To help comply with government advice on continuing social distancing, I decided to book First Class Advance tickets online beforehand with Avanti, operating the same fleet of Class 390 electric multiple units previously used by Virgin (but re-liveried). On my 2019 visit, it had been electric traction by Virgin to and from Preston then Northern diesel multiple units the rest of the way. However, under the present Pandemic timetable, some Avanti services operate through to Blackpool North offering electric traction throughout without need for change.
I caught the 08:35 bus operated by Select from Brewood to Wolverhampton and walked to the station. The pedestrian route approaching the station entrance is still narrow and inconvenient because of the building site immediately outside which I presume is caused by work to finish the tram terminus but progress appears very slow.
Wolverhampton Station. The tall building in the background is student accommodation for the university (Blackpool by Electric Train)
Wolverhampton Station entrance hall with ticket gates in the background (Blackpool by Electric Train)
My train an Avanti 'Pendolino' Class 390 reporting number 9P47 arrived a few minutes late, its timekeeping presumably not enhanced by following the 'All stations' local train from Birmingham which pulled into platform 5 bay shortly before my train arrived. Our first stop was Crewe so, as expected, the lateness was easily recovered by the time we paused in platform 11. On leaving Crewe, just 16 minutes were allowed to our Warrington stop, where the massive Unilever plant dominated the skyline on the down side. It was only later that I discovered the site had closed in October 2020. Apparently, demand for soap powders has reduced with users switching to liquids and capsules so a 139-year history of soap-making at the site, still locally referred to as 'Crosfields' has come to an end.
The Unilever plant in Warrington which closed in October 2020 (Blackpool by Electric Train)
A further 9 minutes took us to Wigan North Western, crossing under the historic Liverpool and Manchester railway line, the first main line railway in the world on the way. The station name distinguished the London and North Western railway's faciliites from Wigan's second station operated by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway named Wigan Wallgate, after its location. The two railways were merged into the London Midland & Scottish Railway in 1923 and it always delights me that the station name 'Wigan North Western' survives almost a century later.
Class 331 in platform 5 at Wigan North Western forming 2C10 to Liverpool (Blackpool by Electric Train)
The last calling-point before our destination was Preston reached in 12 minutes from Wigan. Finally, a generous 28 minutes were allowed for the last leg to Blackpool North, reached in bright sunshine. I noted that The train was due to leave again at 11:48 forming train 9M53 to London Euston due 15:33. Modern rolling stock is fairly intensively utilised.
Blackpool North Station, with passengers streaming off recently-arrived Class 390 in platform 1 and a Class 331 in platform 4 (Blackpool by Electric Train)
I made my way out of the station and found the pedestrian underpass under High Street closed, leaving the rather narrow series of ramps to Talbot Road as the exit. Various temporary arrangements for road traffic had been made and it became clear that although the former Wilco building had been demolished, the planned new tram terminus I'd learnt about on my last visit in 2019 was nowhere near complete and the new hotel to be operated by Holiday Inn had only reached the stage of some structural steelwork erected. The double track tram line from the promenade reached an inset scissors crossover in course of installation.
Scissors Crossover being installed at Blackpool North Tram Station building site (Blackpool by Electric Train)
I walked down Talbot Road towards the Promenade past plenty of holiday-makers enjoying the good weather. I noted that no overhead conductor had yet to be fitted on the 'new' tram lines and at Talbot Square, where the extension to the railway station makes a triangular connection with the existing route along the Promenade, there were more temporary road traffic arrangements. I'd found that the modern trams were running five an hour each way, so I managed to reach the North Pier tram stop just before a tram to Fleetwood arrived. I always enjoy the tram ride to Fleetwood, past Blackpool's well-known hotels.
Imperial Hotel, Blackpool (Blackpool by Electric Train)
After passing through through Cleveleys the tram route turns away from the coast and enters Fleetwood threading through Lord Street, the main shopping street looking a little shabby after difficult economic times, finally terminating at Fleetwood Ferry adjacent to the small public Euston Park, in front of the imposing North Euston Hotel and in sight of the estuary of the River Wyre.
