Having spent three Illumination seasons alongside Pleasure Beach loop Brush Railcoach 290 is being prepared for a move before the 2015 Illumination season which will see it replaced by Centenary Car 641. It had originally been expected that 290 would end up in the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust’s compound in Wyre Dock but it is now known that it will be moved to Rigby Road Depot for further storage.
Over the past three seasons 290 has gone through three different identities starting in the Diamond Jubilee Gold and White livery in 2012 before Inkie was let loose on the tram for 2013. Then in 2014 the tram returned to Green and Cream for the first time in many years and this livery has seen further attention in 2015. Now preparations have commenced on removing the tram with the trolley tower removed and the destination blinds have also been taken out and put into storage. No date has yet been set for the tram to be moved but it is expected to take place over the next few weeks.
Once it has been moved back “home” to Rigby Road Depot – where it will remain stored for possible display as part of the North Station extension of the Blackpool Tramway – it is expected that its place will be taken by Centenary 641 in its role as the Blackpool FC celebration tram for the 2015 Illuminations. To this end the fenced area alongside Pleasure Beach loop is to be extended.