Adverts 11 and 15 of 18 of the CR Smith Advertising contract have now been applied to 5 members of the tram fleet.   As before, the stunning graphics that have created for each advert features a pair of iconic Scottish locations.

The latest adverts in the series sees:

• Fae Leith tae Alloway featuring featuring a domed building and a statue of Robert Burns.   This advert is worn by 255.
• From Bannockburn to Dundee featuring a statue of Robert the Bruce and a statue of Desperate Dan.   The advert is worn by 252
• From Turnberry to Blair Drummond featuring a bag of golf clubs and some meerkats on a mound. The advert is worn by 258.
• From Lochmaben to Dunfermilne featuring a statue of Robert the Bruce and Dunfermilne Abbey. The advert is worn by 277.
• There is also a 5th advert tram, number 253, however it was behind another tram and it's advert was only partially visible.

255 advert panelCR Smith advertising vynal on 255 featuring a domed building and a statue of Robert Burns with the phrase Fae Leith tae Alloway. 30.9.17	252's advertising panelCR Smith advertising vynal on 252 featuring a statue of Robert the Bruce and a statue of Desperate Dan with the phrase From Bannockburn to Dundee. 30.9.17	258's advert panelCR Smith advertising vynal on 258 featuring a bag of golf clubs and some meerkats on a mound with the phrase From Turnberry to Blair Drummond. 30.9.17	277's advert panelCR Smith advertising vynal on 277 featuring a statue of Robert the Bruce and Dunfermilne Abbey with the phrase From Lochmaben to Dunfermilne. 30.9.17
255	252	258	277

621 at BisphamIn the only 15 minutes of sunshine of the day, the fantastic looking Brush Car 621 in 1950's green and cream livery pauses at Bispham en-route to Pleasure Beach 23.9.17 In November 2004, Brush Car 621 was mothballed along with most of her sister cars as part of a general reduction in the size of the fleet.   After a period in store, 621 was purchased by the Fleetwood Heritage Transport Trust and moved into further storage at Kirkham Prison.   621 was then purchased by a group of enthusiasts and donated to Beamish Museum in Northumberland, arriving in 2014.   Beamish had planned to restore the tram as 284 in the original 1930's style, however a change in policy left the tram surplus to requirements and 621 found its self heading home to Blackpool after the tram was donated back to the Blackpool Heritage Tramway Trust.   621 arrived back in Blackpool in December 2016.

With the 80th Anniversary of the Brush Cars being celebrated during 2017, 'Trams Magazine' sponsored the work required to return 621 back to service in time for the 132nd anniversary weekend.   Fortunately 621 was still in reasonable condition despite 13 years out of service, however it did require a re panel and some electrical work, including the fitting of a transponder.   The tram was repainted into the 1950's livery and made its debut back on the prom on 22nd September.   621 performed faultlessly all weekend.

621 looks absolutely fantastic and all credit goes to the workshop team at Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours for the excellent job they have done on 621. 

602, 605, 621 and 708 at Rigby RoadBoats 602, 605 and withdrawn Brush Car 621 and withdrawn Balloon 708 stabled in Rigby Road Depot 26.9.10	621 at Rigby RoadBrush Car 621 seen in the Electrical Compound at Rigby Road (photo taken through the fence) 29.4.17	621's panelssome of Brush car 621's old body side panels 24.9.17	621 and 623 at BisphamBrush Car 621 heads south with a heritage service to North Pier while 623 prepares to pull forward into the centre track at Bispham 24.9.17
621 Stored behind Boats 602 and 605 26th September 2010	621 in the electrical Compound 30.4.17	Old panels from 621 with part of it's old Hot Ice advert  in the Fitting Shop 24.9.17	621 and 623 pass at Bispham 24.9.17

621 at BisphamIn the only 15 minutes of sunshine of the day, the fantastic looking Brush Car 621 in 1950's green and cream livery pauses at Bispham en-route to Pleasure Beach 23.9.17 I visited Blackpool for September weekend, which just so happened to co-inside with the Blackpool Tramway's 132nd Anniversary weekend.   Here is my report of the weekend:

Friday 22nd September:

The stars of the weekend were undoubtedly the Brush Cars as this year, the Brush Cars are celebrating their 80th anniversary of their entry to service.  

A special service recreating the Cleveleys Flyers that this class of tram featured heavily on at various times of their lives operated on Friday afternoon and saw Brush Car 621 making its first appearance in service since 2004 after a recent overhaul and repaint into 1950's livery.   Also featuring Wartime Green and Cream liveried 623, which is on loan from Heaton Park, 90's liveried and refurbished 630 on loan from Crich and 60's liveried 631, which is part of the heritage fleet.    

