Continuing our theme of Blackpool Boat Cars we head back to the northwest coast today for a view of 607 – this time when it was in between spells at Crich in 1993.
Earlier this week we featured a couple of images of 607 – which entered service in August 1934 – when it was on loan at the National Tramway Museum, Crich during the 1985 season in exchange for a number of visiting vehicles to Blackpool for that years Centenary and when we last saw 607 it was on the back of a low loader ready for the trip back to Lancashire. Arriving back in Blackpool before Christmas 1985 rather unsurprisingly it wasn’t to see any use on its home tramway during 1985 but it returned to the operational fleet in 1986 retaining the simple green and cream livery. In time for the 1996 season the tram received a new livery with a green and yellow offering used as the basis for an all over advert for Blackpool Transport’s range of Travelcards and it kept this livery until the end. The end actually came for the tram in 2004 when it was withdrawn along with all of its remaining sisters in Blackpool as part of the infamous mothballing exercise. Whereas the other Boat Cars received reprieves this was never to happen for 607 and it was donated to the Tramway Museum Society and following workshop attention departed Blackpool again for Crich in April 2012, soon establishing itself as a popular member of the operating.
This photo of 607 heads back to 31st August 1993 and shows the tram entering Pleasure Beach loop on the now removed southern spur.
Photograph by Ralph Oakes-Garnett