1397

BELOW: North Pier heritage tram stop, the connecting tram for our tour

waits in the loop. (All photos Ian Mortimer, 30 Jan 2022 unless specified.)

BELOW: A fitting place to join our tour (Rigby Road Depot Fitting Shop Road) s

second from the right, facing with glasses, is your Website Officer, Phil Weiland.

BELOW: The other side of the tram in the same location, pantograph down.

. NEXT: One type of unusual motive power used on the tour. (Duncan Finch.)













PREVIOUS TWO: At Rigby Road. BELOW: South Pier (taken through tram win

ndow), the 'Big One' rollercoaster (the UK's tallest) is closed for maintenance.

BELOW: At Fisherman's Friend Walk cross

sover - again taken through the windscreen.

BELOW: Thornton Gate middle road looking north towards Fleetwood

d, which is where that modern tram going. NEXT: Bispham middle road.





BELOW: The tour trams stabled ECS in Fleetwood loop during the lun

nch break (the loop was covered throughout after lunch). (Kev Adlam.)

BELOW: All this travelling and participants had

d only reached North Euston… (Rob Moorcroft.)

BELOW: Tram 'A' is on the tur

rning 'circle' at Little Bispham.

BELOW: With Starr Gate tram depot in the background, a modern tram le

eaves for Fleetwood Ferry passing our tour trams in the depot headshunt.

BELOW: Inside Star Gate Depot, the very reserved Tram 700 is on Road 9, t

taken from Road 8 (both trams did both lines to the end and the headshunt).

BELOW: Who is following who? The tour trams on the turning circ

cle at Starr Gate, south of the tram stop during a photo stop/break.

BELOW: Rigby Road Depot, unusual motive power and a spider's web of OHLE, looking away from
the depot along Hopton Rd. NEXT: More unusual motive power at the depot. (Both Kev Adlam.)



BELOW: Some passengers left the tour here to catch a train from Blackpool North. (Jenny Williamson.)

I'd booked myself an hotel near North Pier and on my way to check in it was interesting to note the
new Blackpool North tram branch, with its tracks disappearing into a building compound; still plenty
of work to do before completion. My hotel location meant that I could take advantage of the 'feeder'
tram thoughtfully arranged to take participants (chiefly those arriving by train) direct to the official
'BBII' starting point at Rigby Road Depot. As a bonus, on my way there on the Sunday morning I was
able to take some 'now' photos to match the 'then' ones in an Oct 2001 'Steam World' article that I'd
kept, describing a remarkable steam on temporary track, three-month operation in 1911 (alongside
the tramway), involving several locos at different times and 40 wagons. 250,000 tons of sand was
transported from near South Pier in Blackpool to the seaward side of the Metropole Hotel to extend
the promenade from North Pier around the hotel to a point just north of it. After building a concrete
wall along the beach, the gap between it and the former sea wall was successfully infilled.

With photos duly taken, I headed to the northbound North Pier tram stop and the magnificent sight of
Balloon double-decker '700' awaiting its special passengers. Departure was shortly after the booked
10.15 and, after a reversal over the crossover immediately north (the first of many that day!),
we headed for Rigby Road depot (arriving at 10.25) not quite knowing what to expect…

Disembarkation was requested and we joined the many others (of the 92 total participants) who'd
gone direct to the depot. They had therefore probably gained a better sense of what was to happen at
'Tramtown Blackpool' - as Blackpool Transport's Heritage Tram Tours style it, according to their
'welcome' board near the entrance gate. No fewer than four other vehicles awaited our custom!

Our two parties ('Tram A/Tram B') joined fellow Balloons 715 and 717 (all our trams had been built in
1934/35) - for short journeys with a difference. '715' was attached to double-decker Overhead Line
Maintenance Car 754 and '717' to Bus and Tram Recovery (road) Truck 929! This highly unusual
arrangement permitted several very 'rare' manœuvres, involving '715+754' to the end of line at the
start of the 'emergency' section that once led to Blundell St and beyond through to the Promenade.

(Who remembers those splendid through trips on 28 Jun 1998? Near the seafront, a short piece of the
track is still in place.) '715+754' then took us in and out of the adjacent Fitting Shop (FS). Next was
'717+929' on the dewired section round the back of the FS (to near the Canteen door), then without
'929' into the deepest reaches of the Electrical Compound (Road 17) of the main depot building,
returning to a more conventional depot road. This part of the day ended at 11.35 and, after pausing
for breath, the two parties (re)joined '700' and, for the first time, '707' (with bus type, non-reversible
seats) for the main tour, with each tram constantly in sight of the other. So, back to the Promenade to
continue via Foxhall crossover (between the Manchester Square and Central Pier stops) to Pleasure
Beach turning circle (inner loop) and north to the usual arrival stop at Fleetwood Ferry. 50 minutes
(12.35-13.25) was allowed there for our lunch break. I adjourned to one of my favourite buildings
there, the Grade II-listed North Euston Hotel of 1841, while our vehicles recessed on the loop between
the arrival and departure stops. (The hotel is so named as pre-WCML passengers from Euston would
catch a train to Fleetwood, stay the night and continue to Ardrossan by boat - or vice versa.)

