It’s been an eventful week for the Centenary cars of Blackpool, none of which had ever left their native tramway until this year; however this situation has changed in quite spectacular fashion, with three of the class departing within a period of just three days! 644 was first to leave, and was soon followed by sister cars 641 and 643.
As reported previously, 644 got the week’s activity off to a start when it was loaded on Tuesday 10th January, leaving before dawn broke the next morning. The tram was transported using a Scott’s Heavy Haulage trailer – which had been specially extended to accommodate the lengthy vehicle – to Farmer Parr’s Animal World, near Broadwater, the company which has advertised on the tram for a lengthy period. Not all went smoothly with the arrival however, as 644 decided to come down the ramp a little faster than intended, and the farmer’s tractor which was being used to drag it off the low loader sustained a shattered rear window as a result. Thankfully the tram was unharmed and was placed outside one of the farm buildings, in a position where only the side which carries advertising for Farmer Parr’s Animal World is visible, as the other side is hidden by the adjacent building.
Once 644 had been unloaded safely, the team from Scott’s returned to Rigby Road to collect the first of two Centenary cars which have been acquired by the Friends of Fleetwood Trams. The chosen car was 641, the first Centenary car built, and a very worthy choice to become a museum piece. A few small delays unfortunately meant that it was dark by the time that 641 had been secured in place on the low loader, and so it was left on Blundell Street overnight before leaving for temporary storage at Kirkham Prison very early the next morning. Unlike Brush cars 621 and 627, 641 is not expected to have any
restoration work carried out at Kirkham, and is also understood to be kept outside for the time being, reflecting the current trend in tramcar storage as preservation groups struggle to accommodate the many Blackpool trams now facing eviction.
The final departure of the week came on Friday 13th January when 643 left Rigby Road for the last time. This was a total shock to many people, as it was not widely known that 643 had even been sold! However, the tram was loaded up and transported to Broadwater Caravan Park, where it is believed that it will be re-used as a cafe/gift shop. Co-incidentally the tram is not that far away from sister car 644, although the chances of them ever being re-united are extremely slim.
It is also understood that at least one further Centenary car has been sold to the same company as 643, and with 646 expected to leave home soon having been purchased by the Friends of Fleetwood Trams, this could leave just three of the eight-strong class at Rigby Road by the end of the month! Considering it was once feared that most of these trams would end up being cut up, this is a remarkable feat and shows once again the
huge amount of interest in traditional Blackpool trams shown by a wide variety of organisations, not just those concerned with tramcar preservation.
Our thanks go to Andrew Blood for the information and pictures contained in this extended news report. More of his excellent photos of these and other tram moves can be viewed at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Trams-Today/144002195699684