Blackpool Tramway - October 1992

Saturday 3 October 1992 - Blackpool has long been a popular seaside destination. The trams and the famous Blackpool Tower playing a major (and by far the better) part of the atmosphere. Blackpool Transport began tramway operation in 1885 and today the tramway route is an 11 mile long line stretching from Fleetwood to Starr Gate. Balloon type tram number 720 was new in 1934/1935 was heading south bound for the Pleasure Beach. Blackpool Tower stands 518 feet/158 metres tall and was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It opened to the public May 1894 nine years after the town’s first trams operated.

Sunday 4 October 1992 - Blackpool Transport began tramway operation in 1885. The tramway today is an 11 mile long line stretching from Starr Gate in South Blackpool via Central Blackpool on to Bispham, Cleveleys and Fleetwood. Until the late 1960s the trams had traditionally been centre entrance/exit with a door on either side but in the 1970s a number of rebuilds were carried out making them suitable for driver only operation. Tram 761 was rebuilt in that style featuring a front entrance positioned by the driving cab plus a centre exit. It had a driving cab at each end and so each side looked the same resembling a two door bus. I believe the bodywork was assembled in the Blackpool Transport workshops using body kit materials supplied by Metal Sections Limited (Metsec), a company that supplied a lot of bus body kits to Hong Kong etc. Some of the mechanical components originated in 1930s trams. In this view tram 761 was seen near Leyburn Avenue, Bispham heading away from the camera towards Cleveleys. Blackpool’s trams had originally used the single pole method of electric collection but the pantograph style method of collection was introduced in later years. As a result the pantograph was mounted on a tower structure on single deck trams. On the reserved track sections of track the lines were protected with concrete fencing with pedestrian crossing gates provided every so often. Note the tram shelter on the right.

Sunday 4 October 1992 - Blackpool Transport began tramway operation in 1885. The tramway today is an 11 mile long line stretching from Starr Gate in South Blackpool via Central Blackpool on to Bispham, Cleveleys and Fleetwood. Until the late 1960s the trams had traditionally been centre entrance/exit with a door on either side but in the 1970s a number of rebuilds were carried out making them suitable for driver only operation. The layout featured a front entrance positioned by the driving cab plus a centre exit, there was a driving cab at each end and so each side looked the same resembling a two door bus. Some of the mechanical components originated in English Electric built 1930s trams. During the 1980s Blackpool Transport commissioned East Lancashire Coachbuilders to body a number of trams like 645 which was seen heading southbound near Leyburn Avenue, Bispham. The resulting bodywork used features normally seen on bus bodywork at the time. Blackpool’s trams had originally used the single pole method of electric collection but the pantograph style method of collection was introduced in later years. As a result the pantograph was mounted on a tower structure on single deck trams. On the reserved track sections of track the lines were protected with concrete fencing with pedestrian crossing gates provided every so often. Note the tram shelter on the right.

Sunday 4 October 1992 - Blackpool Transport tram stop on Queens Promenade at Leyburn Avenue, Bispham. The tramway is an 11 mile long line stretching from Starr Gate in South Blackpool via Central Blackpool on to Bispham, Cleveleys and Fleetwood.

Saturday 3 October 1992 - Blackpool has long been a popular seaside destination. The trams and the famous Blackpool Tower forming a unique atmosphere. Blackpool Transport began tramway operation in 1885 and today the tramway route is an 11 mile long line stretching from Fleetwood to Starr Gate. Until the late 1960s the trams had traditionally been centre entrance/exit with a door on either side but in the 1970s a number of rebuilds were carried out making them suitable for driver only operation. Tram 761 was rebuilt in that style featuring a front entrance positioned by the driving cab plus a centre exit. It had a driving cab at each end and so each side looked the same resembling a two door bus. I believe the bodywork was assembled in the Blackpool Transport workshops using body kit materials supplied by Metal Sections Limited (Metsec), a company that supplied a lot of bus body kits to Hong Kong etc. Some of the mechanical components originated in 1930s trams. In this view tram 761 was seen heading south bound for the Pleasure Beach followed by 720 which has the earlier Balloon body style. Blackpool’s trams had originally used the single pole method of electric collection but the pantograph style method of collection was introduced in later years. As a result the pantograph was mounted on a tower structure on single deck trams. Blackpool Tower stands 518 feet/158 metres tall and was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It opened to the public May 1894 nine years after the town’s first trams operated.

Saturday 3 October 1992 – Traditional looking Blackpool transport with two 1930s Balloon style trams passing on the seafront. Left, heading south to the Pleasure Beach, is tram 720 and right is tram 711 heading north to Fleetwood - and with a background typical garish seaside attractions, Blackpool Rock, bingo, waxworks and such.

Saturday 3 October 1992 - Blackpool has long been a popular seaside destination. The trams and the famous Blackpool Tower forming a unique atmosphere. Blackpool Transport began tramway operation in 1885 and today the tramway route is an 11 mile long line stretching from Fleetwood to Starr Gate. In this view we see Balloon type tram number 701 heading to the Pleasure Beach. It was new in 1934/1935 and wears a red and white ‘Routemaster’ livery to complement the former London vehicles that Blackpool operated for a time. Traditionally Blackpool trams and buses were cream and green. Alongside heading north is Fylde Borough Transport Optare Delta number 3 (H3 FBT) which was new in April 1991. Fylde Borough Transport was the former Lytham St. Annes Corporation undertaking which served these two more sedate coastal towns to the south of bustling Blackpool. Blackpool Transport took over Fylde Borough Transport in 1994.

Saturday 3 October 1992 – Traditional looking Blackpool transport with two 1930s Balloon style trams passing on the seafront. Left, heading south to the Pleasure Beach, is tram 720 and right is tram 711 heading north to Fleetwood - and with a background typical garish seaside attractions, Blackpool Rock, bingo, waxworks and such. 181-24 Saturday 3 October 1992 – Traditional looking Blackpool green and cream trams passing on the Promenade seafront. Double decker 1930s Balloon tram 709 is heading north showing the destination ‘Cabin’. This was the short form name for tram station near ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’, a notable public house on Queen’s Promenade at the corner of Knowle Avenue. This station is used as a terminal point for trams that do not proceed onward to Bispham and Fleetwood and features a switchover so trams can return to the southbound line. On the right heading south to the Pleasure Beach is tram 673, a late 1950s ‘Rail Car’ model which double its seating capacity by towing a trailer car most useful at busy times. Unlike the turning facility at Cabin, trams terminating at the Pleasure Beach that are not proceeding to Starr gate at southernmost end of the system turn on a sweeping loop line.

Sunday 4 October 1992 - Blackpool Transport began tramway operation in 1885. The tramway today is an 11 mile long line stretching from Starr Gate in South Blackpool via Central Blackpool on to Bispham, Cleveleys and Fleetwood. Until the late 1960s the trams had traditionally been centre entrance/exit with a door on either side but in the 1970s a number of rebuilds were carried out making them suitable for driver only operation. Tram 11 was rebuilt in that style featuring a front entrance positioned by the driving cab plus a centre exit. It had a driving cab at each end and so each side looked the same resembling a two door bus. Some of the mechanical components originated in English Electric built 1930s trams. In this view tram 11 was seen at near Leyburn Avenue, Bispham heading away from the camera towards Fleetwood. Blackpool’s trams had originally used the single pole method of electric collection but the pantograph style method of collection was introduced in later years. As a result the pantograph was mounted on a tower structure on single deck trams. On the reserved track sections of track the lines were protected with concrete fencing with pedestrian crossing gates provided every so often. Note the tram shelter on the right.