Snow on the Fylde Coast but no trams ventured out

Blackpool Enviro 581 in Cleveleys at 0740, on the 0734 service to Lytham

Blackpool and the Fylde Coast received a covering of snow during the night of 4th and 5th January. The conditions would have been ideal for photos of the Flexity trams running through the snow in the morning, but sadly Blackpool Transport decided to keep the trams in the depot, despite operating bus services, issuing the following message at 06:50 "Due to the current snowfall and the safety issues it is causing the tram service is suspended until further notice." A situation update was posted at 10:07 "Due to the snow on the ground our trams are still not running as it is unsafe to do so." Cancelling the tram service seemed to be rather an overreaction, especially as their buses were running ok on snow covered roads. Trams run on rails so they can hardly skid off their route like a bus can.

Cleveleys tram station at 0755, but unfortunately no trams in the snow as BTS cancelled the service

A Pictorial Celebration of the Last Five Years of Heritage Trams in Blackpool

Balloon 700 and Boat 600 passing each other near the Metropole Hotel in August 2024

On the 6th December Blackpool Transport published a message on their Heritage Tram Tours website regarding the future of the heritage operation.

"Following a thorough review, we have made the difficult decision to suspend our Heritage Tram Tours. Operating the Heritage Trams alongside our modern fleet has become increasingly challenging, with issues such as depot space, tram movements, general safety and maintenance conflicts making it difficult to continue running the service effectively. This decision was not taken lightly, but we believe it is the most practical step to support the evolving needs of our business and maintain the overall efficiency of our operations."

Suspend could mean a pause in operations, a lengthy stoppage or a complete suspension of the service.

Following the initial ambiguous message, Jane Cole (the Managing Director of BTS) issued an update on 10th December which contained the following statement:

“I can confirm that the future of our heritage trams is safe and we aim to have them back on the Promenade next year. However, before that can happen there are a number of complex operational issues that need to be addressed."

While the M.D.'s expressed sentiments would appear to be laudable, the phrase "We aim to have them back" does not necessarily mean that the heritage trams will in fact be back, just that they aim to do so. As with any suspended operation, the longer that the suspension drags on, the easier it is for it to become a permanent situation if too many other factors conspire against it. 

Click the link below to see the full Heritage Tram Tour announcement.

https://blackpoolheritage.com/heritage-operations-update/

While it is to be hoped that this isn't the end for our wonderful heritage tram service, a gallery of most of the heritage trams that have seen use over the last five years is shown as a tribute.

Brush Car 621 at Anchorsholme crossing in January 2020

Balloon 723 heading south past the Imperial Hotel in August 2024

Boat 600 passing the Alice in Wonderland illuminations tableau near Lowther Avenue in August 2022

Brush car 631 at Ash Street in Fleetwood, on the last heritage tour of the weekend on 26th September 2021

Balloon 715 southbound on North Albert Street in Fleetwood in June 2021

Standard 143 leaving the Pleasure Beach loop while out on test in April 2022

Centenary Car 648 passing Cafe Marina on North Albert Street in Fleetwood in August 2022

Boat 227 passing the Spitfire at Gynn Square in August 2020

Standard 147 at Gynn Square on a Promenade Tour in August 2020

Balloon 718 pausing at Bispham on its way north to Fleetwood in September 2023

Blackpool's oldest tram, Bolton 66, passing the newest tram, Flexity 018, at North Pier in April 2023

Balloon 701 northbound on the Golden Mile in January 2020

Centenary 642 at North Pier on its way to Starr Gate in September 2021

Railcoach 680 at Bispham, with a BTS ADL Enviro400 City passing by in September 2023

Balloon 707 making its debut on heritage service in March 2020 after a repaint into green and cream

The Western Train at Cabin heading to the Pleasure Beach in May 2023

The frigate passing through Cleveleys, returning from a trip to Fleetwood in August 2022

The Trawler southbound at the Cabin in May 2023

Balloon 723 received a special vinyl wrap for The Magical Express Tour in November 2021

Mersey Ferry Royal Daffodil to become a Floating Restaurant

The Royal Daffodil while still in use as a Mersey Ferry on 23rd July 2006

The former Mersey Ferry MV Royal Daffodil has received a multi-million pound renovation to convert her into a floating restaurant. The Daffodil was moved to her new home at Canning Dock in Liverpool on 18th November, where she is due to open for customers on 9th December. The ferry began service in 1962 as the MV Overchurch, being renamed Royal Daffodil in 1999 after undergoing a major refit, before finally being withdrawn from service in December 2012.

