Blackpool Trams - Flexity 2 clearance test to Fleetwood

[jiggawoo]

sounds much quieter than the older trams untill 3 minutes in, then it sounds like its falling apart, the sparks and crackling from the overhead wiring is a bit strange too.

[dalrigh]

@jiggawoo The sound at 3 minutes will probably be down to the sharp curves on the crossover.

The sparking is down to the fact that the overhead wire north of Little Bispham had not been used for over a year.

As you will see after Little Bispham the sparking disappears due to the overhead wire having been used during the 2011 season.

Thanks for watching.

[jemdude22]

the overhead doesn't zigzag and is no good for pantos.

[dalrigh]

@jemdude22 Blackpool Transport have spent the last month or so adjusting the overhead wiring, so should stop the wearing down of pantographs.

It seem strange how the old trams didn't have the same pantograph problems.

One can only assume that the pantographs on the new trams are made from a lighter weight metal.

[gallafey]

But from I have seen of them well they ok but I won't until I ridden on one I have ridden all types tram at Blackpool well all except Standerd, Coronation Fishing Trawler and HMS Blackpool

[gallafey]

I'd say these trams although they are not quite same in charecter as the Balloon's, Brush's Coronation or OMO trams, but new flextiy 2's do look better than what Manchester has, I come from Leigh which is near Manchester, but I have always like Blackpool trams better becouse of the style and the veriaties there are up until 2009 or 2010 Manchester only had type of tram but Blackpool was there 1st with electric trams never actully seen the Flexity2's while I was in Blackpool last week

[dalrigh]

@gallafey You must have been unlucky not seeing a Flexity, usually they are most weeks on driver training. There is suppose to be a ghost service starting in March.

Thanks for watching.

[gallafey]

@dalrigh Now i know that this sound like a really daft question but what kind of liceance would need you to if i was to becomes a tram driver I assume that in Blackpool tramways case you'd probably expected to drive some the heritage fleet and since i'll be most likely tobe moving to the area, it was one of the jobs was thinking off considoring?

[dalrigh]

@gallafey Not sure about type of licence you would need, but I think most of the tram drivers drive busses as well.

[2259Ben]

Have you got the Little Bispham Terminus clearance video? I really want to see how tight that is (if it will be used by the flexy trams).

[dalrigh]

@2259Ben Do not have footage of Flexity trams at Little Bispham yet.

When I have some I will You Tube it.

Thanks for watching

[wilberlee2]

Are they going to keep them that colour or will they paint them all colours with gaudy adverts.

[dalrigh]

@wilberlee2 Unfortunately they are keeping them all the same colour.

It's got to be one of the worst liveries ever.

Usually see streaks of dirt down the side of them when it has been raining.

[sheenaann123]

Nice to see them daily while the drivers are training along the sea front at Blackpool! (Especially when the drivers stopped opposite McDonald at South Shore and dropped in for a burger!! LOL!)

[sheenaann123]

Since rumour has it that the trams are to replace many of the buses to Fleetwood, and trams are run at inflated prices against the bus service - this should be interesting. Nice just now, but we await the summer tourist affect on them and resulting rubbish and wear and tear over the summer season. However, hardly a waste of money since current tram stock is outdated and rickety and these are much more efficient and generate more revenue per tram! I like them - but we'll see!!

[dalrigh]

@sheenaann123 It would make sense them cutting back the bus service to get more people to use the tram.

Not sure if these trams will be cost effective in the winter with their two man crew.

At the end of the day the One Man Operation OMO's were introduce in the early seventies to cut costs and help the tramway survive, only time will tell with the new trams.

Thanks for watching.

[nympton]

I think they look smart, and will be a wonderful asset for years to come. I used to go to school on the old ones, and whilst they are fun as a tourist thing, they don't make the best as a transport option over a distance. I look forward to the spur to Blackpool North, and grumbles about how the new electric trains, when they arrive, don't have the nostalgic feel of the clapped out diesels.

[keepinguptheday]

Good to see new trams. If they had not rebuilt the line, it would have been closed and torn up - well done, Blackpool!

[MrTomtom445]

Well at least your new trams have made a test run on the line. I guess you must think how much bad luck they are having in Edinburgh with their trams. As to having a solution to the contract, I think they did'nt pay enough attention to the amount of money and time it was going to cost for the project. They just carried on regardless not matter what!!.

[MrTomtom445]

How on earth did the contractors make such a blunder at Thornton Gate with the height of the slabs.What red face there!!, can no one measure them things ?

[dalrigh]

@MrTomtom445 It does not surprise me as at the beginning of the year they had laid new track down at Rossall Beach and had to relay again a couple of months later.

Thanks for watching.

