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Poulton Road, FLEETWOOD, FY7 6TB

Pub and bistro on Poulton Road.

A late 1990s erection with a distinctly retro look!.

If you could ignore the TV aerials, the white camper van and the clothing styles, this view could give you some idea of how some city streets in larger towns still looked in the 1940's & 1950's. The Fleetwood Transport Festival aims to recreate the appearance of a townscape of an earlier period, so there are lots of old vehicles to be seen. In this view the tram is Bolton 66, which is more of a reconstruction than a renovation. Originally built in 1901 and given a covered top in 1932, it was withdrawn in 1946, the year before Bolton Corporation's tramways closed. Only the bottom deck survived as a caravan, so the top deck is a completely new construction, but it looks very convincing.

This open top tram dating from the 1930's is travelling along Fleetwood's main street. The side of the tram is painted with a slogan advocating electric traction. This particular tram route has survived 110 years so far. The way things are going we can probably expect to see more new systems in the UK, as is already happening in France and the USA.

Blackpool Transport's illuminated "Western Train" tram stands at the end of Lord Street ready to lead the lantern parade along Lord Street, to Marine Gardens, for the switching-on ceremony for the 2019 Christmas lights.

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.

The buildings behind can be seen in much later views Image and Image - since 1980 they have been whitewashed and the modern street light replaced by a retro-styled one. Car 634 was withdrawn from service in 2004 and is now being restored at Rushden Transport Museum. http://www.rhts.co.uk/Blackpooltram.htm I photographed it in a very different livery in 1998 Image

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.