After lunch each party transferred to the other tram, continuing via Fisherman's Walk crossover,
(Victoria Street crossover remains out of use long term) back to Fleetwood; both times there we took
the non-passenger loop - then it was south again. After reversing via Cleveleys crossover, we used the
Thornton Gate (reverse) and Bispham centre loops, then Cabin crossover, to reach Little Bispham
turning circle and so back to North Pier and the crossover just to the south. Via North Pier loop and
crossover, we were now heading south yet again, en route to Starr Gate depot.

There we went around the loop, through the Wash Plant to the gate, reversed and entered the Depot.
Back through the gate, reversal was at the end of the depot headshunt, returning to a different Depot
road, so covering Roads 8 & 9. Not coincidentally they had not been done on our previous tours; also
not coincidentally they were clear to their extremities where we just happened to go. Next it was via
the trailing crossover, through the arrivals platform and to the single track just past Starr Gate tram
stop. A short disembarkation for 'Personal Needs' purposes at the adjacent WCs followed, then it was
back on board and through the departure platform. At Foxhall we reversed via the crossover to make

for Pleasure Beach turning circle again (outer loop this time, of course), then back to Tower crossover
and reversal. There was a set down for those passengers requiring trains from Blackpool North station.
Finally, it was back to a different road inside Rigby Road Depot, where we ended at around 16.45.

The final memorable scene was of our two trams side-by-side, with personal 'thank-you's' from the
participants to the staff who'd achieved so much on our behalf. In his very informative notes (which
greatly enhanced the tour experience), David Palmer cited in particular Gary Conn of Blackpool
Heritage Trams; so many others assisted him, of course, and the event raised £4,200 - including £700
alone from the inevitable raffle - to assist with supporting the BHT operation.

Next morning I began my trip back to Euston, taking the chance to revisit lines I'd not travelled over
for quite some time. From Liverpool it was round to Chester via Frodsham, then a look at Northwich
station and via Altrincham through to Stockport (many thanks, Dave [Leeming], for your magnificent
'BLN' series of signal box reminiscences!). Then back to Altrincham (with its ingenious incorporation of
the original west-side station building in the bus interchange) and Metrolink to Piccadilly for London.

I ended my 'less familiar' lines exploration when passing Cornbrook - and this neatly ties in with our
Blackpool tour. I'd never heard of Michael Holroyd Smith until reading David's notes, but I now know
of his significance in that he had recognised the potential of electric traction for tramways and
arranged a demonstration of a standard gauge tramway using an underground conduit system at his
Manchester works and then at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. It's an appropriate coincidence that,
along the way, he became a partner in a telephone/phonograph company in Cornbrook.

My thanks go to all our Society personnel, led by Kev Adlam, involved with this, well-organised, well-
executed and comprehensive tour of the 11-mile system. Not least, thanks to those who prepared the
invaluable stocklist and track plan (as always, it was so useful to have these in advance) and also the
special ticket: 'From Rigby Road to Fleetwood, Route: Unusual' - yes, indeed! PS: It was good to be
able to purchase from the on-tram-staff BHT's fine Blackpool Heritage Trams! booklet on the day
(see: https://heritagetramtours.square.site/ excellent value at £5, and a significant exclamation mark).

Ticket design was by Amy Nash. Thanks to Martyn Brailsford, the landscape plan shows the coverage
and the portrait one cumulative coverage of our Nov 2016, Jan 2019 & Jan 2022 tours. For individual
routes, go to our website 'Archive' set the left box to 'Fixture' and put 'Blackpool' in the right box. This
also brings up David Palmer's Blackpool Tram notes and chronology with Martyn's new track plan.

:Details must be checked 1397 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN.

821] Make a will FREE throughout March: https://bit.ly/3I4sbqJ is a special offer until 31 Mar with
RBF and Railway Mission (no obligation). It can be done by email [email protected]
online, Zoom or phone 0345 241 2885. RBF has confirmed that the offer applies to our members.

822] Sat 2 Apr; Hastings Diesels: Hastings (07.44/20.16), where it won't be a battle to join, and some
stations via Guildford (09.44/18.01) and Alton (10.30/17.24) through to Alresford - see website.

823] :NEW!: Sat 2 Apr; Braxted Bakery Railway: (TL 8387 1396) Southeast of Witham station and less
than 2 miles walk at Homefield House, Witham Road, Little Braxted, CM8 3ET. First public running at
this new 2ft gauge 335yd circuit with a spur to two sheds; a friendly new railway built on a substantial
scale. The bakery and café are very good too, eat in a standard gauge goods wagon body! Time/details
will be on Facebook nearer the date. Reports and pictures welcome also future running dates please.

824] 09.30 Sat 16 Apr; .HALF PRICE. Ellesmere Port - Garston cruise: https://bit.ly/3rNSRr9 on the Daniel
Adamson, a preserved coal fired 1903 steam tug tender. A non-landing 6-hour return cruise for the price
(£65) of a single trip. It includes numerous landmarks and items of railway, shipping and general interest.
There is a very detailed itinerary on the website link and a good selection of interesting other trips to try.

