Fat-Door-Ballons In Service

[northernrail]

Blackpools Fat-Door-Ballons (Refurbished with powered new doors) are entering service with 718 and 720 working in passenger service today.





Pics courtesy of Andrew Blood and http://www.tramways-monthly.com/

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

Top shots, Chief I've yet to sample one of these. Hopefully will get a ride this Sunday!

 

[valenta]

Indeed, some very nice photos. Haven't yet had the pleasure of riding on the Blackpool trams.

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

Indeed, some very nice photos. Haven't yet had the pleasure of riding on the Blackpool trams.

Now is the time! After November of this year, the traditional stuff will be no more.... well, in Blackpool at least! That's why we have places like Heaton Park

 

[valenta]

Now is the time! After November of this year, the traditional stuff will be no more.... well, in Blackpool at least! That's why we have places like Heaton Park

Never realised! Hopefully I will be able to take a trip soon!

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

You'll still have the refurbished Balloon cars (like the ones illustrated in the first post), a few preserved examples for tours and of course the new Flexity trams.

But the current fleet as we know it, it will all end Sunday 6th November

 

[umontu]

Will be nice to see some more of the old stock out and about.

Does anyone know what will happen to Rigby road depot when the new trams come in? I believe the new ones are being housed at Starr gate.

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

Will be nice to see some more of the old stock out and about.

Does anyone know what will happen to Rigby road depot when the new trams come in? I believe the new ones are being housed at Starr gate.

This is correct.

As regards to Rigby Road, not too sure tbh with you.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Last time I was there, I was told that Rigby Road will be where the remaining heritage fleet are to be kept, but obviously that will not require anything like the size of the facilities it currently is; I think they said part of the existing facilities will therefore be given over to the bus division.

 

[WatcherZero]

The Starr Gate depot will have capacity for six more than the ordered number of Flexity, guess that will be for the modified Baloons though. Theyve always been talking about a museum extension of the new depot but need funding from somewhere.

 

[umontu]

The Starr Gate depot will have capacity for six more than the ordered number of Flexity, guess that will be for the modified Baloons though. Theyve always been talking about a museum extension of the new depot but need funding from somewhere.

Would have expected Blackpool council to have jumped at an idea like that.

 

[northernrail]

Half of Rigby Road is to be ripped up and hopefully the track and overhead given to us at Heaton Park.
The Heritage Fleet is to see 18 days use a year (Excluding Private Hires)

The Last Weekend of traditional use is being marked with Tramways Monthly Organizing 2 Tours
http://www.tramways-monthly.com/tram-tours-2011

The Flexities should be along soon aswell.

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

Half of Rigby Road is to be ripped up and hopefully the track and overhead given to us at Heaton Park.

The Last Weekend of traditional use is being marked with Tramways Monthly Organizing 2 Tours
http://www.tramways-monthly.com/tram-tours-2011

Great news that alot of the Blackpool furniture is going for a second life

Also, I'm already booked on the two Jack Gordon tours! I'm tempted to book on the FTS farewell trip on the Sunday as well.

 

[umontu]

The Flexities should be along soon aswell.

I spoke to a conductor who said the first one (for testing and training) is arriving in December.

Been down to the prom cycling today. Typical Blackpool one guy let me cycle past then when I said "thank you" told me he didn't give a copulating act.
There was an old Metro scheme painted tram, outside of Rigby Road, being loaded on to a low loader for tram sunday at Fleetwood, loads of photographers watching.

Going to upload some photos of the work on going but under a new thread as they're unrelated.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Now is the time! After November of this year, the traditional stuff will be no more.... well, in Blackpool at least! That's why we have places like Heaton Park

Well said!!. The trouble is that November will be here and gone only too quickly.:cry:

It will give Heaton Park a higher profile, now that the line is up to the lake. Dont forget, they have a Blackpool connection in their preservation section.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Half of Rigby Road is to be ripped up and hopefully the track and overhead given to us at Heaton Park.

This will be excellant if it does happen.

 

[vectra33]

I spoke to a conductor who said the first one (for testing and training) is arriving in December.

.

The first one is expected by end of September for commisioning trials,I think the conductor was refering to staff training in December.

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

I spoke to a conductor who said the first one (for testing and training) is arriving in December.

There was an old Metro scheme painted tram, outside of Rigby Road, being loaded on to a low loader for tram sunday at Fleetwood, loads of photographers watching.

That'll be 'Balloon' 710! Can't wait to see the old girl back out in the open again! Last time I saw the car was residing in the depot, thick in dust!

