Sunday 3rd April was another historic day for Blackpool’s Heritage Tram Tours with the first time ever that the two tram Blue timetable was solely in the hands of on loan trams. With sunny skies overhead Marton Box 31 – on loan from Beamish – was chosen to run alongside Railcoach 680 – on loan from the Heaton Park Tramway.
Box 40, Bolton 66 and 680 have all previously been in use on the Blue timetable but they have always run alongside a regular Blackpool resident making this day another historic one.
31 has also become the first traditional open topper to run on a light rail system, by default becoming the oldest surviving Blackpool tram to work alongside the Flexities – it being a mere 115 to their three years of age!
680 and 31 sit on Pleasure Beach loop during their historic day. (Photograph by John Whitehouse)
Can anyone tell me who actually owns 31 these days? My understanding was always that it was originally restored by Beamish and in return was allowed to operate there on long-term or permanent loan, but was actually still owned by Blackpool Transport.
I may be wrong about this, so if anyone can enlighten me further I’d be grateful.
It was never owned by Blackpool Transport. It was owned by Blackpool Council, as were all the works cars at that time. It went on a 99 year loan on the proviso it would return as required. I do not know if this ownership/agreement is still in place but I have not read anywhere that it has changed.
I believe 31 passed to BTS in 1986 with all other trams except 624/751 (259/60) which remained in council ownership.
Are you sure? Had it not already left though?
It left in 1984 on loan from the council transport department whose vehicular assets largely passed to BTS except for those associate with PW work. If the loan continues it would have moved to BTS rather than the council. It’s also incorrect to say all works cars remained with BTS, only the PW cars did, 749, 750, 752, 753 and the tower wagons transferred to BTS
Not forgetting that both Trams have run at both Beamish and Heaton Park as well – and with different numbers! 31 ran briefly as 4 and 680 ran as 280! the last time they ran together in Blackpool was 1998 as in 2010 680 was already owned by MTMS and was stored/in the paint shop. Did anyone think back then we would see the cars together again in Blackpool?