825] Mon 29 Aug; Scarborough Spa Ramble: This www.inter-city.co.uk (0800 0385364) charter now
returns Castleford - Pontefract Monkhill (unusual for Class 20s): Church Fenton - Milford Jn - Castleford -
Cutsyke Jn - Glasshoughton - Pontefract Monkhill - Knottingley West Jn - Knottingley Sth Jn - Askern -
Shaftholme Jn - Doncaster - Mexborough Jn - Aldwarke Jn - Masborough Jn - Beighton Jn - Tapton Jn.

826] Sat 14 May; The Powerful Pieman Panorama: Ealing Broadway 07.45/21.50 - St Albans City
(08.40/21.05) - Bedford 09.15/20/30 - East Midlands Parkway 11.00/18.15. Organised by our member
Ian Loveday, this tour is hoping to visit freight yards at the following locations: Acton, Toton and
Doncaster and the very rare Wellingborough Down, Beckingham Up and Up Sundon (1½ miles long)
goods loops, among the many it will traverse. At Doncaster the Up Hexthorpe Good Line and St James
Curve are included as is Pyewipe Jn - Boultham Jn, avoiding Lincoln. There is a break in Nottingham.
The organiser has requested a repatriated ex-European DBC Class 66 to pilot the train from Toton.
On the day surprises are possible. Seats can be booked book via the UK Railtours website/office.

827] Alfred Raworth's Electric Southern Railway: By Peter Steer,
344 pages, 150 illustrations and maps (16 pages of colour photos),
hardback 16.5 x 22 x 2.5cm. Pen & Sword cover price £40 (wordery
£30.37 incl P&P); Amazon Kindle £14.69. This book focuses in detail
on electrification of the Southern from the beginning and turns the
spotlight on the unsung hero Alfred Raworth (1882-1967).

As the Southern Railway's Chief Electric Engineer from 1938-1946,
he worked under influential railwaymen such as Sir Herbert Walker,
OVD Bullied, RFI Maunsell & Sir Eustace Missenden. In this superb
book Peter Steer highlights Raworth's ability as an electrification
genius from when he took 'charge' of electrification infrastructure
in the 1920-1930s until retirement in 1946. His innovative electricity
distribution and control system was doubted by many engineers
then, as they believed it would not work on longer routes from London to the South Coast. With
Raworth's first scheduled L&SWR electric service running in Oct 1915, Phase 1 of electrification was
completed in 1929 with overhead AC powered EMUs (ironically) converted to DC types. This book
has photos and maps detailing the extent of work to electrify the Southern and includes photos of
early EMUs and experimental electric locos. WWII slowed the project and a casualty was London to
Hastings which ended up with special narrow DEMUs built in 1957-58. It was thought special narrow
electric trains would also be needed for the line, so 'Hastings Units' DEMUs continued in service and
the line was not electrified until 1986. If you like to get your teeth into a mega-read covering all
aspects of electrification from the early innovations to the massive plan to transform the Southern,
you will really enjoy this book. 'The Battle of Angerstein's Wharf' details a plan by SE&CR to build a
power station at the end of this one mile branch; after much petitioning it failed. (Dana Wiffen.)

828] :NEW!: Welling & District Model Engineering Society's Miniature Railway: (BLN 1387.MR196)
After 45 years near Falconwood main line station, this 3½/5'' elevated 425yd railway has moved to the
Grade II Listed Hall Place and Gardens, Bourne Road, Bexley, DA5 1PQ (Admission £4 adult, £2 Child).
Rides £1 every Sunday 15 May (opening day) until 25 Sep 12.30-16.00. Reports and photos welcome.

829] Society railtour maps: Our member Stephen Phillips kindly produces route maps for our railtour
itineraries. If anyone would like amended maps for our 2-5 Jul 2021 Summer Syphons tours (as they
actually ran!), please email him at [email protected] for an e-version or, for a paper copy, send
a 11cm x 22cm 'DL' SAE with a note to: The Lakes Cottage, Whitestone, Hereford, HR1 3NE. Other tour
maps from recent years are available on request but only a few are updated to show actual routes
(as this is only done for those that ended up with significant changes from the original proposals).

CONTACT DETAILS: See BLN/e-BLN 1390 or 1350 (18 Apr 2020), website PDF or via BLN Editor.

●Editor: Paul Stewart [email protected] 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX 01684 562862 07790 652351.
●Chairman: John Williamson [email protected] La Marguerite, Croit-e-Quill Road, Laxey, ISLE of MAN, IM4 7JD.

●Fixtures Secretary: Kev Adlam [email protected] @BLSFixtures (Paper post via BLN Editor above please.)
●Bookings: Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Road, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL 07983 541887.
●BLS Sales: Graeme Jolley [email protected] Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, Powys, SY20 8NN. 07484646542.
●Printed by Willow Printing & Design Ltd [email protected] 75/79 Back Cross Lane, NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS,

WA12 9YE 01925 222449. ●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, STOKE GIFFORD, BS34 8NP.

BELOW: (Item 828) Welling & District MES - the new miniature railway. (Dana Wiffen 19 Mar 2022.)