Awkward day with Blackpool Tram

[fv43576]

Today I went out to Blackpool for the day from Blackpool North station. After I have finished explorer the Blackpool area and I was catch a trams from Burlington Road West toward to Starr Gate because I knew there is loop behind will go round and back all way to Fleetwood that where I am get off. But as we arrive Starr Gate, the driver said to all please get off this trams is terminal here. So I took off and wait for other tram, the tram left that go around the loop and pass station 'Harrow Place' I though what a stupid and waste time to get off then back on again. There is any reason for that? no passengers on loop or restriction loop?

 

[edwin_m]

Sometimes trams are specified to go round a smaller minimum radius when not carrying passengers - I don't know but that might be the case here. Nor do I know if it is a genuine issue that the tram is more able to go round curves with less weight on board, or something to do with it being more likely to derail so they don't want passengers in a position where they could get injured or sue for damages.

 

[Elecman]

They certainly used to go round the loop with passengers on, I did it for a couple of years going to school from Starr Gate

 

[fv43576]

Very stranger to happen like that

 

[Chrism20]

I haven't been out to Star Gate this season but what used to happen was the tram arrived on the southbound (terminal) platform, everyone have to get off then the tram ran forward just past the points at the end of the platform and the driver changed ends, brought the tram back into the opposite platform and then took it back to Fleetwood.

Since the arrival of the new tramway I've never seen or been on one that takes passengers round the loop it's always been alight and switch anytime I have been out that way.

 

[Techniquest]

The loop is no longer in use for passengers, it now forms part of Starr Gate depot.

 

[Crossover]

Yeah, the last time I was there was just over a year ago, and at Starrgate, the tram did just go past the points, driver changed ends and brought it back in

 

[WatcherZero]

Loops now considered part of depot so not safe for public.

 

[bluegoblin7]

Just to clarify the various above comments, as there's a bit of confusion.

Prior to September 2009 Starr Gate had a terminal loop with two stops on the single track, one for loading and one for unloading. Technically speaking you were required to get off between the two stops (about three poles apart) but most of them time people could stay on.

Since the new tramway has opened in April 2012 there is now double track up to the point where the traditional loop started, with a platform on each. The loop is retained but goes into the depot complex, via the tram wash. Trams will now unload (completely), pull forwards into the loop and clear the points, and then reverse onto the loading stop before heading to Fleetwood.

Some private hires have gone around the new loop, and there will be opportunity to do so on a heritage tram in a couple of weeks time during the Blackpool 130 anniversary celebrations.

HTH.

 

[Chrism20]

Some private hires have gone around the new loop, and there will be opportunity to do so on a heritage tram in a couple of weeks time during the Blackpool 130 anniversary celebrations.

HTH.

Thanks for the info. My parents still live in Blackpool and I'm back at least once a month so will look out for this as I'd definitely like to do that run.

Off topic but just in case anyone is planning a trip to Blackpool they have been doing ride and dine one Wednesday a month this year with dinner in a choice of three or four places in town and a run from the tower to Bispham then up to the pleasure beach and back to the tower on one of the heritage trams. My folks have been on them all and they say they are becoming quite popular.

 

[D6975]

Some of the illuminated trams are effectively single ended, so if you book a trip on one of those, you have to go round the loop.

 

[theblackwatch]

Some of the illuminated trams are effectively single ended, so if you book a trip on one of those, you have to go round the loop.

Althought the illuminations specials don't run to Starr Gate, the furthest south they go is Pleasure Beach.

 

[bluegoblin7]

Some of the illuminated trams are effectively single ended, so if you book a trip on one of those, you have to go round the loop.

It's generally discouraged but now that the Western Train and Frigate have been overhauled both can run in service backwards. The difficulty comes from loading and unloading as it would be on the offside of the car, but it has been done in the past, and is certainly more feasible now that the heritage cars run limited stop tours. The Trawler can and has run backwards without restriction, although all the seating faces in one direction only.

But, generally speaking, these cars won't go south of the Pleasure Beach, so the issue is unlikely to be encountered.

(And, for the record, they all run backwards from the Rigby Road depot to the Foxhall to cross-over!)

 

[Elecman]

Not only have I been round the Starr Gate loop but also the Pkeasure Beach Loop and unofficially the Little Bispham Loop.

 

[Chrism20]

Not only have I been round the Starr Gate loop but also the Pkeasure Beach Loop and unofficially the Little Bispham Loop.

I've been round the Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham ones twice since the Flexities started but never the Starr Gate one since the new tramway came into operation.

On both occasions it was heritage trams as part of a function at the Hilton and there was a short talk on the history of the tramway on one of them which was really good.

Off topic I know so apologies but re Little Bispham - back in the days of the old tramway didn't the run off the loop have connections going both north and south whereas now it's only south? Or am I imagining it?

 

[fv43576]

hello D6975 could I ask what is this means "Travelled behind 03, 04, 08, 09, 14, 17, 20, 24-7, 31, 33, 35, 37, 40, 42-7, 47, 50, 52, 55-60, 66-8, 73, 81, 85-7, 87, 90, 91" how will I find out on trams? Blackpool trams only show name of destination

 

[bluegoblin7]

hello D6975 could I ask what is this means "Travelled behind 03, 04, 08, 09, 14, 17, 20, 24-7, 31, 33, 35, 37, 40, 42-7, 47, 50, 52, 55-60, 66-8, 73, 81, 85-7, 87, 90, 91" how will I find out on trams? Blackpool trams only show name of destination

Assuming you want the fleet numbers, they're displayed (at minimum) on each end, and most cars also have the fleet number on each side and inside the saloon also.

If you then want to assimilate this to a 'class', there are a number of fleet lists available online - a search of 'Blackpool tram XXX' should throw it up for you.

(I used to maintain a fleet list on this forum, but stopped once the 'new age' took over; is this something people would find useful and wish to return?)

 

[fv43576]

Oh I didn't notice the number far too low, I have bad eyes but thanks!

 

[bluegoblin7]

Oh I didn't notice the number far too low, I have bad eyes but thanks!

Flexitys have them on the lower skirts, but on the heritage trams they're either above or below the driver's windscreen... so not that low.