I spent the Bank Holiday weekend in Blackpool from 28th April - 1st May and there were plenty of heritage trams out during that time.   11 different heritage/ illuminated trams were out in service over the weekend with 3 B Fleet trams also seeing use.   The only servicable trams from the heritage/B fleet not used were: 227(602) (undergoing an internal repaint), 230(604) (stored awaiting an internal repaint), 675+685 (work going on to its wiring), 718 (being repainted) and 719 (unknown). 

Friday 28th 631 at Imperial HotelBrush Car 631 passes the site of the former Imperial Hotel Tram stop with a Fleetwood - North Pier heritage service 28.4.17                                                                                                                 

Friday wasnt originally organised as having heritage trams running, however a late change saw Brush car 631 and Balloon 701 out on Pleasure Beach - North Pier/Cabin workings from 13.40 and into the evening, a couple of runs to Cleveleys and Fleetwood.   

The Photo on the right shows Brush Car 631 passing the site of the old Imperial Hotel tram stop en route from Fleetwood - North Pier on a heritage working on 28.4.17.

There was to be a 7 tram heritage service operating over the weekend instead of the usual 6 route Bank holiday service.   Route G was an extra bonus working over the weekend and featured an illuminated tram on each of the 3 days.   It started later on the Saturday as it was used to take the FTS group from Rigby Road to Fleetwood for their annual convention around lunchtime.   Route F duties were shared between Bolton 66 and Fleetwood 40, whilst Route C was the shop tram and utilised a B Fleet balloon on each of the 3 days.

Saturday 29th

7 Heritage trams were due out on Saturday, allocated routes A-G.   736 and 701 at Pleasure BeachWarship 736 waits at Pleasure Beach to form a heritage service to Little Bispham whilst Balloon 701 has just arrived on the loop 29.4.17

A: Ex towing railcoach 680

B: Balloon 701

C: Balloon 700

D: Brush Car 631

E: Balloon 723

F: Bolton 66

G: Frigate 736

Balloon 723 had replaced Balloon 715, which had been due to work on route E.   The tram was later seen parked outside the electrical compound.  

Also spotted at Rigby Road was Balloon 703, which has recently returned to Blackpool from Beamish and is sporting red and cream Sunderland livery from its time masquerading as Sunderland 101.   Brush Car 621, which is in the process of being prepared for a return to service in September for the Brush Car's 80th Anniversary in service, was partly visible parked at the front of the electrical compound (seen via the 60 x zoom on my camera).   I didn't travel on the heritage trams on this day as I decided to take photographs instead.  The photo above shows F736 and Balloon 701 stabled at Pleasure Beach in between workings on 29.4.17.

Sunday 30th

7 Heritage trams were due out on Sunday, allocated routes A-G.   715 at BisphamBalloon 715 stops at Bispham with a heritage service to Pleasure Beach 30.4.17

A: Brush Car 631

B: Balloon 715

C: Balloon 711

D: Balloon 723

E: Centenary 648

F: Fleetwood 40

G: The Western Train 733+734

The 7 trams ran as per the original allocations although 631 on route A and 648 on route E swapped routes during the afternoon.   I managed to travel on 6 of the 7 trams during the day including a run from Cabin - Cleveleys on 648, Cleveleys - North Pier on 631, North Pier Cabin on Fleetwood 40, Cabin - Fleetwood on the top deck of 711, Fleetwood - Pleasure Beach on the Western train, Pleasure Beach - Bispham on 723.  The above photo shows Balloon 715 at Bispham on a working to Pleasure Beach.

Monday 1st

7 Heritage trams were due out on Monday, allocated routes A-G.   713 at CabinHoundshill Shopping Centre all over advert liveried balloon 713 pauses at Cabin with a heritage service to Bispham 1.5.17

A: Centenary 648

B: Balloon 717

C: Balloon 713

D: Balloon 701

E: Boat 600

F: Bolton 66

G: Frigate 736

Once again, all 7 ran as per their original allocations and again I managed to travel on 6 out of 7 trams.   The use of Balloon 713 on this day was a highlight as I havent seen or been on this particular tram since July 2011. Journeys included Cabin - Bispham - Pleasure Beach on 713, Pleasure Beach - North Pier on 736, North Pier - Bispham on 701, Bispham - Little Bispham - Pleasure Beach on 717, Pleasure Beach - North Pier on 66 and Pleasure Beach - Cabin on 648.   The photo above shows Balloon 713 in all over advert for Hounds Hill Shopping Centre working the first heritage working of the day from Pleasure Beach - Bispham on 1.5.17.

As well as the heritage workings, the usual diet of Flexities were out with 14 out of 16 seen.  Only 003 and 016 weren't seen out over the weekend.   Overall, it was a fantastic weekend and the weather was good, which is always a bonus!

My photos from the weekend can be found at: http://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p474188147