Tram Liveries

Advertising is a prominent feature of the Blackpool trams. Tramcars with all over advertising were introduced in 1975. Most of those liveries are quite nice to look at and they do generate additional income for the company. More recent contracts use so-called “contra vision” adhesive film that covers everything including the passenger windows (there are small holes in the film that allow a restricted view out when you sit by the window). We usually list the dates of the contract/operating season (this means some cars may run around in the “expired” livery for some more weeks/months awaiting a repaint).

Select a page below to see the various liveries carried by the trams:

• Fleet Liveries
• Advertising Trams – Balloon Cars
• Advertising Trams – Centenary Cars
• Advertising Trams – Railcoaches
• Advertising Trams – all other cars

 

Service Vehicles (Rubber Tired Fleet)

This list does not aim to be complete (to be honest, we don’t think records like that exist). We try to list all the current service vehicles (i.e. the rubber-tired fleet) and those that were used over the last few years. Any additions/corrections gladly welcome! The fleets of Blackpool Transport Services and Blackpool Council/OSD (Track Services only) are covered. The Council’s fleet is much larger but we can include only those vehicles that are (or have been) used for track maintenance. Driver Training vehicles are listed on our two bus pages.click here for the fleetlist

 

Birkenhead Trams

Not on the Fylde Coast but for a time operated by Blackpool Transport this standard gauge (1435mm) Birkenhead Heritage Tramway museum line was opened at the end of 1994. Two brand new trams were purchased from Hong Kong to run from Woodside Ferry through the old dock estate along Shore Road to Pacific Road where the first depot and a small transport museum was located (now closed and under conversion into offices). The line was extended from Pacific Road to Egerton Bridge in 1996 and later further to the new depot in Taylor Street. The Hong Kong cars and the line are owned by the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. The track and the two HK trams were leased by Blackpool Transport Services Ltd. for 7 years. This lease expired in April 2002 but was extended and in September the licence and the staff transferred to Wirral Borough Council. We will continue to report about this little tramway, even though the Blackpool connection no longer exists. Visit the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society website for further details & operating hours. 

• click here for the fleetlist

 

Fylde Borough Buses – Fleet List

The fleet of “Lytham St. Annes Corporation / Fylde Borough Transport / Blue Buses” – since 1994 part of Blackpool Transport Services – is featured here. Some fleet numbers have been used up to five times and complicated renumbering was common. All vehicles taken over by BT and integrated into the current Blackpool fleet numbering system are included in both listings.

• click here for the fleetlist

 

Blackpool Buses – Fleet List

As well as running trams Blackpool Corporation operated a large fleet of buses from as early as 1921, both double deck and single deck vehicles plus a few coaches. The bus fleet history is almost as complicated as the tramcar fleet and some fleet numbers were used up to three times. All buses ever operated by the Corporation and its successor are listed (incl. all ex-Fylde buses and coaches). Instead of listing the vehicles in fleet number order we have tried to sort by the “First in use” column. Thanks to Paul Turner for updating the list in June 2001 and latest corrections in May 2007 (after an error found by Derek Heptinstall). Comments/corrections (or additional info) always welcome! New vehicles have not been added to this list since 2002 – anyone wants to supply the data? Please email the webmaster.

• click here for the fleetlist

 

Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramroad Company

An interurban standard gauge (1435mm) tramway was opened in 1888 connecting Fleetwood with North Station, Blackpool. From the start it used the conventional overhead wire method. The single deck cars in service closely resembled the ones used on the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man. Street running sections were to be found in Fleetwood and Gynn Square to North Station (via Dickson Road) only. After being taken over by Blackpool Corporation on January 1st 1920 nothing much changed but the old rolling stock was withdrawn in the 1930s. After closure of the Dickson Road route the Tramroad is now an important part of the remaining Starr Gate to Fleetwood service operated by Blackpool Transport Services Limited.

• click here for the fleetlist

 

Lytham St. Annes Tramway

Until 1937 a third standard gauge (1435mm) tramway could be found on the Fylde Coast. It was owned by the Blackpool, St. Annes and Lytham Tramways Company and ran from Lytham East Beach to Squires Gate. A depot was situated in Squires Gate Lane. In 1920 the line it was purchased by the St. Annes Urban District Council which amalgamated with the Lytham UDC in 1922. The cars were then operated by Lytham St. Annes Corporation. Over the years through-running into Blackpool was exercised but cars from Blackpool seldom ventured South beyond Squires Gate. Blackpool Corporation was interested in purchasing the line to St. Annes Square but the tramway was abandoned. Interestingly, Blackpool Transport Services at last acquired the bus operations of the by now called Fylde Transport undertaking in 1994. The fleet, still housed in the old tram depot near Starr Gate, was fully integrated into the Blackpool fleet in 1996.

• click here for the fleetlist

 

Blackpool Trams – Fleet List

The Blackpool Tramway always had a variety of rolling stock. With the introduction of the modern fleet (the 1930s streamliners) most of the older cars were scrapped. We have divided the fleet lists for the tramway into 4 sub-categories: Part I of the Passenger Cars deals with the pre-1930s fleet, Part II shows the modern fleet, the Illuminated Fleet and non-passenger cars are also listed and we have also provided a listing of all the trams that have visited Blackpool over the years. Click below for one of the fleetlists:

• Passenger Cars – Part I
• Passenger Cars – Part II
• Illuminated Cars
• Works Cars
• Visiting Cars