We head back to Blackpool for our latest “Picture in Time” image and this time our time machine ends up in August 1968 with a view of one of the immensely popular Coronation Cars – no. 642.
The second of the VAMBAC operated tramcars to enter service in Blackpool, 642, or 305 as it was at the time, first carried passengers at the end of July 1952 and retained the VAMBAC equipment until it was withdrawn from service in 1970. After withdrawal the end was not long in coming with a date with the scrapman during May 1971 ending a life of less than 20 years.
Our photo shows 642 between North Pier and the Tower in August 1968 – the year that it received its new number. The tram features the half green/half cream livery with interesting orange trolley tower. Of note as well to this photo is that our photographer believes this was the very first photo he took of a tram!
(Photo by Bob Gell)
As many will know 305 was the first and only Coronation to travel around part of the Marton route, late one night after the normal tram service had finished.
Transport chiefs were on board on its nocturnal foray into uncharted territory. It left Talbot Square around midnight and managed to reach the railway bridge at the Royal Oak terminus, but it stopped short of the bridge as it was feared that it might have ‘grounded’ owing to its long wheelbase and length. These trams never left the promenade route during their twenty year operation at Blackpool.
That said, Walter Luff’s daughter says there was a clandestine test prior to the run with 305, which took place towards the end of service (2300 I recall). Luff wasn’t prone to risk taking so it seems improbable that he would have risked a high profile run with 305 without knowing it would fit. Given 305 was a few days old at the time, 304 could well have been the test car, but I suspect we will never know. I wouldn’t be surprised if it covered Lytham Road too. 304 also operated away from the Promenade to test the alignment to Bispham Depot prior to 313 being moved there.
If I remember right that came out in an interview with her in the Salvage Squad program about the restoration of 304.