £100K for this initiative of the Council. Long serving Alan Cavill, Deputy Chief Executive was wheeled out from nearby Bickerstaffe Offices to explain the reason fo

The long familiar outline of Centenary Car 641 on static display at the Pleasure Beach loop is no more. Under arrangements of Blackpool Council and Lightworks the tram was removed from the display track on Wednesday through the combined efforts of Scotts team and Blackpool Transport's Engineering Workshop Expert - John Houghton. Starting onsite in the morning 641 finally reached the Wyre Dock tram storage site of the FHLT in the evening with unloading completed at a somewh

The resort's tram system has justifiably been the focus of historians and enthusiasts through generations. Blackpool's bus system and its evolution from the commencement in 1921 has fared less well in terms of print coverage. However its history is no less fascinating given the individual styling of its vehicles through successive decades. Whereas the trams were once the mainstay of the municipal operation, their role diminished quickly at the onset of the 1960s with succe

I took the opportunity over the past weekend to travel down south with specific intention of seeing a tram restoration project well off the beaten path. In the lee of the South Downs and after traversing a single track lane on an uphill incline I finally emerged at the barred gate of land on which this rare (unique) example of a Brighton tramcar is being lovingly brought back to life. Having followed the progress of this small group of caring enthusiasts over several year

The Author is in the course of preparing the format for the Centenary volume on Blackpool's buses which will be published late 2020 (ie next year). Whilst he has an extensive collection of images and timetable material - he is on the lookout for personal photographs featuring crews or individual drivers/conductors posed with or inside their vehicles - and also at Rigby Road. If any reader has a relative or family member who previously worked on the 'buses' and has photos f

Centenary Car 641 masquerading in social networking colours and external artwork is being prepared for its retrieval later next week. The tram's tower gantry has been lifted off to ease transport, whilst the period illuminated tram signage affixed to an adjacent lighting pole has also been taken down. Some views taken today of the tram in its final condition. Below : Two purple trams pose for the camera The fender on the north end has been removed.

Amid the continuing Brexit saga - one storyline yet to reach its conclusion - there is also the strengthening undercurrent of resentment at London centric politics which dominate this country's condition : economic, social, financial, transport infrastructure, investment, cultural and much more. The much heralded 'Northern Powerhouse' launched by a previous administration with promise of a seachange in investment and development priorities - has yet to resonate beyond a han

The much talked about scheme to bring electric trams back to Preston - a town which gave up their first system during the 1930s in the frenetic push to replace trams with buses - heavily backed by nearby Leyland Motors. 'Bury a tram with a Titan' being a popular marketing slogan of that company. Blackpool buried two tram services with Titans in 1936. Layton and Central Drive lost their tram routes to the all-conquering Titan buses complete with streamlined centre entranc