BALLOON 703 ON THE WAY TO BEAMISH…IN SUNDERLAND LIVERY! It has been announced that Blackpool Balloon 703 is to go on an initial five year loan to the North of England Open Air Museum at Beamish in County Durham. Before departing for the north-east the tram is to undergo a repaint – into Sunderland colours!
703 is currently in the Paint Shop at Blackpool’s Rigby Road depot where it is being given a makeover. Sunderland used to operate trams of a design reminiscent to the Blackpool Balloon and in order to give 703 local significance to the Beamish museum, the tram is to receive Sunderland’s streamlined 1930s Red and off-White livery style (an artist’s impression of how the tram will look is available on the official LTT blog here)
703, which was acquired for preservation by the Lancastrian Transport Trust last year – becoming the first of the class to enter preservation – is still due to undergo a restoration into 1960s/70s style in the future but thanks to sponsorship from bus operator Go-North East and the BusWorks in Blackpool it is to see operation in 2010. It should prove to be popular at Beamish as it will be able to shift large crowds (with seats for 94) and also has the added bonus of being completely enclosed – handy for the cold of the north east!
It is planned that there will be a farewell tour for 703 in Blackpool before it embarks on its loan at Beamish. It has not yet been revealed when the tram will be leaving the resort.
Source: LTT News Blog & Paul Turner from Yahoo! Groups: Blackpool_Transport
Lancastrian Transport Trust/Beamish Tramway – Sunday 21st March 2010
Balloon 703 seen in service in its last full season of use - 2008. The tram has just left Pleasure Beach with a service for Starr Gate on 2nd September 2008.
Photo: Gareth Prior
