IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
FLEETWOOD, FY7 6GE

Behind the car can be seen the works in progress to convert the Ash Street to Fleetwood Ferry section so as to be suitable for the modern light rail vehicles which will begin to operate in 2012.

This was the southern end of the street tramway section through Fleetwood, with a tram about to enter the reserved track through Cleveleys to Blackpool and Starr Gate. The fine shelter had disappeared by the time Dr Clifton took his views at the location https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1615923 in 1985, together with the distinctive circular enamel tram stop sign. The replacement stop is now named Fisherman's Walk. The tram is one of the 25 'Coronation' cars built by Charles Roberts of Wakefield in 1952/53, a type which proved to be one of Blackpool's less successful purchases, being very heavy, and having 'Vambac' control equipment which proved both heavy on current and unreliable. Most were subsequently fitted with conventional controllers from withdrawn vehicles. It is seen here in the later livery with green roof. Originally the livery was overall cream with just the waistband in green.

'Balloon' car No 703 in the 1950s version of green and cream, and in the background is a 'Boat' car.

Only two 'Jubilee' class trams were produced, Nos 761 an 762. They used bogies from scrapped 'Balloon' class cars, with body parts similar to those used in Atlantean buses. No 762, pictured here, had central and front entrances on each side, but No 761 had only front entrances. The cars are not popular with the public because the seats are not reversible, so half of them face backwards. The car is seen at the furthest point north to which trams can at present operate.

Blackpool has long been famed as the home of the coastal tram line that ran for more than a century from Squires Gate at Blackpool, through the centre of Cleveleys and right through to Fleetwood Pier. Blackpool built what was the country’s first permanent electric street tramway, which opened on 29 September 1885. Unfortunately, the old tram cars didn't comply with modern access rules for disabled passengers, which meant that if they weren't changed and adapted the service would ultimately have had to cease. So it was decided that the tramway should be modernised for the twenty first century, with new tracks and platforms and a completely new system for the future. The first of the new Bombardier Flexity 2 (http://www.bombardier.com/en/transportation/products-services/rail-vehicles/light-rail-vehicles/flexity-2-trams/blackpool--united-kingdom Bombardier web site) trams began carrying passengers on 3 April 2012 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-14836203 BBC Lancashire News). Some of the heritage trams have been retained and will continue to run from Squires Gate to Little Bispham as a tourist attraction. Here, tram number 016 is seen near the clock tower on Lord Street. Trams were turning round here as the centre of Fleetwood was closed to traffic for the 2012 Fleetwood Transport Festival (aka "Tram Sunday").

Three 'Balloon' double-deck cars at Ash Street, ready to move the large crowds requiring transport to Blackpool. All three cars are in Fleet livery.

The tram track ceases to be reserved track just after leaving Fisherman's Walk (formerly Ash Street) tram stop. It then enters Lord Street as a street running tramway, and continues in this mode to the terminus at Fleetwood Ferry Port. Tram 707 was built in 1934 by English Electric at their Preston Works. It was originally numbered 244 and one of a series known as Balloon cars and many of which are still running today. It first entered service in September 1934. In 1998 it had a major rebuild including flat ends. Three others were similarly altered. The tram is used for Heritage Fleet operations but the improvements carried out means it can if required be used for regular scheduled services.

Blackpool's open "boat" trams are used in busy periods in the Summer months, provided the weather is dry. They date from the 1930's and were built to last. Here no. 607 has just left the Fisherman's Walk stop near Ash Street, and will shortly leave the reservation and go onto the street track which runs through Fleetwood's town centre to the terminus by the ferry.

Ash Street is the point at which the street track along Lord Street runs onto the railway-type private track formation which takes the tramway into Blackpool. There has been some half-hearted attempt to re-name the place 'Fisherman's Walk', and this was even added to some of the tram destination screens, but it has never really caught on. Ash Street will also be the northern terminus for the trams until Easter 2012, to allow for the reconstruction of the street track and ferry loop to accommodate the sixteen new European-style articulated trams that will arrive. Also, even when the Fleetwood street track does re-open, cars such as Bolton 66 will not be allowed to use it, not, in fact, will any of Blackpool's existing trams.

Blackpool Transports illuminated "Western Train" tram waits at Fishermans Walk, next to one of the modern Bombardier trams. The "train" will shortly be leading the lantern parade along Lord Street, to Marine Gardens for the switching-on ceremony for the 2019 Christmas lights.