Any working ex-Blackpool trams on heritage lines?

[wagwan my g]

It's not a genuine blackpool tram so not sure if it's still of interest to you, but there's one based on a blackpool tram at seaton tramway, tram number 4.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Looking at some notes from a visit to Beamish: The Living Museum of the North on 18th September 2019, I see that I took a ride on the Blackpool Corporation Transport Tram No. 31.

I didn't see the Blackpool Corporation Transport Tower Wagon No. 749. I assume that this was in the new shed which may not be open to the public, although I'm not sure of that.

I'd recommend a visit to Beamish, because it's much more than just one thing. It's also pretty easy to get to, as there's buses direct to the entrance.

 

[bluegoblin7]

I've also heard it as 'Creek'.

My colleague is a Derbyshire lass (from Alfreton) and pronounced it like "Cr-eye-k". I think as long as you don't say "Crikk" you're ok!

It is definitely Cr-eye-ch. Cr-itch holds some weight with locals but anything with a ‘k’ ending will get you confused looks.

I didn't see the Blackpool Corporation Transport Tower Wagon No. 749. I assume that this was in the new shed which may not be open to the public, although I'm not sure of that.

749 is in the Regional Museum Store (RMS) and is not on public display. The RMS is the large building by the railway station, disguised as ‘Beamish Waggon and Iron Works’.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

749 is in the Regional Museum Store (RMS) and is not on public display. The RMS is the large building by the railway station, disguised as ‘Beamish Waggon and Iron Works’.

Ah, I did see that, but I don't think that it was all open - thanks.

 

[bluegoblin7]

Even during ‘normal’ times the RMS is a closed store.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Even during ‘normal’ times the RMS is a closed store.

Yes, on checking, all I have is an external image of it.

 

[WesternLancer]

I'll quote my own post - the Northern Explorer 55+ won't get me as far as Alfreton....Buxton is the furthest.

Northern Rail to Ilkeston then EMR ticket for the short leg onwards (in theory), complicates the trip obv.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Oct 2020 ==

No its not a steep walk its a very steep walk! I think there is a bus from Whatstandwell though?

Yes, steep but short if you take the path from the station footbridge over the canal and then up narrow section with steps IIRC between the houses and then across 2 or 3 fields. Does not take too long when I've done it - noting @Howardh profile pic it should hold no great problems! Sense of achievement when you get there (I think they used to do a discount entry if you arrived by public transport too, and this may still be an option). Obv bus and taxi choices are also detailed.

Buxton towards Derby on the Transpeak Bus is probably an option but then needs a bus change in Matlock, or alight Whatstandwell Station and do the same walk as if arrived by train from the south.

If this link works the footpath is clearly marked on the OS map (may be best to zoom to higher scale)

https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=435500&y=354500&z=120&sv=crich&st=3&tl=Map+of+Crich,+Derbyshire+[City/Town/Village]&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf

Even with a reduced offer Crich is superb in what has been achieved there, and the Gift Aid ticket allowing return visits can be excellent value.

Staying in Derby and combining it with other things (eg Midland Railway Centre or Geat Central or Wirksworth Branch) is a good idea - Hallmark hotel right near the station has a budget offer just across from the classic Midland Railway Hotel on the Forecourt.

 

[Howardh]

Northern Rail to Ilkeston then EMR ticket for the short leg onwards (in theory), complicates the trip obv.

My railcard reduces the cost to little more than the explorer.
Crich is inside the Manchester wayfarer zone, but unless I want to go via a tortuous and lengthy route via Buxton, I would have to leave the zone and come back in!

 

[WesternLancer]

My railcard reduces the cost to little more than the explorer.
Crich is inside the Manchester wayfarer zone, but unless I want to go via a tortuous and lengthy route via Buxton, I would have to leave the zone and come back in!

I see, no doubt you will have clear idea of what works best!

 

[Waldgrun]

An effort was made to reopen the Havant to Hayling Island line in the Mid 1960's, it was proposed that the line would be electrified via an overhead line at tramway voltage to enable the use of trams, which would have reduced the maintenance costs for Langston bridge. In fact Blackpool no.11 spent several years in the goods yard at Havant before moving on. I was told many years later, that a "Feltham" tram from Leeds was also obtained, but could have been a problem with only 6 inches of clearance under the East Street road bridge at Havant! If this had come to pass it would have fitted the O.P.'s question!

 

[Leyther]

With regard to Bolton 66.
I only recall seeing the tram in Blackpool in the early 1980's after its restoration.
Don't recollect seeing it in Blackpool before then!

 

[Howardh]

Well, there goes that. had it more-than pencilled in for Thursday next week, but looks like I'll be subject to a travel ban as I live in the North.

 

[Shenandoah]

There, hopefully, is more of a chance for a decent visit next year to Crich. Regarding distance I visited Crich a few years ago - by car - and I am 300 miles away.

 

[bluegoblin7]

With regard to Bolton 66.
I only recall seeing the tram in Blackpool in the early 1980's after its restoration.
Don't recollect seeing it in Blackpool before then!

