Tram Talk

John Woodman, Frank Heald, Colin MacLeod A squally rain cloud overcast afternoon was an appropriate backdrop to a planned visit by Johnny Vegas and his team player Beverley, together with a filming cameraman adept at prolonging set directing in all weather. The purpose of the visit was to take a firsthand look at the Trust's trams stored at Wyre Dock. A very well known and popular television 'personality' Mr Vegas has a very strong commitment to preserving old vehicles w

John Woodman Like Blackpool the Portuguese city of Oporto, managed to retain its traditional tramway well into the present century albeit having relegated a riverfront line exclusively to a heritage service. The city's longlasting 1920s (and earlier) tram fleet provided museums in the US and Europe as well as the UK, with examples of classic cars. Both the Beamish Museum and National Tramway Museum at Crich own and operate examples from this Portuguese city. Towards the dem

John Woodman A sampling of the more recent double deck buses which became familiar to passengers on Blackpool's bus routes - and the fleet styling unique to the resort's operator. All images by : John Woodman

John Woodman Sixty years ago in 1961 the last trams rumbled along Lytham Road to the terminus opposite Squires Gate Airport. With deteriorating tracks and inevitable complaints from residents living along this tree lined suburb, some with influential positions with the Council, it was inevitable that the tram service would be the first to be replaced by buses - following a policy laid down during the late 1950s. New rear entrance buses had already been ordered (311 - 330)

John Woodman i believe it was in the 1980s that I first became involved with the group in Church Gresley working on restoring the lower saloon of former Burton & Ashby Railway number 14. This came about after I read in Modern Tramway an article by the late John Price on the tram's survival and condition. At the time I was in correspondence and by phone with Alex Pollock, then working in the Mayor's office in Detroit, Alex had successfully secured funding and approvals for

John Woodman The pending upgrade and replacement of the originating Metro fleet with new equipment being built by Stadler has prompted an offer by Nexus - the Metro operating company, to donate five of their British built units for community use in the Tyne and Wear area. London Underground carriages were similarly acquired some time ago after withdrawal and resited on top of a building in the east of the city where they are in use as graphics design and creative arts units.

John Woodman Yet a further announcement of additional capital largesse is being assigned to transport authorities of English 'City Regions' to facilitate investment this week. Both West Midlands and Greater Manchester clinching further funding for new light rail lines and extensions, on top of the already sizeable piggy banks awarded by Central Government to both Authorities. Blackpool's Unitary Authority has to be grateful for the miniscule contribution to its less than qu

John Woodman The death earlier this year of Doreen Lofthouse saw the town of Fleetwood lose its most stalwart supporter and benefactor. Through varied grants and donations the Lofthouse Family over the years have funded a lengthening list of material contributions to the town including creation of a permanent foundation - The Lofthouse Foundation. The Foundation supports projects and social programmes for the benefit of Fleetwood and the community. Of particular relevance

John Woodman Blackpool was treated to an overnight visit by Derek and Sarah Redmond yesterday en route north to visit relatives in Cumbria. As many readers know. and others suspect, Derek is a 'grey eminence; in the affairs of the Tramway Museum Society at Crich. I made his acquaintance naturally in Blackpool in the late 1950s when we met while jointly photographing trams - no surprise there. Our shared interest subsequently saw us chasing the surviving tram routes in L

John Woodman Another exotic contract came to Burlingham's Preston New Road factory during the 1930s. This involved delivery of a batch of single deck modern buses for the operator of services to Ramleh; Ramleh Electric Railways. A total of twelve impressive centre entrance vehicles on Leyland Tigress chassis were shipped out from Liverpool docks (below) to Alexandria. Below : Loading one of the shipment onboard at Liverpool. Both Images : BCVM Library