The trams operated between 1.30 and 5.30pm between Pleasure Beach and Cleveleys on the following routes:

• A - 621
• B - 623
• C - 630
• D - 631

631 failed at Pleasure Beach with a controller fault before departure on its final journey of the day.   623 worked to Pleasure Beach and picked up 631's passengers and worked its journey.

Into the evening and out came the Illuminations tour trams.   733+734, 736, 737, 717 and 718 were out on tours operating 2 tours each.    Trawler 737 was held at Bispham for a while on its 2nd tour of the night.   After 20 minutes, the passengers left the tram while it reversed on the centre track and pulled onto the stop and reloaded, giving it's passengers the rare opportunity for a tour through the illuminations facing backwards!

Saturday 23rd September

Saturday was the first of the two 132nd Anniversary running days and display of rarely seen trams and depot tours.   At Rigby Road depot, Balloon 701, Centenary 642 and recently returned Centenary 645 were lined up at the Fitting shop wall, whilst Brush Cars 632, 634, 631 and 627 were lined up on the depot fan.   Balloon 711 was used as the shop tram at North Pier and Balloon 700 was used on the shuttle service running between Rigby Road Depot and Starr Gate Depot.   Trams that were used on the heritage service during the day were: 66, 600, 621, 623, 630, 648, 680, 700, 711, 713, 715, 717, 723 and 737.   737 replaced 717, which returned to depot around 11am, presumably with a fault as 717 wasn't back out in service again over the weekend.   Around noon, 621,623 and 630 were lined up one behind the other at Pleasure Beach.   723 and 713 were the last 2 heritage trams to depart Bispham around 5.30pm. 

Into the evening and 733+734, 736, 737, 718 and 723 were out on Illuminations tours operating two tours each.   715 operated on a Private Hire doing a round tour of the illuminations and then working to Cabin and depot.

Sunday 24th September

Sunday was the second of the two 132nd Anniversary running days and display of rarely seen trams and depot tours.   At Rigby Road depot, Brush Cars 634, 627 and 632 were lined up at the Fitting shop wall, whilst Brush Car 625, Engineering Car 754, Open topped Balloon 706 and Balloon 726 were lined up on the depot fan.   Balloon 711 was used as the shop tram at North Pier and Balloon 713 was used on the shuttle service running between Rigby Road Depot and Starr Gate Depot.  

The depot tour started at the depot fan and went to the Electrical Compound, passing Birkenhead 20, which was stabled just outside it.   In the compound were numerous spare parts as well as Boat 230 (604) and Railcoach 679.   Walking along the front of the fan, many withdrawn trams were seen including twin car 676+686, Coronation 304, Centenary 642 and Centenary 645.   Next the tour went into the Paint shop and Standard 147 was on display having been partially rubbed down for a repaint.   In the Body shop, Standard 143, Boat 227 (602) were stabled, 227 was receiving an internal tidy up and rewire.   The body shells of Lytham 43 and Glasgow 1016 were also in the Body Shop.   In the fitting shop Balloon 719 was there for a blown motor to be replaced and 703 was on display.   There was various trolley towers and trucks also on display.  Also visible was some of the panels removed from 621 while it was being prepared for service.   After a ride down to Starr Gate depot on 713 (via the tram wash) we were then shown round Starr gate depot.  004 and 006 were at the front of the sheds in case they were required for service, whilst 013 was on the body lift where its trucks were being removed to allow it's wheels to be replaced.

Trams that were used on the heritage service during the day were: 40, 66, 600, 621, 623, 630, 631, 648, 680, 700, 711, 713, 715, 718, 723 and 737.  

Into the evening and 733+734, 736, 737, 715 and 718 were out on Illuminations tours operating two tours each.  

