The dedication of French tram enthusiast Peter Watts continues to bear fruit, with three members of the Blackpool Heritage Trust’s collection of trams now sporting brand new period-style destination blinds which he has kindly made at no cost to the Trust, and these were fitted during a visit to Rigby Road on February 17th. Following on from Twin set 272+T2, the latest beneficiaries of Peter’s efforts are Brush Railcoach 631 and Balloon 715 – the latter of course being in the works ahead of a planned return to service during 2015.
As expected, each tram has received a different style of blind intended to suit its appearance. 631 has therefore been fitted with two destination blinds which both feature the famous ‘1’ destination, referring to the long-lost North Station to Fleetwood route once served by the Brush cars. This set are otherwise quite similar to those recently fitted to the cream Twin set, and therefore perfectly complement the 1950s green and cream livery worn by car 631. This particular tram is now in the workshops being serviced ready for the start of the main operating season for the heritage trams next month. This tram should see a lot more use than it did last year thanks to the greatly increased number of running days advertised, as it was a fairly infrequent performer in 2014 despite seeing some use on driver training and private hires over the winter period.
The other new set of destination blinds have been fitted to Balloon 715 and are very different in appearance, although once again feature white capital letters on a black backdrop. The style of font used here is based on that which was more commonplace during the 1970s and 1980s, although some did last considerably longer than that and therefore will be a familiar sight to many enthusiasts. They represent a period when destinations were generally kept simple without use of terms such as ‘via Promenade’, and the sloping letters of earlier years were dispensed with. 715 is currently residing in the Paint Shop ahead of a full exterior repaint, following the completion of panelling repairs and other remedial attention which will allow it to take up its rightful place on the promenade this year.
It has also been confirmed that the new heritage destination blinds are eventually to be fitted to all of the retained heritage trams, which will allow the few genuine blinds left in some of the cars to be removed. These will, however, be retained as historic artefacts in the BHT archives so that they can be preserved indefinitely without having to endure the risk of damage caused by regular use. It will also allow all of the trams to display destinations appropriate to their new role on the modernised tramway, whilst also acknowledging their origins with some long-lost destinations included as well.
Brush car 631 awaits its next call of duty at the front of depot, proudly displaying one of the more unusual destinations on its newly fitted blinds.
The opposite end of 631 showing a more familiar destination for this tram.
Destination Pleasure Beach for 715 but in fact the tram is inside the Paint Shop!
A close-up view showing one of the new destination blinds fitted to Balloon 715. (All photos courtesy of the Blackpool Heritage Trust)
Great News They look Good
I am happy that these replica blinds I am making are pleasing everyone. There will be some more appearing during the course of the year, I hope teh next ones will be a nice surprise for everyone. Keep watching this space!
We will be watching Peter! And I’m sure many people will be like me in wanting to thank you for your contribution to restoring our heritage
In response to a question from elsewhere, although I do now live in France I was born and bred in Lancashire, hence my interest in these trams and Blackpool’s heritage in general.
They look great. Hoping that some destinations will be with sloping letters like they did on destinations such as “North Station Blackpool” — “Squires Gate & Airport” — Pleasure Beach via Promenade” — “Royal Oak via Marton” — “Ash Street Fleetwood” and other original destinations of “Talbot Square” instead of “North Pier”, also Central Station, Layton, Circular Tour, Gynn Square, Rossall, Thornton Gate, Central Drive.
The number “1” was only on the front of Brush Cars with the twin blinds. On the Pantographs it was on the side blinds with “North Station Blackpool” on the ends.
The current replica blinds all have “Talbot Square” rather than North Pier on them. There will be a set of sloping style blinds at some point, they are on the list.
With regards to the “1”, there is actually photographic evidence of at least one single indicator Brush car showing this on service. The single indicator blinds are a different width to the side blinds on the pantograph cars, and this particular tracing of the “1” was made from an authentic blind from a single indicator fitted tram.
