I had not ventured on any of the now five* BLS Blackpool Tram tours in the Adlam era. My only previous visits were domestic trips some years ago and our Society visit on 1 Apr 1990 (part of a northwestern weekend and pre-Starr Gate Depot). So, I decided it was high time to renew my acquaintance with the system and booked on The Blackpool Balloon III Tour, as first announced. I was undeterred by the tour losing its heritage status due to 'challenging circumstances for the operator' and was assured that recent Storm Éowyn had not seriously affected structures on the Fylde Coast. I joined the 65 members on a bitterly cold Sunday morning for the tour, now rebranded but remaining alliterative, as The Fleetwood Flexity. [*These five tours were on 19 Nov 2016, 26 Jan 2019, 30 Jan 2022, 26 Nov 2023 and 26 Jan 2025.]

Meeting at North Pier Heritage Stop, the majority was sheltering from the biting wind in the lee of 'The Wedding Chapel', appropriate as we were to be married to a modern Flexity Tram Unit for the next 7½ hours. Unit 018, displaying 'BLS TOUR', arrived in the loop in good time for the prompt 10.00 start.

I have no intention of itemising the complex and comprehensive itinerary of the day (see penultimate paragraph) but will just outline the route and features. Firstly, we went to North Station P1 (left on arrival), then to the Bispham turning loop, returning to North Station P2 before heading south to Starr Gate. The routes to / from North Station stop were new to many, as this section was opened as recently as 12 Jun 2024. At Starr Gate, the non-passenger turning loop was taken through the Washer (not operating) to the headshunt before running into Shed Road 9 then into Works Road 2, stopping at the wheel lathe, for special haulage. After some delay, power to our unit was switched off and 4w BE 'Zephir', announced as 'The Crab', nipped in and was attached. This pulled and pushed 018 along Road 2 for a short distance each direction three times before it got tired and was released from its duties! [The helpful Heritage Trams volunteers identified this haulage cop as No2372 of 2011.]















With power back on, 018 headed out of the Depot, reversed via the Harrow Place trailing crossover to Starr Gate service tram reversing point and back into the northbound platform for a necessary diversion. Public Toilets! A queue formed outside, the local council losing many 40p charges as cubicle doors were held open for the next in turn! Flushed with success of this element of the tour, Kev checked everyone was back on board, greatly relieved as we had been holding up a service tram for a wee while!






We headed north, passing the illumination displays (unlit since 5 Jan), the length of the line to Fleetwood Ferry Heritage Stop. Here was a further toilet stop for a few needy souls but the planned and advertised lunch stop was abandoned, amid some mumbling, the usual fish & chip shop being closed. A general announcement to this effect would have helped those who were anxious about their rumbling stomachs.

Instead, we continued to Fisherman's Walk and reversed over Ash Street crossover, to complete another circuit of Fleetwood via the inner loop, before continuing south to Cabin, reversing back to Bispham northbound platform. [It does exist despite being inadvertently absent without leave on TRACKmaps 4 p47 2022.] There, 018 stabled in the middle loop line while members and staff engaged in a late 45min lunch break. The fish & chip shop (and other eateries) were open, with a supply of salt and vinegar - hurrah! They were much patronised, though some of us just had a hot drink in the shelter of the 'Station Café. Bispham (northbound) is the only place where trams call at a 'station' rather than a tram stop; there is a 'Bispham Station' sign on the building above the shelter, with a bright yellow 'sun' between - the only sun seen all day. (North Station stop, just named 'Blackpool North', doesn't count.)






Suitably refreshed, the party reassembled on the southbound platform to reboard our tram. There was then a series of runs south and north ticking off crossovers and loops on the northern section of the line, during which some 38 raffle prizes were given out (nothing for yours truly!) and Heritage Trams offered a variety of souvenirs for sale. There was even an at seat service of canned drinks and snacks. A similar exercise followed on the south section, including both turning loops at Pleasure Beach. The penultimate move, in the gathering gloom, was to run to North Station stop to drop-off those travelling onward by train (note that service trams also reach the end of line here). This served two purposes. It offered the members an opportunity to express gratitude in the usual manner to the tram crew for their splendid efforts throughout the day and it avoided the need for around 45 members of the Brigade of BLS Foot Flexitiers to march along Talbot Road to the mainline station! Return to North Pier (Southbound) saw the last rites, the remaining members being divorced from Unit 018, which retired to the Depot.



As a simple record, we covered all running lines, loops and crossovers except the facing one at Harrow Place and the two non-wired ones at Manchester Square and Victoria Street. Victoria Street also has clearance problems. We didn't venture along the Rigby Road Depot branch (done previously) and ran only into required Roads 9 & 2 at Starr Gate Depot. For the spotters, we saw all 18 Flexity Units, either in service or at Starr Gate, the 'illuminated' Warship HMS Blackpool and the Crab mentioned earlier.






Thanks, in no small measure, are due to all involved with the organisation and administration of the tour, especially to the indefatigable Kev Adlam, Martyn Brailsford as ever for the splendid track diagrams and to Gary Lonsdale for the stock lists. Not least, to big thanks Gary Conn and Blackpool Transport.