I walked across to the entrance to Fleetwood Ferry and realised that the small ferry at the slipway was loaded with passengers. I checked the chalkboard displayed and found the ferry was just about to leave, although I was puzzled to read 'Last ferry 1.45 pm' which seemed rather early. A sign indicated I should pay the fare on the ferry so I hurried down the slope to the ferry, joining a man who'd just emerged from the ferry building who I realised was the Ferry Captain. At the gangway, I paid the two pound fee to the other member of the two-man crew, the gangway was raised agains the side of the ferry and within seconds we started our 5-minute crossing of the mouth of the river, about a quarter of a mile. I'd not been on this fairly modern ferry before, broad-beamed with bench seats on all four sides (apart from where the gangway was fitted on the port side). The 'bridge' was a small podium on the port side in the passenger saloon provided with a raised, windowed lookout all-round. Access to the bridge was via a short, vertical ladder. The benches accommodated about thirty passengers, leaving space in the middle for pushchairs and bicycles. It was all rather homely.
View of Fleetwood from the Knott End Ferry with the Upper Lighthouse or Pharos in the background (Blackpool by Electric Train)
Using the optical zoom on my camera, I managed a reasonable shot of the two nuclear power stations at Heysham, about 9 miles away in a direct line (but much further by rail or road), reminding me of my last visit to Heysham in 2019 described in the post Morecambe by Rail
View of the two nuclear power stations at Heysham from the Knott End Ferry (Blackpool by Electric Train)
The ferry pulled alongside the concrete slipway at Knott End and the passengers disembarked. As passengers boarded for the return journey, I was able to take a picture of the ferry, named 'Wyre Rose'.
The Knott End Ferry 'Wyre Rose' loading passengers at the Knott End Slipway (Blackpool by Electric Train)
Before walking up the inclined slipway, I took a picture to try to capture the elegant proportions of Decimus Burton's Queen's Terrace in Fleetwood.
Queen's Terrace, Fleetwood, viewed from Knott End Slipway. The Terrace was designed by Decimus Burton and completed in 1844 (Blackpool by Electric Train)
The lower part of the slipway was wet and covered with fresh sandy mud and seaweed, making me realise why the last ferry was at 1.45 - the tide was still going out and this seemed to be confirmed by the length of exposed slipway before reaching land.
Landward view from Knott End Slipway: (L) modern apartments (R) Knott End Cafe and H. M. Coastguard (Blackpool by Electric Train)
Wishing to return on the ferry before it stopped, I cut short my visit to Knott End. I decided I might not have sufficient time for something to eat at the Knott End Cafe so, instead, I sat in the sun taking in the view of the River Wyre and Fleetwood as the ferry crossed to Fleetwood, took on a fresh complement of passengers and came back to Knott End. As I started to make my way back down the slipway, I was joined by quite a few other passengers. As the ferry came alongside, I was surprised to see a generous discharge of water from a hose controlled by the crewman which I concluded was to remove the worst of the sandy mud and seaweed from the slipway at the landing place. The crewman held out a plastic bucket for the two pound fare whilst the captain offered each passenger a squirt of hand sanitiser. We were soon under way on our short crossing.
The Knott End Ferry 'Wyre Rose' returning to Fleetwood showing the offset 'bridge' and passenger saloon (Blackpool by Electric Train)
Back at Fleetwood, I decided a light meal was indicated. A short walk took me to the Cafe Royal on Bold Street, which proved a wise choice. Suitably refreshed, I made my way south along Upper Lune Street, past the walled premises of Fleetwood Bowling Club which was established in 1880 and has two crown bowling greens set in a private location, stopping to record the distinctive Upper Lighthouse. Wikipedia has a short article here.
The Upper Lighthouse or 'Pharos' at Fleetwood (Blackpool by Electric Train)
I then walked along Queen's Terrace to Fleetwood Museum, housed in the Grade II listed former Customs House, where I spent a very enjoyable hour or so studying the excellent, varied displays about Fleetwood and its history and chatting to the knowledgeable staff. The museum website here gives more information about this splendid museum.
Former Custom House at Fleetwood, built 1838, is now Fleetwood Museum (Blackpool by Electric Train)
Although I was quite near the well-known Fleetwood Market, I decided against a visit on this trip and I was not tempted to make the longer walk to the 'shopping village' which used to be called Freeport Fleetwood but is now 'Affinity Lancashire', one of 45 outlets owned by Global Mutual. My post here describes a visit to the 'shopping village' in 2016. Instead, I walked back to the Fleetwood Ferry (where 'Wyre Rose' was moored up until the following day) and spent a while on the sandy beach next to the odd-looking River Wyre Launching Facility which is part of Fleetwood Nautical Campus, presumably used for safety training.