The Royal Daffodil moored in West Float Dock, Birkenhead in October 2012

A new MCV Evora joins the Transpora North West fleet

MCV Evora BD74FKE at Fleetwood on service 24 to Blackpool on 14th November

A third Volvo B8R MCV Evora has joined the Transpora North West fleet for their operations on the Fylde Coast. Evora BD74FKE is currently in as delivered white livery without any branding, and before its recent move north it was in use on rail replacement work in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The latest Evora joins sister vehicles BV24LNA and BV24LNC, which have been in operation on service 24 since July and August respectively.

BD74FKE turning from Rossall Road into Westbourne Road in Cleveleys

BD74FKE on Rough Lea Road in Cleveleys

Evora 1307 (BV24LNC) on Fleetwood Road North in Thornton on 10th August

Evora 1306 (BV24LNA) at Fleetwood Ferry on 19th July

Ben-my-Chree stands in for Manxman on the Heysham Service

The Ben-my-Chree passing the wind turbine support vessel GMS Endeavour on 3rd October

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ferry Manxman sailed from Douglas to the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead on Monday 30th September, for a period of scheduled maintenance. The Manxman entered service on the Douglas to Heysham route on 17th August last year, and this is the ships first extended period of layup since then. Standing in for the Manxman on the Heysham service for a few weeks will be the Ben-my-Chree, the previous regular ferry that operated the route since 1998.

The Ben-my-Chree passing the legs of the old Wyre Light lighthouse near Fleetwood

The Ben-my-Chree and the high speed catamaran Dublin Swift heading towards Barrow

The Manxman at Heysham on its inaugural passenger sailing from Douglas on 17th August 2023

Collett Transport move 198 Tonne Transformer by road from Heysham

The 198 tonne transformer on the A683 Bay Gateway link road from Heysham to the M6

Welsh Power moved a huge electricity transformer from the Port of Heysham in Lancashire to Longtown, north of Carlisle in Cumbria on Saturday 21st September. The operation began at 9am and lasted for around 12 hours. The 198 tonne transformer, was moved by Collett Transport on its Scheuerle 550 tonne capacity girder bridge trailer, that is more than six metres wide. The load travelled from Heysham Port along the A683 Bay Gateway link road to the M6, then north up the M6 from junction 34 near Lancaster through Cumbria, straddling two lanes of the carriageway. Once in Cumbria, the transporter parked on a closed lane of the M6 exit slip road at junction 39 near Shap for a scheduled break, before resuming its journey north to Scotland. After the break at junction 39 the transformer continued northwards, where its ultimate destination was to be the new Welsh Power Grid Stability Plant at Gretna. The load travelled along the M6 at around 12 mph, and motorists were asked to exercise extra care when overtaking in lane three of the motorway.

The transformer heading north on the M6 at Nether Kellet

The transformer heading east on the A683 Bay Gateway link road from Heysham

The transformer about to join the M6 at junction 34 near Lancaster

The transformer and escort vehicles joining the M6 at junction 34 near Lancaster

Collett's transporter on the entry slip road to the M6 at junction 34 near Lancaster

Police escort vehicles controlling traffic flow as the transformer joins the M6 at junction 34

The transformer approaching Nether Kellet as it heads north along the M6

The transformer heading north along the M6 at Nether Kellet

The transformer heading north to Scotland on the M6 near Nether Kellet

Transpora North West ADL Enviro200 Fleet Changes

Newly arrived Enviro200 1331 (VX71OGY) on Westbourne Road in Cleveleys on route 24 on 16th Sep

Former Transpora South West Enviro200 1331 (VX71OGY) has made the journey north to the Fylde Coast for use on Transpora North West's service 24. Leaving the Transpora North West fleet are ex-White Bus E200s YX68ULW and YX68ULY which are going to Centrebus. Pictured here are a selection of short ADL Enviro200s from three local operators in service around Cleveleys.

Enviro200 1331 (VX71OGY) turning out of Rough Lea Road in Cleveleys on 16th Sep

Enviro200 1332, which has now left the fleet, on Stanah Road in Thornton in July

Enviro200 YX68ULY, which has now left Transpora, at Cleveleys in May

Archway Travel E200 XK24SPV on route 75 in Cleveleys on 16th September

Blackpool Transport E200 233 in Cleveleys on service 1 to Blackpool on 16th September