 

[umontu]

That'll be 'Balloon' 710! Can't wait to see the old girl back out in the open again! Last time I saw the car was residing in the depot, thick in dust!

Aye that's her. Though she had covers over the old metro logo. There was another ballon tow barred on to her but my short term memory loss means I've forgotten which one.


vectra33 , that's most likely true he's someone I know well and it's likely he got it wrong.

 

[vectra33]

vectra33 , that's most likely true he's someone I know well and it's likely he got it wrong.

The first of the new Bombardier Flexity 2 trams are scheduled to arrive in August 2011, whereupon they will be tested on the stretch of line between the new Starr Gate depot and Pleasure Beach. Drivers will be trained over the winter ready for the new, state-of -the-art trams to take to the rails From Easter 2012


source

http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/service...aqs/whataretheplansfortheblackpooltramway.htm


The bombardier site says they will be delivered in September

 

[northernrail]

Not sure what the third balloon is but ive been told its in service, i think its either 700 or 713

 

[umontu]

Not sure what the third balloon is but ive been told its in service, i think its either 700 or 713

715 is out and aboot. Not sure if that's helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vwYX37C63M&feature=feedu

 

[northernrail]

Im in spain now so got no news on Blackpool, have anymore ventured out???
Or anything special??

 

[BestWestern]

Im in spain now so got no news on Blackpool, have anymore ventured out???
Or anything special??

Just returned from a very enjoyable weekend in dear old Blackpool, primarily to savour a last few rides on the town's soon-to-be gone heritage :cry: A top deck ride on an unmodified Balloon (715), with sea spray blowing in through the droplight windows, is pretty much bliss I think, and of course really quite special bearing in mind the sad circumstances overall :cry:

Anyway, to add my bit of info, out on saturday were 'porch'-fitted Milleniums 707 and 718 and Balloon 720, all wearing vinyl ads, along with green & cream 715 and ex-Wall's ice cream car 719, which still carries some of it's external plastic bolt-on trim, and it's hideous yellow interior! It's now in a gold and black vinyl ad for the Pleasure Beach, which looks nicer than the gaudy all-over bright blue it was wearing last time I saw it. Also out and about were 761 & 762.

Sunday saw both of the Milleniums and 761/2 out again, as well as the magnificent heritage-spec Balloon 717 'Phillip F Thorpe' and, joy of joys, a Progress Twin set, 672/682 Two further un-'porched' Balloons also made it out, 711 in Blackpool Zoo livery and 723 in Sands Resort black.

'Tram' sunday was a tad anticlimatic this year, with just the very down at heel 710 sitting on a low loader, looking slightly as though it was wondering what the hell was going on after spending the last 70 years in Blackpool! To the credit of those who now own it, somebody had very thoughtfully added some signs to the upstairs windows at one end which read 'Goodbye Blackpool 1934 - 2011', which I thought was a rather respectful touch. I'm not entirely sure where she was headed - perhaps somebody can fill us in? - but wherever it was, here's wishing fond farewels and all. It was nice to see some Atlanteans on display, three ex-Blackpool all together.

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

I didn't bother going to view/phot 710 in the end, the extreme weather put me off!

 

[northernrail]

710 going into storeage until a museum opens in Fleetwood I Think.

Im going to miss the twin sets the most of all... thats why im trying to get onto the November??? trip

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

710 going into storeage until a museum opens in Fleetwood I Think.

Im going to miss the twin sets the most of all... thats why im trying to get onto the November??? trip

710 is indeed going into storage. Some location in Fleetwood, not sure where though! Only until the Friends of Fleetwood Trams have got a place sorted for their proposed museum.

I will miss all the tramcars when they're gone. The balloon cars will survive as heavily refurbished examples but the Brush cars, Boat cars, Twin sets, Centenary cars, Jubilee cars will all pass inot history as far as Blackpool tram timetabled/prom special workings are concerned

Twin Set 2 is working TM's tour and Set 5 is working FTS's trip, all on Sunday 6th November.

 

[northernrail]

and 713 in service leaving 700, flat fronted 709 and 724.
711 and 719 should go in soon

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

723 is a big'un for this year, it'll be withdrawn and used for parts for other cars I'm led to believe...

 

[BestWestern]

723 is a big'un for this year, it'll be withdrawn and used for parts for other cars I'm led to believe...

That's rather sad Obviously there is a need for replacement parts etc, but they've managed for the last 70-odd years without resorting to cannibalising stuff

 

[northernrail]

and 709 aswell, there coming out thick and fast