The future of Blackpool Centenary car 648 was thrown into doubt in November this year, when the Tramway Museum Society announced that they had gone back on their original plan to acquire this tram for preservation at the National Tramway Museum in Derbyshire. This led to fears for 648‘s long-term future, but if the latest rumours are to be believed, the car may actually be set to remain on the Fylde coast after all!
Although by no means confirmed, the rumour mill indicates that Blackpool Transport are considering retaining 648, at least for the time being. If true, this may well be due to the fact that 648 was only overhauled in 2006, when it received a sympathetic overhaul. Whilst the car was heavily modernised from its original appearance, it retained features such as its curved windscreens, and even had its old-style headlight arrangement restored. This work was apparently done at the request of the Tramway Museum Society, making their rejection of the car later on a bitter pill to swallow. Hopefully BTS will now make the best of their investment in 648 by keeping the tram as a potential reserve car, which could well be pressed into service in the future. Even if this is only a temporary measure, keeping the tram at Rigby Road will surely increase its chances of survival, as in a few years various preservationists may be better able to cope with another Blackpool tram, whereas now the sheer number of trams being sold off is a potential issue as various groups try to accommodate as many cars as possible.
As it stands, 648‘s last use in Blackpool occured on Sunday 6th November 2011, but it will be interesting to see whether it appears again during 2012.