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Blackpool Trams - Celebrating 130 Years
On the 29th
September 1885 Blackpool first ran it’s famous trams. There have been a number of celebrations over
the years featuring the trams at various milestones, 2015 being no exception. A superb event was organised by Blackpool
Transport to commemorate 130 years of service over the weekend of the 26th
and 27th September featuring many ‘heritage’ trams. The last ‘celebration’ our cameras filmed at
Blackpool was in 2010 as the trams marked their 125 years of service. That was also the final time that the ‘old’
trams were in charge, soon to be making way for the new fleet of 16 Bombardier
Flexity trams that entered service at Easter 2012. So, in order to record the events of 2015 our
cameras spent the entire weekend in Blackpool filming the action along the
‘Golden Mile’ – actually between Starr Gate and Fleetwood! Some preserved Blackpool Corporation buses
even played a part in the celebrations, as they ran over the former ‘inland’
tram routes, long abandoned by the trams.
The buses included Leyland Titan PD3A 501, Leyland Atlanteans 334 and
362 and single deck AEC Swift 554 – all are seen over the two days. As there was so much action, we have had to
put the programme on two discs, part one being filmed on Saturday 26th
and part two on Sunday 27th September.
Our Saturday filming
starts bright and early at Cavendish Road, near Bispham on a sunny, blue sky
morning. As we head south along the
promenade, we film the Flexity trams running in normal service. The “heritage” trams start to appear from
10am as we reach Gynn Square. Our cameras
continue filming at North Pier, Tower, Adelaide Street West - for the buses,
and on via Central Pier, Manchester Square to Pleasure Beach. Here we board Open top Balloon 706 for
a ride along the promenade back to North Pier via Bispham. A further ride is taken on Open Boat 600. After visiting Fleetwood we return on Centenary
648 to North Pier. A visit to
Rigby Road tram depot is made to see the trams returning from their duties and Engineering
car 753 is seen moving the trams around the depot. The final scenes of a perfect day are night
time shots at Bispham.
Sunday morning also
dawns bright and sunny as we board, at Bispham Twincar 272 with trailer T2 for
a ride to Pleasure Beach. On arrival we
see a good number of ‘green & cream’ trams awaiting their passengers to
enjoy a day out celebrating the trams.
We travel on Balloon 701 to North Pier. From here we record all of the action for you
at locations including Manchester Square, Rigby Road, Central Pier, Tower and
even more at North Pier! Rides are taken
on Marton Standard 147, Balloon 717 and Balloon 723. Our programme draws to a close at night
time at Pleasure Beach when we board Open Boat 230 for a tour of the
Illuminations. The tram is packed full
of happy holiday makers, all enjoying themselves as they ride along the
promenade at Blackpool on a tram… that’s just what people have been doing here
for the past 130 years, and long may it continue!
Filmed : | 2015 |
Duration : | 124 minutes (approx). |
on 2 discs | |
Price : | Within UK - £18 |
Rest of world - £20 | |
Format : | DVD -R |
Picture Aspect 16:9 | |
Order Ref : | D247 |
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