Heritage fleet get ready for Easter The commissioning of members of the heritage fleet in Blackpool is almost completed ahead of their much anticipated return to the rails over the Easter holidays. In the past couple of months, a regular occurrence has been the journey of traditional trams from their base at Rigby Road to Starr Gate depot to receive the necessary electrical check over required before their resumption of use. This has continued throughout March, beginning on the 7th when Boat 230 and Centenary Car 648 returned to Rigby Road following a week outstationed at Starr Gate. Their place was taken by Twin Set 272+T2 which also spent a week undergoing attention, the first time the sole remaining serviceable Twin Set has moved since the penultimate day of the illuminations last year. After being declared fit for another year, 272+T2 were returned to Rigby Road on March 14th and the other two serviceable Boats, green and cream 600 and red and cream 227 were dispatched southwards, the first time either of these two trams had ever been stabled inside Starr Gate depot and the first journey beyond Pleasure Beach for either of them since 2009. Both Boats had had a much lengthier period of rest than the Twin Car with 600 having last ventured onto the promenade on a Fylde Tramway Society tour on August 31st and 227 undertaking a solitary tour of the illuminations on September 6th. Once both trams have received the necessary electrical attention, they are then expected to return to Rigby Road to await their first passenger duty of the year. In total, ten different trams have now been prepared for service this year, comprising Bolton 66, Standard 147, Princess Alice 706, Balloon 717, Twin Set 272+T2, Brush Car 631, Boats 227, 230 and 600 and Centenary Car 648, with the Western Train 733+734 and the Frigate 736 also available for use. This latter tram has received some repairs to its bow section recently, although it is now known whether it will require a move to Starr Gate before being declared fully serviceable. Of the trams which may potentially run in service during 2014, this leaves just four to be prepared for use, although both Balloon 701 and the Illuminated Trawler 737 are scheduled for much more extensive work and will thus not be available for Easter. The remaining two are Balloon 723, currently outstationed at Starr Gate as a snowplough, and Centenary Car 642 to be tackled and then the entire heritage fleet will be ready for a return to action. In addition, two other trams are expected to form part of the heritage fleet this year. Pantograph 167, on loan from the National Tramway Museum, will arrive towards the end of April and make its debut over the late May Bank Holiday whilst Balloon 700 is also expected to be seconded into the heritage fleet temporarily in honour of its impending eightieth birthday, a milestone which is due to be celebrated in suitable style over Easter. As always with Blackpool, there may be further surprises as the year unfolds but there are enough interesting vehicles already prepared to ensure a varied and diverse output over each of the planned heritage running days this year. The photo shows Boats 227 and 600, the two trams now in residence at Starr Gate, during one of last year’s heritage running days. The two trams are occupying the loops at Pleasure Beach, awaiting another northbound journey. Photo courtesy of Mike Poole.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 09:04:42 +0000
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