Marton 31 & Standard 147 swap places for 2016!

Beamish Museum and Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have joined forces to announce a very exciting arrangement which will be of mutual benefit, involving a temporary swap between two of their most popular trams. Beamish resident Marton Box 31 is set to return to Blackpool for the 2016 season, whilst in return, Standard 147 will be loaned to Beamish.

31 is of course no stranger to the seaside; since entering preservation and being superbly restored to its 1919 condition as a bogie open top car, it has returned to Blackpool twice before in connection with significant tramway anniversaries – namely the Fleetwood Tramroad Centenary in 1998, and the promenade tramway’s 125th anniversary in 2010. On the latter occasion 31 was restricted to operating between Pleasure Beach and Bispham only due to the tramway upgrade works, but this time it will be able to roam the entire system, and a ride to Fleetwood on this tram should be one of the highlights of the year! Of course, the return of Marton 31 will also help to compensate for the loss of ‘Princess Alice’ 706 following its withdrawal late last year, maintaining an open top double deck presence in the operating fleet at Blackpool.

Meanwhile, Standard 147‘s visit to Beamish will be the first time this car has strayed away from home since its return from America in 2001. Indeed, the tram has never operated on any other British tramway and so this will be a particularly historic loan. The tram will provide a very useful high-capacity enclosed vehicle for Beamish this year, joining the resident fleet in moving the vast crowds of visitors at this extremely popular museum.

Bryan Lindop, Head of Heritage at Blackpool Transport, said: “I’m thrilled to be able to reveal that following talks with our very good friends at the Beamish Museum, Marton Box 31 will be paying us a return visit in 2016! This is a very popular tram, and its visit to Blackpool will further enhance the diversity of the Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours experience, as well as cementing the already excellent relationship we continue to enjoy with Beamish!” Paul Jarman, Head of Transport and Industry at Beamish, added; “Standard 147 is the latest in a long line of visiting trams that we have brought to Beamish over recent years, and we are very much looking forward to having it as part of our fleet this year. Although we wish 31 well on its holiday back in Blackpool, the arrival of 147 gives us a ‘new’ tramway attraction for 2016, which adds much value to what we can offer our visitors, and we are sure that it will tempt many enthusiasts to Beamish to see the tram running on our tramway!”

Although no exact timescales have been confirmed for the swap to take place, it is expected that both trams will move before the main season gets underway and Beamish have stated that they hope to have 147 in situ ready for their enhanced tramway weekend on 5th & 6th March. It is hoped that this weekend will also feature the re-launch of Sheffield 264 following its major overhaul, potentially making a fantastic event. It is not known how long the trams will stay in their temporary homes, although the joint statement made by the two parties seems to suggest that it will last throughout 2016. All in all, this very unexpected news has certainly added anticipation for the year ahead and both organisations are to applauded for working together to mutual benefit, to give enthusiasts something very special to enjoy at both tramways!

A look back to Marton 31's previous visit to Blackpool, and the tram is seen at Pleasure Beach on a sunny Saturday 25th September 2010. (Photo by Andrew Waddington)

Standard 147 seen in Fleetwood on 31st January 2016. Depending on the length of its loan to Beamish this may well end up being this tram's only day out in Blackpool this year. (Photo by Rob Bray)