River Wyre Launching Facility viewed from the shore (Blackpool by Electric Train)
It was very peaceful as I watched an unidentified Stena Line Ro-Ro ferry slowly making its way towards Heysham but, noting the time, I made my way back to the tram stop I'd arrived at and boarded the waiting tram for the journey back to Blackpool.
View from Fleetwood beach, with remains of the Wyre Light on the right and Stena Line Ro-Ro ferry in the distance making for Heysham (Blackpool by Electric Train)
As we neared Blackpool, the famous Blackpool Illuminations were nearing readiness. In 2021, following the disruption caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic, 'The Lights' are to have an extended season extending from 3rd September 2021 to 3rd January 2022.
View from my tram of just one of the illuminated displays, this with a Egyptian theme (Blackpool by Electric Train)
I left the tram at North Pier and walked towards the Tower for the obligatory photograph, managing to include one of the preserved trams carrying out a 'Heritage Tour'. Whereas the modern trams are serviced at a new depot at Starr Gate, the Heritage Trams remain at the original tram depot at Rigby Road. My post in 2019 here mentions the Rigby Road Depot.
Blackpool Tower with one of the preserved trams on a 'Heritage Tour' departing from the dedicated 'Heritage Tram Stop' marked by the green sign attached to the lamp post (Blackpool by Electric Train)
I took a picture of the North Pier with the tide out, chatted to an inquisitive seagull who flew off once he realised I'd nothing edible and made the customary brief pilgrimage to North Pier before deciding it was time to walk back up Talbot Road to Blackpool North Station for the 17:47 Avanti service back to Wolverhampton.
Blackpool North Pier with the tide out (Blackpool by Electric Train)
Blackpool North Pier (Blackpool by Electric Train)
Before descending the steps and ramp leading down from Talbot Road to the station forecourt, I paused to take in the scene. The train I was to catch had not yet arrived from the south. The warehouse-like main station building is without architectural pretension but does provide an unemcumbered concourse area with good natural light, set at right angles to the terminal platforms outside accessed through a series of doors.
The main building at Blackpool North Station covers the concourse area and is set at right angles to the terminal platforms seen on the right (Blackpool by Electric Train)
By the time I'd made my way to the station and passed through the ticket gateline onto the concourse, my train had arrived and passengers, most with wheeled suitcases, were streaming out. Almost immediately, staff allowed the waiting queue onto the platform to board the train.
Passengers leaving the recently-arrived Class 390 as departing passengers board (Blackpool by Electric Train)
I settled byself in the reserved seat and after a few minutes, we set off, making good time to Preston where we were stopped for a few minutes at signal PN126 - the last signal before entering the platforms. We made our booked stops at Wigan and Warrington then at Hartford Junction we passed a stationary train on the Up Slow of West Coast Railways stock hauled, I think, by a Class 57 on some sort of special, apparently waiting for us to precede it on the double track section. I had time to use the live display provided by Railcan UK to identify the special as 1Z57 then, approaching Crewe, we were stopped for a few minutes at signal CE144 - the last signal before entering the platforms. After a short wait, we were allowed into platform 5. Just before we left platform 5, I captured the Railcan UK screen on my mobile, showing my train (9M59) on the right and the special (1Z57) held, as we had been, at signal CE144.
Railcam UK shows the situation at Crewe station as my train (9M59) is about to leave platform 5 (Blackpool by Electric Train)
Click for larger view
As we spooled off the miles to our Stafford stop, Railcam UK showed me that 1Z57 had crossed to platform 11 at Crewe - the platform usually used by 'specials'.
Approaching Stafford, my train was given precedence over a Cross Country 'Voyager' from Manchester on the Up Slow which followed my train to Wolverhampton.
Just north of Wolverhampton, we were once again brought to a brief stand before being brought into platform 4. I left the train after a splendid day out and caught a taxi home.
Wolverhampton, showing 9M59 from Blackpool in platform 4, ready to go forward to London Euston (Blackpool by Electric Train)
Related posts on this website
Blackpool by Train (Visit in 2019).
Return to Blackpool and Fleetwood (Visit in 2016)
A Trip to the Seaside (Visit in 2014)
My pictures
This trip:-
Blackpool by Electric Train
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