[sheenaann123]

@MrTomtom445

How did they find out they were too high? Did they scrape the bottom of the tram or what?

[simpletimes222]

Its sad that the old ones are mostly going, but the reality is that every thing machine has a death. They being scraped?

[dalrigh]

@simpletimes222 It's only a matter of time before some of the old trams are scrapped.

Thanks for watching.

[ScottyInDaHouse]

waste of money !!!!

[dalrigh]

@ScottyInDaHouse At 2 million pound a piece they are quite an expensive tram for trundling along the prom.

[ScottyInDaHouse]

@dalrigh cudnt agree more better stuff in blackpool needed than this..!

[37057viking]

Top video! I for one look forward to the Flexity trams! I'll miss the old stuff, don't get me wrong, but I also can't wait for a first run aboard a new'un! Bring it on, I say!

[dalrigh]

@37057viking It was nice to witness the first ever visit of a Flexity to Fleetwood.

Not sure how I will take to these, only time will tell.

Thanks for your kind comments 37057viking.

[zoomeristen]

Something has died in Blackpool !!!!

[dalrigh]

@zoomeristen Blackpool's heritage is the answer to that one.

Thanks for watching.

[v1ndiesel96]

Its a shame that Blackpool have decided to replace most of the classic old trams with sterile new trams which look like those in any city.

Whats next.....Replace the tower??

Great videos dalrigh.....Please post more of the old trams

[dalrigh]

@v1ndiesel96 Only time will tell on how well the remainder of the heritage fleet integrate with the new.

With 16 new trams will we see much of the old?

Working on a couple of videos at the moment of the old trams.

Thanks for watching and your kind comments.

[1Thunderace]

Great vid - & who said "no trams this winter" ? Keep them flowing!

Is that a "gong" at 1:47? Not like Sheffield's gongs with rotary clappers, but a very pleasing sound instead of the strident blast of air horns

[dalrigh]

@1Thunderace Was out in the morning same day video'ing Brush 631 and Centenary 648 testing between Little Bispham and Fisherman's Walk.

The gong sound is quite a pleasant sound.

Thanks for your kind comments.

[FishyCam]

Some serious sparks from the pantograph, I guess its a build up a crud on the wire due to not getting used much recently??? Nice vid as usual though.

[dalrigh]

@FishyCam Yes I think the sparks are due to a years lack of use.

Thanks for your kind comments.

[srpott40]

great video, but what you are filming is just not a good as it was a month ago, and that is not your fault it is Blackpool transport. i think you have done an great job with what you had to film

BRING BACK THE OLD TRAMS

[dalrigh]

@srpott40 I thought I would never say this but It would nice if they put advert liveries on them just to make them a bit more interesting.

Thanks for your kind comments.

[stuvids]

Excellent video! Nice to see it got Fleetwood. Everytime this has been running on test, I've been at work and then when I am in Blackpool it doesn't run. Thats sods law for you.

I hear they have not done that wheel flat yet which it got on its second run on launch day!

Thanks for Sharing!

[dalrigh]

@stuvids I didn't know this was running myself until I saw it coming up from the Metropole.

Had been out in the morning and video'd 631 and 648 testing between Little Bispham and Fisherman's Walk which was also a bit of luck (a bit of stuvids luck).

Thanks for your kind comments.

[AndrewParkerTV]

Nice video. Any idea what all the grey blocks are all over the bodywork from the cab area and down the sides to the other cab area?

[dalrigh]

@AndrewParkerTV They are polystyrene blocks which are for clearance testing, such as traction poles.

Thanks for watching.

[AndrewParkerTV]

@dalrigh Ah thanks for clearing that up, I had no idea what they were :)

[normandytrooper]

Great video , wonder how reliable they will be when the bad weather arrives

[dalrigh]

@normandytrooper Only time will tell on how reliable these machines will be, but with them being German I would of thought they would be very reliable.

Thanks for your comments

[timetochill666]

Another good video...thanks for posting.

[dalrigh]

@timetochill666 Thanks for that, it's not quite the same the filming new trams compared to the old ones.

[nightw4tchman]

Great video. Do they need to test the ballons on the Bispham to Fleetwood section since it's new?

[dalrigh]

@nightw4tchman I would of thought they would test the widened balloons.

I believe 700 was out on Monday but sure on how far up the line it went.



[nightw4tchman]

@dalrigh Fair does, thanks for the reply.

[RLMadison]

One thing I can't stand about these new ones is that they're so bloody quiet! at least with the old ones you could hear them comming. :)

Great video as always, dalrigh.

[dalrigh]

@RLMadison They are quiet but you can still hear this one approaching due to having flats.

Thanks for your comments