Blackpool Day - the aftermath!!

So, the big event of 2010 is over! 18 months in the planning and 4 days in the execution. I cannot say enough thank yous to the many, many people who helped to make the event a success - everyone who did something and made a contibution, right from the person who slogged their guts out for 4 days to the person who moved a chair because it was in the way - every single one made that difference. Thank you so, so much. Highlight of the event has to be the inter museum co-operation when we ran out of milk and an SOS went out to Boyle Street, who very kindly sent some over! Sitting on the top deck of 706 phoning round begging for milk is certainly a bizarre experience.
I think we made some new friends - certainly we have had lots of positive feedback - even from the rather surprised visitor who was visiting Manchester for the day and had come into the park for a wander only to be confronted by 31 displaying Royal Oak - which is round the corner from where she lives! The bus service was very popular and provided lots of good photographic opportunities. Certainly Saturday's photo charter proved a huge success and I look forward to seeing the results of that soon. It was nice to be able to photograph various eras of Blackpool - a vintage roadster overtaking 31 in the sylvan setting surely had to evoke memories of Stanley Park and the semi rural Layton.
A number of firsts and unique situations were also chalked up (well, it would hardly be a Heaton Park event if not):
- the first 3 car electric service since 1997
- the first all Blackpool service since 1988
- representatives from all 3 Blackpool eras and a car in each livery (including all green works). 752 also coupled as a car from the days when illuminations cars did not carry passengers.
- the most Blackpool Trams in service anywhere in the world on that day.
- the only illuminated Tram in Britain in operation.
- the only standard gauge open top double deckers in passenger service in the world.
- 706 and 619 in service the latest they have been in the year in their current condition.
- the first time 4 electric Trams have been on site and operated together at HPT.
- the first time 2 double deckers have operated together at HPT, and the first time in Manchester since Stockport closed in 1952.
- the last time 619 operates in service as 619. Many people spotted the model of Heaton Park 7 on show . . .619 has now been withdrawn from service.
- the 3 Trams back together again - the first time since 1998.
- 1 and 4 reunited (think about it!).
- the first short term loan of an electric Tram from one Tramway to another (131 at Beamish was a few days longer).
- Does 31 count as the most travelled Tram? 3 different Tramways and in 2 different guises in the space of 12 months? (technically 3 guises as it has been 31 twice!)

Also . . .
- 5 different preservation groups all working together and operating vehicles in passenger service. (HPT, LTT, Boyle ST, 364 group, Barrow group)

It was interesting to see 706 - one visitor commented that it would either look really good or totally ridiculous - really good I'm happy to say it was really good. I lost count of the number of people who commented that they were now more convinced that a Balloon would be right for us and those who said they couldn't wait to see it - well it might just be a bit closer than you think and not the one you think . . . .no it isn't 717 or 101. . . .

Well, its now all over - the largest event we have done and hopefully not the last. Full details of next years events will be up soon - possibly scaled down a little and back with avengeance in 2011, but never say die.

Some pics you won't have seen coming soon as well.

John

update 14th Nov

Hi All

So 31 has now operated in pasenger service - a truly momentous occasion. The first double decker on the reopened line and the first in Manchester since the twenties. Thank you to the other crews there today for indulging me in letting me drive the first service on it, which, for the record was 2pm. The car also carried a poppy wreath for most of the afternoon (until it rather unfortunately came loose and dangled in front of the driver's position!). Interestingly, 12 months ago 765 carried the self same wreath on Leeds Day. Which made me think how quickly 12 months has gone by and that the cars in service on that day are now at Beamish and Blackpool.
So for the first time since 1987 we have an all Blackpool fleet. Bizarrely last time we had a Fleetwood car and a promenade car (40 and 600) and this time we have a replica Fleetwood car and a Promenade car - how bizarre. 31 became a Promanade car in this guise, before anyone corrects me!

Interestingly, 31 has operated on 3 Tramways this year and in 2 guises!!

The bus arrangements for Sunday have changed again as well - and for the better.

I shall publish full details on the web later this week

John

Hi All

A few pics for you of Marton 31 in action today. It ran for a private hire celebrating Derek Shepherd's 80th birthday. Derek is one of our longest serving active members and it was something very special to see the likes of such famous Tramway and Light Railway luminaries such as Bryan Lindop, Geoffrey Claydon, Ian Longworth, Tony Depledge and Councillor Keith Whitmore (among many others) at Heaton Park to help him to celebrate. I hope you guys don't mind being mentioned by name but I wanted to show just how well thought of Derek Shepherd is. His most famous achievement is Bolton 66 but he also led the team who built 619. It was a pleasure to see Derek drive the first double deck journey on the Tramway. He was also presented with a model of Bolton 66.

AS dusk sets in 31 poses at Lakeside.

A rather poor photo of 31 and 619.

Derek at the controls of 31, about to start the historic first journey.

A massive thanks also to Beamish Museum for letting us loose with 31!

Blackpool Day update.

There are still tickets available for the photo charter on Saturday 20th - email j.d.whitehouse2@tesco.net Please remember that this is a private hire - if you want to take part, please purchase a ticket.

Sunday is shaping up well. 706 is booked to arive on Friday 19th - anyone around is welcome to come to Heaton Park to watch but please stay well clear of the moves as we have restricted space and don't want to flatten any of you (not until you've paid your fiver on Sunday anyway).

Six buses are pencilled in. The LTT are provisionally sending

Blackpool PD3 529, Lytham PD2 70, Ribble Atlantean 1805 and RE 366.

Blackpool Atlantean 364 from Blackpool Transport and a Barrow Atlantean are booked in also.

There will also be a half hourly service to Boyle Street Museum (hopefully via Bowker Vale) in addition to the Park service.

MDS booksales will be in attendance as will Pete Whiteley's illuminated Trams and Alan Catlow's 5.5mm Trams, not to mention greetings cards from Margaret and Jim Clough.

More soon . . .

JOhn