TRAMTALK

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 route to and from North Station. Clifton Street takes on a whole new look with the new hotel structure now nearing completion facing on to the Square. Whilst facing the new hotel - Blackpool Town Hall needs its own facelift

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 south Fylde coastline to Lytham; as well as Fleetwood, Poulton, together with other diverse destinations. Not since the days of Walter Luff in the 1930s has Blackpool's transport had such a determined and visionary team

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 for the high budget charge - pointing to the extensive ground work needed to ensure the tree roots were carefully controlled under pavements and roadway. Neat metal ringed fencing was positioned around each tree providing

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 somewhat late hour. The extra length and lack of any braking fixtures on the tram made the task of both loading and unloading particularly difficult. Nonetheless with a lot of muscle power and joined up endeavour 641 was fi

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 successive route closures and run down of the fleet. Now confined to the long coastal route the trams have diminished further in both numbers while limited to a single type ordained by the upgrade to light rail standards in 2

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 years online I felt it was time to see the actuality of their work. Their annual open day/weekend this month brought the opportunity to combine an extended trip almost as far as Brighton, with a visit to my wife's cousin a

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 from his or her days working with BTS and/or its previous Corporation Department - we welcome being contacted online through our Shop page. Given the delay in producing this especial tome - the former title 'Tilling Steve

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 handful of highlighted schemes around Manchester, Liverpool and possibly one or two other northern urban centres. This past week has seen a combined Page One Headline banner campaign launched by most newspapers serving town

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 entrance bodywork of Blackpool coach builder - HV Burlingham. One Preston tram from that first generation system actually made it to the Fylde coast. The Lytham St Annes Corporation tramway bought a single double deck car to a

At the end of a lengthy stay on the display track at the Pleasure Beach loop Centenary Car 641 owned by the FHLT is now scheduled to return to Fleetwood. Heavily disguised in the colours of the social group sponsoring the tram over the past two years - 641 will rejoin its fellow FHLT cars stored at Wyre Dock towards the end of this month. Below : an interior view of the tram following its mid-life refit at Rigby Road Works. Centenary Car 641 in its final BTS all over BFC 'tangerine' livery at Wyre Dock.

Thanks to the efforts (and funding) of the stalwarts behind the former Lancastrian Transport Trust (now the Fylde Transport Trust) - we can look forward to the reemergence of not one, not two, but three classic trams of previous era (1920s/1930s/1950s). Through the initiatives of a handful of local enthusiasts : Standard Car 143, English Electric Rail Coach 279 and Coronation Car 304 are all in the throes of being returned to operational condition for use on heritage tours and special events. Below : the superb profile rendition of Standard 143 in its as built condition with open driver's platform and balconies - drawn by the Late Ian Stewart. Below : The same tram in its postwar ser

No not Blackpool. West Midlands has a singular tram service connecting Wolverhampton with the centre of Birmingham. Its CAF built tram fleet now operating the lengthy and mostly reserved track line replaced original Italian models all now retired but one remains at the depot on open display as a nostalgia piece. Whereas the system used ticket machines at its stations stops (all very smart and clean) the operator has opted for roving conductors who now are present on each unit. However unlike Blackpool one conductor suffices (although possibly weekday peaks may need two?). At the existing and now temporary terminus adjoining New Street (Grand Central) Station the trams use the inbound l

One of the noteworthy aspects of Blackpool's townscape is the highly creditable condition and appearance of Blackpool Transport buses. Whether they are of the former yellow and black colours or in the current Palladium branding, double deck or single deck; their external condition is a credit to Rigby Road's Garage and maintenance team. In former times (1950s and 60s') Blackpool Corporation Transport's vehicle output was always immaculate in then municipal green and cream livery. The once prevalent chrome trim was disappearing from vehicle panels - to the relief of the cleaners no doubt. The condition of vehicles was nearly always kept clean before entering service. It was only during t

Britain's relationship with the United States of America was born amid misplaced assumptions on the part of the UK Parliament with the Monarch George III on the fast changing ethos of established thriving economies of the thirteen Colonies on the north eastern seaboard of America. Fundamental flaws of presumption by the Mother Country over citizens thousands of miles distant and attainable only by fraught sea journeys under sail - led inexorably to a bitter extended war which ultimately saw the British Army surrender to the Continental Army raised by the newly constituted States and led by General Washington at Yorktown. Aided by a French naval blockade, Britain bowed to the cause of indep

In contrast to the protesting scenes in the capital today and obnoxious utterings of London's Mayor - a certain Sadiq Khan - we utilise today's blog with some images from the United States and happy memories of trolley museum travels. Below : Two former Third Avenue Railway lightweight cars returned from postwar exile in Vienna to the Branford (CT) Museum. TARS 629 seen here in company of two exotic works cars at the Museum. Nearer to home - TARS 674 displayed at the Crich Museum and seen here during my visit last month - well kept but sadly little used. Below : A marvellous Baltimore convertible in immaculate condition at that city's trolley museum and its visitor centre turning circle

On the eve of the state visit to the UK by the President of the United States - a tip of the hat to the capital and Blackpool's representation near Washington DC. Boat Car 606 was the 'swap' agreed by BTS with the now long closed Gerald Brookins Museum for its Blackpool Standard Car 147. Transferred over to Ohio in its later blue and yellow colour scheme adopted for the Glasgow Garden Festival and retained on return to the resort the tram is still smartly adorned with this distinctive colour scheme today. Robert Burgener, volunteer at the National Capital Trolley Museum (with its impressive depot building - left) sent this recent closeup of 606 stored in the Museum. A fire at the former

A further look at the eclectic fleet of trams displayed at the Museum : Resplendent in British Railways malachite green colours applied to electric rolling stock in the 1950s - no fancy graphics studio stuff in those days. Grimsby & Immingham 14 - an example of mainline railway company tram operation way way back now. Burton & Ashby 14 springs to mind as another example fortunately preserved. Standing in the corner facing the wall like an errant schoolboy. Blackpool Standard car 49 is kept out of public gaze having been condemned to be a static exhibit many years ago but seemingly in pristine condition. Something to do with the roof cladding one is told. The Museum's exhibit from a