My photos from the weekend (all 247 of them!) can be found at http://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p123308024

66619 at Preston66619 waits at Preston with 6H51 Hardendale Quarry - Guide Bridge Yard Ballast working 23.9.17 Whilst in Blackpool for the weekend, I nipped out to Preston for an hour's spotting.   Here are my sightings:

156486 approaches Preston with 2N97 Manchester Victoria - Blackpool North

390002 departs Preston with 9M54 Edinburgh - London Euston

319365 approaches Preston with 1N85 Liverpool South Parkway - Preston

66619 waits at Preston with 6H51 Hardendale Quarry - Guide Bridge Yard Ballast working

150xxx with 150133 on the rear depart Preston with 2T06 Blackpool North - Manchester Victoria

158758 departs Preston with 1B23 Blackpool North - York

390151 approaches Preston with 9S60 London Euston - Edinburgh Waverley, whilst 150144 also approaches with 2T62 Manchester Victoria - Blackpool North

156491 departs preston with 2E86 Blackpool North - Huddersfield

158851 approaches Preston with 1B20 York - Blackpool North whilst 153304+153378 also approach with 2N01 Ormskirk - Preston

156464+156479 arrive at Preston with 1T63 Manchester Victoria - Blackpool North

142050+150201 depart Preston with 2N14 Blackpool South - Colne

153378+153304 depart Preston with 2F02 Preston - Ormskirk

66092 approaches Preston with 4S49 Daventry - Coatbridge containers

Passing Gogar Depot earlier today, I decided to look in and see which trams were stabled there.   Parked near the fence along side the road was tram 251 in its #tramspotting livery, which promotes the 7 minute service which operates during each day.   I took the opportunity to get a few photos of the tram.

251 at Gogar DepotCAF urbos 3 number 251 wearing its #Tramspotting all over advert, which advertises the 7 minute daytime service now in operation. The tram is stabled at Gogar Depot 16.9.17	251's advert251's #Tramspotting advert on section C of the body side 16.9.17	251 at Gogar Depot251's #Tramspotting advert on section G of the body side 16.9.17
Full Tram	one of the advert sections	the other advert section

43317+43206 at Crawford43317+43206 head north through Crawford with the diverted 1S09 London Kings Cross - Edinburgh 16.9.17 Today was day 1 of the East Coast Diverts via the Tyne Valley, Carlisle and the West Coast Main Line to Carstairs South Junction.

I spent a couple of hours at Crawford, 2 miles south of Abington this afternoon and Here are my sightings:

66737 heads north past Crawford with the diverted 6S45 North Blyth - Fort William Alcans

88003 heads north past Crawford with 4S43 Daventry - Mossend containers

43274 'Spirit of Sunderland' and 43308 head south through Crawford with the diverted 1E15 Aberdeen - London Kings Cross

East Midlands Trains liveried 43061 on the rear of an HST set led by 43309 pass Crawford with the diverted 1E17 Edinburgh Waverley - London Kings Cross

43317+43206 head north through Crawford with the diverted 1S09 London Kings Cross - Edinburgh

66047 passes Crawford with 4M30 Grangemouth - Daventry containers

267 at Ingliston Park and Ride267 pauses at Ingliston Park and Ride with an Airport - York Place service 15.9.17 Adverts 9 and 10 of 18 of the CR Smith Advertising contract have now been applied to 2 members of the tram fleet.   As before, the stunning graphics that have created for each advert features a pair of iconic Scottish locations.

The latest adverts in the series sees:

• From Largs to Dundee featuring a Viking and Viking Longboat (Vikingar, Largs) and the SS Discovery ship from Dundee.   This advert is worn by 267 and appeared in service during week beginning 11.9.17
• From Pitlochry - Meadowbank featuring a leaping salmon making its way up the river and a hurdler jumping over a wall.   The advert is worn by 274 and appeared in service during week beginning 11.9.17

267's advert detailstunning artwork on 267's CR Smith advert featuring a Viking and Viking longboat (Largs) and the SS Discovery (Dundee) 15.9.17	274's advert detail274's CR Smith advert features stunning artwork featuring a salmon leaping up stream (Pitlochry) and an athlete jumping over a hurdle (Meadowbank) 15.9.17
267	274

623 at Pleasure BeachWartime liveried Brush Car 623 pauses on the loop at Pleasure Beach before heading back to Rigby Road 16.7.17 Blackpool Heritage Trams Trust have announced that as part of the 132nd anniversary weekend celebrations, that a bonus event will happen on Friday 22nd September.   During the afternoon, a special timetable of 'Cleveleys Flyers', running from Pleasure Beach - Cleveleys, using 4 Brush Cars.  

The event should see the following trams in service:

• the debut of 621, which has not run since 2004 (repainted in 50's livery)
• 623 (on loan from Heaton Park and in Wartime Livery)
• 630 (on loan from Crich Tramway Museum and in 90's livery)
• 631

Over the remainder of the weekend, all servicable heritage trams will run at some point, there are also depot tours and a display of stored trams outside the depot and on the depot fan.