BestWestern
Established Member
- Joined
- 6 Feb 2011
- Messages
- 6,736
You rarely see the modified balloons on normal services anyway, wish they brought them out more often but they don't.
I wish they hadn't ruined 700!
You rarely see the modified balloons on normal services anyway, wish they brought them out more often but they don't.
I wish they hadn't ruined 700!
711 and 719 are in purple and white as well...
It's particualrly unfortunate with 700 though, as she had been restored into full heritage condition complete with many original features put back. Conversely 717, which now is the 'heritage' Balloon, has LED lights, extended underskirts and so on, and would have been a far better and more obvious choice for 'wide door' conversion. Instead, the tramway has essentially lost one of its most significant heritage assets. Sad, and frankly rather bizarre.
Apart from the doors and the livery, 700 is still very much in heritage condition.
Does anybody know if:
A, the plans for the extention to North station and the related redevelopment of the concourse and adjasent wilkinsons building has got the final rubber stamp and
B, if so if any work will be done on this during tje NR blockade in the winter?
Blackpool is quite lucky in as much as they do have a defined start/end of season. Thanks for the replies
Does anyone know the arrangements for crewing the heritage fleet on the Blackpool Tramway?
1) Are some of the drivers & conductors who operate Flexitys year-round on the main line also qualified to operate the heritage fleet in summer? Do crews work a regular mix of "old" and "new", or is there a separate roster who drive heritage trams only?
2) Is driving the heritage fleet maybe a "seniority" thing? i.e. after you've been driving the modern, work-a-day Fleetwood route for two, three (or whatever) years, you get a crack at training on the Balloons, Boats, Western Train etc.
3) With modern operating regulations, do drivers need to "sign" each type of heritage tram individually? Or is training requirement less demanding on trams than trains (more in line with bus driving?)
Given Blackpool's heritage fleet is still reasonably varied, it runs for a long-ish season (including autumn Illuminations, with some busy peak and gala days thrown in) and the drivers and conductors need to be employed on a commercial basis, not as museum volunteers, are there any challenges in maintaining adequate numbers of trained staff for heritage operations?
Unfortunately they do not have this information. I have contacted them today and this is what they have come back with.
"Many thanks for your enquiry which has been forwarded for my attention. All private hires are handled by my department. Regrettably we don’t hold this information. The entire tramway is 11.2 miles from end to end. Distances between stops has never been relevant or requested by anyone hiring our trams."
Regards.
I have also tried to find the miles and chains for the tramway but it just comes up on this website as img many times but nothing else. Can anyone help me please?
I’m thinking of heading up to Blackpool on Friday and getting the tram to Fleetwood, for lunch in the timeless Ferry Cafe. How likely is it that the Balloon cars will be in operation? Thanks.