Blackpool Trams - Brush 630 says farewell to Blackpool

[heittkjott]

i refused to work on 706 again after that something ill never forget i had grab after the incident as well! RIP Pam Steele

[heittkjott]

i was also working with Pam on 706 "alice" on tram sunday 2005 when we had an accident and unfortunately,she fell down the stairs and broke her back.Sadly Pam passed away 3 years ago :(

[heittkjott]

we were turning round at cleveleys and had stack time and i went upstairs cos we thought a passenger was still on and no one was up there!honest to god!

[heittkjott]

i can't believe 710 is gone!that one is famous!and 703,the haunted tram,and believe me it is,i worked on it several times!

[heittkjott]

wow that is bad i remember one year when steve bird only put out service trams...no specials and he went to a show at the pleasure beach and people were trying to kick the door in to his box over it...they had 75 good trams in depot and only around 35 were used and worked..those trams could easily have doubled takings for bts cos so many people were left behind during illuminations,if you're at a stop beyond south pier going north,forget getting a tram!had to deal with loads of angry people!

[heittkjott]

There is an anti tram attitude there now it seems.I still remember them championing the new ones saying it would be the answer,just to see the burnt out hulk of the "saviour" being dragged away by one of our old girls...the thing went up like a roman candle according to alan who was driving it...had that been a busy tuesday fleetwood market day,it would've been a disaster!but when i worked there the whole induction focued on the trams nd they told us that the trams take as much as ALL the buses!

[dalrigh]

@heittkjott The anti tram attitude could be seen last by the trams service provided last October half term holidays.

First service of Rigby Road was around 09.10 in the morning.

These were all single deckers and the only way to get on a south bound tram was to head north to Little Bispham.

Witnessed plenty of angry customer left behind at tram stops, even the taxi drivers could see what was happening and cashed in on the trade the Blackpool Transport didn't appear to want.

[heittkjott]

it just angers me that a part of my hometown has been,in my eyes,desecrated.BLackpool has so much to be proud of and the old trams,which everyone knows and loves,were just one of the things.

[heittkjott]

He started the horrible redesign of the centenaries but it was common knowledge when i worked there that he was trying to replac them with buses,mainly because he had to split the tram takings with blackpool coucil 51%-49% this is a great video though :)

[dalrigh]

@heittkjott Thank you for your kind comments.

I think the attitude of anti trams still exists in Blackpool Transport, there has been an eagerness to get rid of the old trams.

You would of thought that they would have held onto the Centenary cars while the new trams settled in.

[heittkjott]

disabled access or no disabled access,i really think that some things should be immune from all this PC rubbish that runs everyones lives now.Ok get the new trams,but leave the old ones alone.Steve Bird starting the ruining process when I worked at Blackpool Transport because he hated the trams and was secretly trying to get rid of them all together.

[heittkjott]

i can't understand why they're gettin rid of the old trams anyway...the new ones are horrible in my opinion,no different to any other place that has them i just think Blackpool Transport has just thrown away part of what is Blackpool and the old cars that have survived have been butchered way too much very sad I'd like to see how these city trams cope with the Blackpool conditions.Will they still be around in 70-80 years time?

[dalrigh]

@heittkjott The reason for the tramway upgrade is so that it becomes disable access compliance. Which is also the reason for the old Balloon cars being butchered.

There will be some unaltered trams running in Blackpool but these will be on restricted use throughout the year.

I can't see the new trams being around in 70-80 years time myself.

Thanks for watching heittkjott.

[MrKampchick]

they would spend all that money for it just to get scraped in ten years and from what i herd it will be runing wirth other trams at it home i dont think blackpool would off tock it out service and so quick just for it to get screaped and defintly not as i think the ltt ownd it and came to deal and if it is true it should go bk to blackpool or the wirrel tram museam in birkenhead merseyside

[dalrigh]

@MrKampchick I hope they don't scrap this tram only time will tell.

It would have also been nice if they had removed the tower casing to reveal the original tower.

Thanks for watching.

[TrainsOfSander]

It will be scrapped? Nice video and nice looking tram BTW.

[dalrigh]

@TrainsOfSander I think the rumour has it, that it will be scrapped in around 10 years time.

Thanks for your kind comments.

[1Thunderace]

@dalrigh Will it be scrapped in 10 years time? It wouldn't be the first time that Crich has scrapped a tram. Blackpool Standard 158 was scrapped around 1974-78 but it was only obtained for spares for the existing Standards 40 & 49. However, to my knowledge the other car scrapped, Sheffield 347, provoked cancellations of membership subscriptions. If 630 joins the operational fleet for 2012 then I can see her being around for many more years than 10. BTW. Once again, great vid! Thanks for posting

[dalrigh]

@1Thunderace Thats what the rumours are saying, that it will be scrapped in ten years time.

Blackpool Transport retained the front end design of Centenary 648 for Crich only for them to turn it down for preservation.

Thanks for your comments 1Thunderace.

[CrichConductor700]

@dalrigh @1Thunderace I've not heard any of these rumours, but can say that it is destined to join the operating fleet at Crich in 2012, if all goes to plan with getting 762, Boat 236, Leeds 345 and London 159 in the fleet. I wouldn't listen to rumours if I were you! 158 was scrapped as it made a duplicate in our fleet (with 49), and there are at least two others preserved (both operational too!) so it did come in useful! It looks to be a popular tram at Crich... we'll see!

[dalrigh]

@CrichConductor700 It's nice to hear that 630 is doing well at Crich and safe from the scrap man.

[theamateurbasher]

And to think that only three months back, I did a ride on this beast from Little Bispham to Pleasure Beach and back! LOL Nice to see it leaving for a happier future though, so cheers for sharing!

[dalrigh]

@theamateurbasher It is hard to believe that this tram was still in service at the end of October and will know longer be available for service in Blackpool anymore.

Thanks for watching.

[timetochill666]

Another great video. Many thanks for posting, so sad to see them go :(

[dalrigh]

@timetochill666 It was a very sad occasion to witness, but at least it's got a brighter future.

Thanks for your kind comments timetochill666.

[WHOisHE15]

she will be loved and missed :(

[dalrigh]

@WHOisHE15 It's hard to believe that it use to carry the go kart advert.

Well done to the workers of Blackpool Transport for a great paint job.

[37057viking]

0:41 - Whoops! Ended up a bit too much in your video, there! Sorry about that! Great video though! :)

[dalrigh]

@37057viking I don't think it's a problem when people are in the video as they are all part of the scene.

I noticed you got me in your video, sorry about that.

Thanks for your kind comments.

[37057viking]

@dalrigh Same here, not fussed at all. Was quite funny to see you belt passed trying to get that last shot! lol

[dalrigh]

@37057viking Running that fast nearly gave me a heart attack.

[37057viking]

@dalrigh Take it easy there, fella! lol

[srpott40]

another sad but great video. for some reason did not think it was quiet as sad as the twin car leaving probably because, we I know this tram has got a happy future at Crich

must say i love the paint work, and thanks for the great work

[dalrigh]

@srpott40 Thanks for your kind comments srpott40.

I think the twin car departure was a sadder occasion due to the two permanently coupled coaches being separated.

[stuvids]

Farewell 630. She does look smart in the green & cream.

Thanks for Sharing the video!

[dalrigh]

@stuvids It's a shame it could not of run in this livery for the last week of the lights.

Thanks for your kind comments Stuart.