Refurbished Balloon 713 in Asda advert livery approaching Cabin 28th May 2006
Saturday
Arrived in Blackpool just after 1 pm, the Spring Service is in operation with 7 trams on the Fleetwood - Starr Gate Service (700, 707, 709, 718, 719, 724, 761)and 4 on the Pleasure Beach - Cleveleys Service (701, 703, 721, 722), specials operated up until 9.30 pm in the afternoon, (702, 710, 713, 715, 671+681, 672+682, 673+683, 675+685), with Centenaries 641, 643, 644, 645 and 647 taking over at night. I overheard a crew tram talking and they were saying that both 713 and 720 both had leaky roofs and would not be sent out in the rain.
Sunday
The tramway seemed to be in total chaos on this day, with 4 breakdowns and late running. First breakdown was 719, which was towed back to depot from the Fleetwood area. 709 took its place, 709 was then replaced at about 1pm by 672+682 at Tower, followed shortly after by 761 being replaced by 673+683. Late on at about 10.00 - 10.30pm 707 broke down in the Fleetwood area and was towed back to depot by 701.
The trams also ran late all day with Cleveleys service trams tailing Fleetwood Cars, in 1 crazy period 703 on Cleveleys Service (terminated at Little Bispham), 713 on Fleetwood Service (terminated at Thornton Gate) and 707 for Fleetwood, all passed one after the other when the 2 Fleetwood trams should have been 20 minutes apart and the Cleveleys tram in the middle of them. Moving to the evening, 641, 643, 644, 645 and 647 were out on specials and 721 reappeared off Cleveleys service as a special. Later on with 707 breaking down, 641 operated as a Special to Cleveleys and then Starr Gate and picked up the reamainder of 707's journeys. 673+683 which was behind 707 turned at either Thornton Gate or Ash Street and was so late that it only worked as far as North Pier before returning to Fleetwood with the last journey of the day. Meanwhile 701 was dispatched to tow 707 back to depot.
Fleetwood Service - 700, 707/641, 713, 718, 719/709/672+682, 724, 761/673+683
Cleveleys Service - 701, 703, 721, 722
Specials - 702, 710, 715, 721, 641, 643, 644, 645, 647
Monday
This was the first day of the summer service, following yesterdays breakdowns 701, 703 and 710 found themselves on the Fleetwood Service, however 710 didnt last long and was replaced by 672+682. 5 Brush Cars / Railcoaches formed the Cleveleys service and there was 8 cars on specials in the morning.
Fleetwood Service - 700, 701, 703, 710, 713, 718, 724, 672+682
Cleveleys Service - 622, 626, 630, 631, 680
Specials - 702, 709, 721, 761, 643, 644, 645, 647
Photos from the weekend added to existing collection