You’re quite right - arrived 1981! Missed a line on my records, oops! Still, 39 years - including the operation of ‘normal’ public transport services on occasion - isn’t bad going!

 

[vectra33]

Heaton park in Manchester is the easiest to get to, if you want to see the trams close up.
Get the metrolink from Man Victoria to Heaton Park stop and its a 10 minute to the depot and stop at "boating lake" then catch the vintage tram to the "tram museum" site .
tickets are £2 return, or £5 all day but they only run at weekends (currently closed due to virus).
If you look on the website, they also offer "drive a tram " experience, the one hour lesson gives you 15 minutes at the controls and 2 runs up and down the reserved track, it was only £25 when I did it last year, you can also do a full day driving but that was about £150.
As noted above they have
Blackpool 2 rail grinder /tow car
619 currently being re painted and major service
623 working
702 stored in lakeside depot
680 on loan to blackpool
708 stored in blackpool

 

[Julia]

Stumbled across one in San Francisco last year. The route is a heritage one in the sense that only heritage trams operate the F line, Embarcadero-Castro, but it's part of a bigger system.

 

[nferguso]

The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway at Wirksworth has a former Blackpool tram in the care of Stored Energy Technology Limited.

Details here: https://www.set-gb.com/index.php/innovation/wheel-motor

 

[Howardh]

The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway at Wirksworth has a former Blackpool tram in the care of Stored Energy Technology Limited.

Details here: https://www.set-gb.com/index.php/innovation/wheel-motor

https://www.set-gb.com/images/SET/Masthead/636.jpg (fronto of an old Blackpool tram) - how much more beautiful do you want?

 

[gimmea50anyday]

There are a couple of non-operational Blackpool trams stored at North East Land Sea and Air Museum near Nissans plant at Washington. These may be the North East Electrical Traction Trust trams mentioned further up but they may be viewed when the museum is open for visitors, tickets are often sold on Groupon. There are some Blackpool buses also stored in the same building.

 

[Ianno87]

Stumbled across one in San Francisco last year. The route is a heritage one in the sense that only heritage trams operate the F line, Embarcadero-Castro, but it's part of a bigger system.

There are a couple of non-operational Blackpool trams stored at North East Land Sea and Air Museum near Nissans plant at Washington. These may be the North East Electrical Traction Trust trams mentioned further up but they may be viewed when the museum is open for visitors, tickets are often sold on Groupon. There are some Blackpool buses also stored in the same building.

The National Capitol Trolley Museum just outside Washington DC has an operational Open Boat car.

 

[bluegoblin7]

Stumbled across one in San Francisco last year. The route is a heritage one in the sense that only heritage trams operate the F line, Embarcadero-Castro, but it's part of a bigger system.

There are two Boats in SF, 228 and 233. They run on both the F-Market and E-Embarcadero.

The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway at Wirksworth has a former Blackpool tram in the care of Stored Energy Technology Limited.

Details here: https://www.set-gb.com/index.php/innovation/wheel-motor

Brush car 636. Long term test bed for SET (operating also in Blackpool and later stored just outside Derby).

There are a couple of non-operational Blackpool trams stored at North East Land Sea and Air Museum near Nissans plant at Washington. These may be the North East Electrical Traction Trust trams mentioned further up but they may be viewed when the museum is open for visitors, tickets are often sold on Groupon. There are some Blackpool buses also stored in the same building.

Yes, the NEETT collection is based at NELSAM. I hadn't appreciated that they had re-opened.

The National Capitol Trolley Museum just outside Washington DC has an operational Open Boat car.

Boat 606.



All of these are covered in my message above:

Spoiler: Quoted message

I think most of the Blackpool trams have been washed up above, but here’s an exhaustive list. Those marked * are operational, those with a ^ are usually operational but not for this year (this is non-exhaustive). Vehicles with a + are not on public display. Long-term 'foreign' residents are included, short term visitors (for e.g. 1985 or 2010 anniversary events) are not.

Crich Tramway Village / the National Tramway Museum

• Blackpool & Fleetwood ‘Rack’ 2, 1898
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 2+, 1935 (Railgrinder)
• Blackpool Tramways Company 4, 1894
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 5+, 1972
• Blackpool & Fleetwood 'Box' 40^, 1914
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 40*, 1926
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 49, 1926
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 59+, 1902
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 166^, 1927
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 167*, 1928
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 236*, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 249, 1935
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 298+, 1937
• Blackpool Transport Services 630^, 1937,
• Blackpool Transport Services 762^, 1982
• Blackpool Corporation Transport Electric Loco*, 1927 (Electric locomotive; used for shunting & recovery purposes)

Beamish: The Living Museum of the North - No trams are expected to operate at Beamish this year

• Blackpool Corporation Transport 31^, 1901
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 749+, 1901 (Tower wagon)

