No sooner had the Blackpool Heritage Trust announced its intention to repatriate Balloon car 703 from Beamish Museum – where it has resided in Sunderland guise since 2010 – then an appeal for funds to cover the costs of transporting the tram back home had been covered! This is all down to the generosity of tram enthusiasts and represents a most amazing achievement for the operation.
As reported previously, 703 (along with Brush car 621 which has already made the journey back to Blackpool with funding provided by PW Consulting) has been offered to the Blackpool Heritage Trust by its current owners who have decided that it is surplus to requirements. The tram initially arrived at Beamish on loan from the Lancastrian Transport Trust but after cash changed hands, it became a permanent member of the Beamish fleet – or so we all thought! After a few years of inactivity due to a fractured tyre, it was decided to offer the tram to the BHT as the major overhaul it now requires was not considered a high priority by Beamish.
Embracing the advantages of modern technology, an appeal to pay for the transport of 703 was launched online – and remarkably in under 24 hours, the target sum of £1500 had been raised! This really has highlighted the power of the Internet and the simplicity of donating online at the click of a mouse button obviously encouraged many people to support this worthy cause. Whilst this could well encourage other organisations to appeal for donations in a similar manner, it is probably worth acknowledging that there is a tremendous amount of goodwill towards the Blackpool heritage operation and also, the fact that 703 became a firm favourite with many enthusiasts towards the end of its operating life due to its traditional appearance and interior, as it remains one of the least modernised of all the surviving Balloons.
The news of 703‘s imminent move has not been entirely well received – some staff from Beamish Museum have expressed their disappointment that the car will not be running there again, as it was a popular and useful crowd-mover – whilst one of its former owners also expressed some displeasure at the news. However, many people are clearly keen to see this tram back home and although its poor condition is likely to prevent it from running in the short term, their support means that it shouldn’t be too long before one of the best-loved Balloon cars is safely housed in Rigby Road depot after over six years away!
Good that these Blackpool trams are returning to their rightful home. Well done.
Whilst I can see that Beamish will miss this Tram it would have been a long time before it could be worked on so they sensibky cut their losses and allowed it to return home. There is no reason that it or a similar tram couldn’t go on loan in the future. Though I do wonder about the long term future of the Beamish fleet as the Trams are worked hard and a larger vehicle was certainly useful. perhaps the Trolleybuses will take much of this strain eventually.
Those disappointed at the departure from Beamish of 703 need not despair , no reason at all a balloon cannot visit Beamish in the future .
“one of its former owners also expressed some displeasure at the news”. Although we can guess who that is, why can’t people just be happy that it is’t just going to be left to fall to bits?
Well it means theres room for another tram up at beamish, they can take one from Crich so there’s room to bring something else out of mothballs at clay cross 🙂
The more trams are restored, the better.
I wouldn’t get your hopes up… 621 was stored outside prior to its departure, and 703 had been derailed and stored off track in the bus area of the depot. I doubt any more trams will be coming to Beamish until the new bus depot is built at least, although I feel they could certainly do with more operational cars in the short term.
Exactly, Beamish needs runners not restorations and as Andrew says the depot is full.
It would be nice for this tram to keep its trolley pole than going back to its pantograph when it returns to the track in Blackpool
Its pole belongs to a Coronation I believe, so presumably its on loan from 663! And pantographs are much easier to operate in Blackpool.