Blackpool Trams - Last day of traditional tramway 2011

Includes the final tram arriving back at Rigby Road on the night of 6th November 2011.
Also various tram tours recorded during the day.

[@lovelifeclublife]

The end of a wonderful era by the famous Blackpool Trams. I could go on all the rides in the pleasure beach, on the piers or in the arcades but having a ride on the trams is and always will be my favourite. Loved by so many i dont think blackpool and the whole tramway will ever be the same. Fantastic video as always dalrigh, thank you.

[@RailSparkz95]

I can't believe i missed this, I should have been there. I can't believe most of these are going, I have loved these trams, since I first seen them (about 3yrs old). I will have great memories of these. I really liked your last shot of the depot, mixed emotions.

[@stuvids]

Excellent video! Nice to watch and the tramway as we know it is all but a memory. Well put together film and do like the slow mo clips. I've now got a soft spot for the Centenary trams, there motor wine will be missed. Although I have been told that 648 is to be retained by Blackpool Transport as part of the heritage fleet. Thanks for sharing the video and was also nice to chat with you at Rigby Road. Watching the final part of the vid did bring a tear to my eye :(

[@martsstricky1988]

Love the music at the end of the video a fitting tribute to the finale of the old trams, brings a tear to your eye to watch as we all thought certain types would never run again in blackpool, thankfully mr Bryan Lyndop has proved us all wrong on that one well done gary :)

[@srpott40]

what a sad video, i have watched a few other of the final trams going back to ridge road but your one somehow just is the best, not sure how. also i normally hate videos from on-board footage, but i think it is the clearness of the sound that makes it different watching this video as it is so realistic i look forward to seeing your videos next year and during the winter

[@fredcollins]

Superb film, caught the atmosphere of the day spot on. The addition of limited discreet music and slow motion footage is pure genius, thanks very much for sharing.

[@rab4472]

Excellent footage with a very touching finale. Mike

[@dalrigh]

@trambosqueen Thank you very much for your kind comments. Was a hard video to put together due to having around three hours of footage from the weekend. It's also nice of you to refer to the synth sounds as music as these are what I put together myself in software called Garageband. Thanks once again.

[@dalrigh]

@stuvids Thanks for your kind comments. If this is true about 648 then that will be great and then the sound of sweep can go on for years to come. All we need now is them to retain one of the twin sets. It was nice to meet you stuvids, always good to talk to the person behind the camera. Still which I had seen the broken down Centenary car being towed away.

[@blackpoolbarmpot]

@Doctortrek1 Actually you could say that there were three types of Balloon Tram:- Balloon, Millennium & Jubilee. The 'Millennium' Tram was basically classed as a refurbished Balloon Tram; but the 'Jubilee' (although quite different from a Balloon Tram) was built using the frames of two Balloon Trams. So there are three types of Tram with all or bits of Balloon Tram in them !!

[@37057viking]

Was nice to watch that. Nice to relive that last day, albeit a sad one. But it was still fun and one of the best days I've had on the tramway! The round of applause when 761 left the prom for depot was started by me and my brother, who were stood on the left side of the road! 7:26 Great video, Dalrigh. Will you film the Flexities next year?

[@37057viking]

RIP Ray Roberts. You will never be forgotten...

[@bjorklive2379]

Who is ray Robert's? The name rings a bell but his face escapes me.

[@37057viking]

@1Thunderace I think there was a lot of us with a lump in our throat that last day, more so at night! I'm slowly getting over it now! I was at Heaton Park yesterday for a bash on Stockport 5 and Manchester 765 (which was on TDE's with a mate of ours at the controls! So I got a ride on it as 'his guest'!) Had a top day out :)

[@dalrigh]

The synth sound at the end is something I generated myself on the computer, so it is nice of you to refer to it as music. I think we have a lot to thank Bryan Lindop for, especially his determination to make the heritage work. Thanks for your kind comments Martin.

[@blackpoolbarmpot]

@dalrigh I knew (ofcourse) that the Centenary's were being withdrawn after that day (as were the Railcoaches), but I never would have guessed that 648 would be kept. I am sure you will agree that 648 is probably the most important Centenary to keep and preserve due to its experimental nature in its earlier days (different Trucks & Controllers etc.) Maybe BT will put back its original ventilator windows and other fixtures and fittings too.

[@dalrigh]

@kirk8472 Thanks for your kind comments. Glad you liked the scenes at the end, did bring a tear to my eyes when putting these together.

[@dalrigh]

@blackpoolbarmpot I did think this was the same driver on both of these trams. I often wonder what was going through the drivers mind when driving 648 for possibly it's last time. Anyhow it's nice to hear from a driver on the final day of traditional trams, and thanks for watching.

[@dalrigh]

@theamateurbasher Thanks for your comments. It was a great day for the trams, weather and to see so many enthusiasts, will stay in my memories for a long time.

[@blackpoolbarmpot]

Between 4:16 & 6:15 minutes on this Video - that was me driving '648'. I had 'Railcoach 631' on the first part and 'Centenary 648' on the second part of my duty.

[@dalrigh]

@TheIntercityhst Thanks for your kind comments. You will usually find when there are two trams stationary side by side at stops and one sets off they always sound their horn to warn pedestrians about. Enjoy your visit in Easter and lets hope their is some good weather for the launch of the new trams.

[@normandytrooper]

Brilliant footage , the end of an era , do you know where the two twin cars are going,

[@dalrigh]

@normandytrooper I believe set 5 is privately owned but not sure who by, don't know whats happening with set 2 now that Crich know longer want it. You would thought Blackpool Transport would keep this one for future tours. I suppose that is wishful thinking. Thanks for your comments.

