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 .619 has now been withdrawn from service.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