East Anglia Transport Museum, Carlton Colville

• Blackpool Corporation Transport 11*, 1939
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 159*, 1927
• Sheffield Corporation Transport 513*, 1950 (Although not a native Blackpool vehicle, the car was resident at Blackpool 1984/5 and 2001-2011; owned by Beamish Museum)

Heaton Park Tramway - No trams are expected to operate at Heaton Park this year

• Blackpool Corporation Transport 1+, 1920 (Railgrinder)
• Stockport Corporation Transport 5+, 1901 (Although not a native Blackpool vehicle, the car was resident at Blackpool 1996-2002 and 2003-2011)
• Blackpool Transport Services 619+, 1987 (Replica Vanguard)
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 623^, 1937
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 680*, 1935 (On loan to Blackpool)
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 702+, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 708+, 1934 (Stored in Blackpool)

Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust - All trams are non-operational and not on public display

• Blackpool Corporation Transport 290, 1937 (At Rigby Road)
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 637, 1937
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 641, 1984
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 673+683, 1961
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 678, 1961
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 687, 1960
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 710, 1934

North East Electrical Traction Trust - All trams are non-operational and not on public display

• Blackpool Transport Services 647, 1988
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 674+684, 1960
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 721, 1934

Blackpool Trams in Exile - Vehicles are in various locations around the world; 2020 operational statuses are not confirmed except for San Francisco

• Blackpool Corporation Transport 48, 1928 - Oregon Electric Railway Museum
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 144*, 1925 - Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport, Maine
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 226, 1934 - Western Railroad Museum, California
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 228*, 1934 - San Francisco E-Embarcadero/F-Market
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 233*, 1934 - San Francisco E-Embarcadero/F-Market
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 606*, 1934 - National Capitol Trolley Museum, Washington D.C.
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 622+, 1935 - Anchorsholme Primary School, Blackpool
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 626+, 1935 - Knowlsey Docks, the Wirral
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 636, 1935 - Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Wirksworth
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 637+, 1935 - Fleetwood Docks
• Blackpool Transport Services 643+, 1986 - Brooke School, Rugby
• Blackpool Transport Services 644+, 1986 - Farmer Parr's, Fleetwood

Blackpool Trams in Blackpool - Vehicles remain in Blackpool as part of the tramway's Heritage Tram Tours or B fleet, or stored for third party organisations. Most usually reside in Rigby Road depot but can occasionally be seen in Starr Gate depot. All non-operational vehicles are not on public display

• Blackpool Corporation Transport 8, 1974
• Lytham Corporation Tramway 43, 1924
• Bolton Corporation Tramways 66*, 1901 (Although not a native Blackpool vehicle, the car has been resident at Blackpool since 1963, longer than spent working for Bolton Corporation [1901-1946])
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 143, 1924
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 147*, 1924
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 227*, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 230^, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 259, 1937
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 272+T2, 1960
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 279, 1935
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 304, 1952
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 600*, 1934
• Blackpool Transport Services 611 'Trampower', 1995
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 621*, 1937
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 625, 1937
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 631*, 1937
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 632, 1937
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 634, 1937
• Blackpool Transport Services 642*, 1986
• Blackpool Transport Services 645, 1987
• Blackpool Transport Services 648*, 1990
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 660, 1953
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 663, 1953
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 671+681, 1960
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 675+685, 1958
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 676+686, 1958
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 700*, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 701*, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 703, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 704, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 706, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 707*, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 709, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 711*, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 713*, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 715*, 1935
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 717*, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 718*, 1934
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 719^, 1935
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 720, 1935
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 723*, 1935
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 724, 1935
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 726, 1935
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 732 'Rocket', 1961
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 733+734 'Western Train', 1962
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 735 'Hovertram', 1963
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 736 'Frigate', 1965
• Blackpool Corporation Transport 737 'Trawler', 2001
• Blackpool Transport Services 761, 1979

----

Crich is definitely recommended for a visit (although I would say that as a working volunteer), although it is particularly troublesome to reach via public transport at the moment. In addition to the reduced timetables, an ongoing road closure coming from the Matlock direction adds significant journey time. A taxi from Whatstandwell or Alfreton station is reasonable, although should be booked in advance, and would be significantly quicker. The walk from Whatstandwell is up a steep hill, but is manageable and on made roads, it takes around 30 minutes for a person with average fitness. Tickets remain valid for 12 months from date of first use (if Gift Aided); a return in 'normal' times would be advised as current operations may mean only one tram ride is possible (they must be pre-booked on the day), and some attractions and the tram depots are closed. It is not possible to board any of the non-operational vehicles, with the exception of Balloon 249 in the Great Exhibition Hall (I am not sure if this is still accessible in the current reduced offer, however) which can be boarded (lower deck only). In all cases, this is for a combination of safety and conservation reasons (genuinely, it isn't an excuse; as a designated collection at an accredited museum, Crich has responsibilities above and beyond that of the 'average' heritage railway and more in line with those of the NRM).

Hope this all helps.

 

[Malcmal]

Tim Dunn recently tweeted a video of a Blackpool tram running at Crich:

https://twitter.com/MrTimDunn/status/1315302461209411584