It’s time to head to the northwest coast once again for our latest installment from the “Picture in Time” feature and this time we are in 1981 for a view of Blackpool Boat 600.
600 is the prototype of the Boat Cars – or to give them their official name the Luxury Toastrack – and entered service in May 1934 numbered 225. As the prototype of the class the tram differs from the production models with the most noticeable difference being the lower sides. Unlike many of its sisters which remained in Blackpool 600 has always run in green and cream and also carried a pantograph for a month in late 1980. Possibly one of its biggest adventures started in 1985 when it was moved to the Heaton Park Tramway and ended up operating there for 12 years until a return home to Blackpool followed towards the end of 1997. After a gap of 13 years it returned to service in Blackpool during 1998 but then spent a further period out of use for a major overhaul which saw the tram fitted with halogen headlights and modern bumpers. It returned to service during the 125th anniversary events in 2010 in this guise and continues to be a very popular member of the heritage fleet today.
This photo was taken on 16th August 1981 and shows the tram at Pleasure Beach loading for a short run through to Tower. Note the single piece windscreen.
(Photo by Ralph Oakes-Garnett)
If I’m right did the Boat trams not have any windscreen when they first went into service.
Anyone know when the windscreens were added?
Boat 227 (Now 602) appeared with them first in June 1958, and the rest of the class received them the following winter.