[@dalrigh]

@timetochill666 Thanks for your comments. You can buy a day ticket for £3.50 at certain shops or £4 on-board bus or tram.

[@RIGalleries]

Bryan's enthusiasm for the heritage fleet shone through at Pleasure Beach, on the 26th August! He says he has a 5 year plan for them and mentioned the Dreadnought tram!

[@lovelifeclublife]

@dalrigh very true, they are the soundtrack to blackpool. Instantly recognisable.

[@dalrigh]

@rab4472 Thank you Mike and thanks for watching.

[@dalrigh]

@RailSparkz95 Thanks for your kind comments.

[@dalrigh]

@37057viking Well I must take my hat of to you for starting the applause for 761 which helped get a great response from the driver. I will be having a go at filming the Flexities next year, I might not be a big fan of them now but may be glad I filmed them in 20 or 30 years time. Thanks for your comments

[@dalrigh]

@blackpoolbarmpot It is nice to know that they are keeping one of the Centenary cars.

[@dalrigh]

@srpott40 Thanks for your comments srpott40. I think the shot of Jubilee 761 tooting it's horn nearly brought a tear to my eyes as it marked the end for this tram. Had to get some onboard footage of centenary cars to catch the crying noise these trams make. It's a shame we won't be hearing this sound again in Blackpool.

[@dalrigh]

@kampchick The upgrade has been a bit of a fiasco and not planned very well at all. Thanks for watching.

[@1Thunderace]

@37057viking Call me "soft" but seeing 761 come of the Promenade for the last time brought a lump to the throat. Have a soft spot for the Jubilee's & remember badgering my Dad to take me to Cleveleys to catch 761 coming back from Fleetwood, in her first season. Alas, she broke down & was shunted on the centre road at Thornton Gate, so had to wait till the following year for my first ride. Shame I couldn't have stopped longer that Sunday to see the last cars back to Rigby Road.

[@blackpoolbarmpot]

@Doctortrek1 I have heard that the framework is in a poor condition and that is why it didn't operate last season. I would hope that it will be rebuilt, possibly with widened doorways, to fit the new platforms. This is, after-all, a fun seaside resort, so a Summer season open top double deck Tram is, to my mind, an essential part of a Promenade service.

[@TheIntercityhst]

hi there, great video as always, added it to my favorites, sorry to bother you but i'm going to Blackpool over the Easter period and i was wondering if you want the driver to sound the horn/whistle what do you do to get them to blast the horn? with trains you have to wave your hand in the air as if you are pulling the whistle on a steam loco, just wondering if its the same with tram/streetcars, so is it the same as trains or just chance of a friendly tram driver?

[@dalrigh]

@lovelifeclublife Thanks for your comments, it's not going to be the same without the sound of an old tram rattling along the prom.

[@dalrigh]

@Doctortrek1 The remaining Balloons and Millenium cars are modified with electronic doors so they can use the new platforms. It is a shame that Blackpool Transport had mothballed a lot of the fleet several years ago, when some of these trams had plenty of life left in them. Only time will tell if new build was the right decision.

[@dalrigh]

It would be nice to see the Dreadnought and would be the first time for me if this happened. I was under the impression that this particular tram needed a fair amount of money spending on it. Thanks for watching RIGalleries.

[@bjorklive2379]

Its rotting in a shed at crich.so sad. They should bring it back home.

[@dalrigh]

@normandytrooper From what I hear about Friends of Fleetwood trams they only have enough space for the six or so trams they are getting themselves. It will be a shame if any of LTT trams were scrapped, but I suppose it is inevitable that some Trams will be scrapped.

[@dalrigh]

@Doctortrek1 Not sure whats happening with Princess Alice.

[@normandytrooper]

End of november is the deadline for the L.T.T to remove there trams from rigy road , would be good if they would go to the friends of fleetwood tram museum that will be hopefully built ,

[@normandytrooper]

Sry spelling mistake "rigby"

[@bjorklive2379]

Personally I dont like the new trams.im from blackpool an feel part of our town has been taken away.i find the new trams overcrowded, clinical and with no unique characteristics to identify them as blackpool trams like the older trams had and i find them noisy to ride on (the stop announcements etc drive me insane on the way to work!) and I really dont believe the new trams will last even half the time wen I worked for blackpool transport steve bird was in charge and it was well known by tram staff that he hated the trams and didnt maintain them as well as they should have been.it was even rumored he tried to get rid of them all together!but either way I think it was a mistake getting rid of them in favor of trams that arent really built for our seaside environment.

[@dalrigh]

As I am not the biggest fan of the Flexity trams, they have still been a big success. I think the overcrowding is down to the over popularity of these trams. It was a shame that the old trams had to go, but they do still work on bank holidays and illuminations. Also Blackpool Transport have Bryan Lindop in charge of heritage and has plans to reinstate some more of the older trams for the heritage weekends. Thanks for watching ash hunter.

[@gregster295]

4:30, a very emotional moment.

[@dalrigh]

+Aviation/Rail Videography by gregster295 It was a very emotional day.

[@gregster295]

dalrigh I bet it was, I wish I could of attended the final day.

[@dalrigh]

Aviation/Rail Videography by gregster295 It was a good day but sad at the same time. The weather was great all day apart from being cold, still enjoyable though.

[@gregster295]

Love that shot at 4:30 the most, and the final part of course. Really managed to capture and evoke emotions.

[@gregster295]

dalrigh Us lot can cope with the cold :P was worth it anyway for you to say one last farewell to main line operations.