Hi Peter. A big thank you from someone who became acquainted with the TramwaY in the mid ’80s and remembers the streamlined cars and OMOs with their distinctive “tall” lettering blinds. Whichever blinds you produce, you are helping to keep these happy memories alive and everyone is grateful for that. May I also thank Bryan, as always, for his almost unbelievable achievement in bringing trams such as 304 and 715 back to life after their cruel exile. I just hope that the increased vintage service will be used by members of the public as well as we enthusiasts: it is a pity we cannot have a few more heirtage stops installed in order to make boarding these cars less of an effort for people. Is there any way of adding a stop adjacent to Pleasure Beach and Talbot Square northobound platforms? Many people do not even realise that they can board heritage cars at these locations, or see them in the distance and simply stay put. Anyway, everything crosssed for Easter and three cheers for Jane cole: at last we have an MD who is interested in what the tram using public want.
The existing heritage stop is not that far from North pier. Perhaps some conspicuous signage at the flexity stop directing people to the heritage stop might be a practical alternative. Certainly publicity guaranteed to bring the heritage service to the attention of all but the most unobservant needs to be in place to complement the amazing achievements of Bryan and his team. This season MUST be a success, that team deserve nothing less.
Peter, these heritage blinds you’re making are very good. I was wondering how you get the designs right though? Do you actually trace an original or are they digital recreations made up from evidence in old photographs? Also are they authentic for any particular period of blind or is each one made up from a selection of different displays from different blinds? I ask because the LITTLE BISPHAM display in 631 and the PLEASURE BEACH display in 715 look to be the same style (if memory serves me correct) while the TOWER display seems to be a slightly later one. If I had been guessing (again from memory) I’d have said that style of LITTLE BISPHAM and PLEASURE BEACH were from blinds that also had some diagonal split displays, although I’ll stand to be corrected on that. I also wonder if there was a lot of variation from car to car? I know that for many years the blinds were all hand painted, originally onto linen. During the 90’s I did a summer season as a guard and remember working a Balloon with an old linen blind. When I turned it I was amazed to see a few destinations had holes burned into them where the blind had touched the 110v light bulbs! How the tram had survived without catching fire I’ll never know!
Did you know that OMO 5 had a unique blind with at least one display that didn’t appear on any other? Also some of the side blinds in cars at Crich (40, 49, 167) included some very unusual splits that were arc shapes and semi-circles rather than diagonal. This was a few years ago but I assume they’re still there.
Finally, caould you tell us how you’re making the blinds? Are they now printed onto tyvek or are you still hand painting them? I’ve made a few displays for preserved buses using acrylic paint onto Tyvek with pretty good results, traced from an outline originally laid out and printed by computer.
There is an article in the latest Fylde Tramway News about the process. Recommend reading…
Hi Franklyn, to reply to some of your questions! The replica blinds fitted to the Twin set, 631 and 715 are all made from authentic tracings from original blinds. There are no computer generated images here. “TOWER” was always in a different style, as was “STARR GATE” in one line. The “LITTLE BISPHAM” and “PLEASURE BEACH” shown are the correct style for either sloping, 2 line or single line style.
Although some blinds were hand painted in the workshops, these were the exception. Most blinds came from Norburys, and this is where the distinctive font came from, as this was also used by several municipal bus operators as well.
I was not aware of any special destination on OMO 5, any information on this would be welcome.
The half circle arc destinations were typical of the early blinds, this was changed to the sloping version I believe with the change of supplier.
As for how the blinds are made, the outlines have been covered in an article on the Blackpool Heritage Facebook page. Some details are left out for various reasons. The method is the closest replication of screen printing without screen printing! Acrylic paint is a good start, but there are some problems in the long term. I have been making replica blinds for the bus preservation movement for over 20 years, and most are still in good condition.
Tyvek is a good material, providing the choice of Tyvek is the correct one! There are several possibilities, again with varying results.
I hope this answers some of your questions. I am more than happy to answer more, find me on Facebook and private message me.
From memory 5 had a blind saying “Official Party” not sure why really!
I think there was a picture of this on the back cover of an old Tramtrax magazine (anyone else remember that!?) – not sure if 5 still has that blind though, I have a feeling it was probably replaced a few years before it was withdrawn?
I think it did say Official Party, although I’m not totally sure if that was the exact wording. I have no idea why it was printed, but I believe only the blind at one end had it on the display. As you say Andrew, I too have a feeling it got replaced not long before the tram was withdrawn.
I’m now left wondering what the official party was exactly? Did OMO5 ever carry royalty or anything like that?
Didn’t 707 also carry ‘PONTINS’ on its blind at one stage? I assume it was to do with the advert livery it carried.
Look forward to seeing them all at Easter.