Another tram has returned home to Blackpool with Balloon car 703 – lately masquerading as Sunderland 101 – arriving back at Rigby Road Depot on Thursday 23rd March following the lengthy journey from Beamish.
It seems hard to believe that 703 had been away at Beamish for almost seven years, initially on loan from the Lancastrian Transport Trust before being purchased by Beamish, but a change in priorities at the museum has seen the tram deemed surplus to requirements. 703 last ran in Blackpool in June 2009 when it was withdrawn from service requiring workshop attention and it was soon picked up by the LTT. A deal was reached with Beamish which would see the tram become “Sunderland 101” and go on loan there and to this end it was painted in the familiar Red and White Sunderland livery. Although it didn’t operate in passenger service in Blackpool in this condition it did undertake one run on the tramway for the benefit of passengers. Having made the trip to Beamish in 2010 a large amount of time was taken in preparing the tram for service with its first passenger trips not being until 2011. It soon established itself as a useful high capacity tram and remained in service until 2015 when it was withdrawn after a tyre failed during a routine inspection. It was decided that the time it would take to repair the tyre was better used on the other trams in the fleet and it remained sidelined – literally as it was moved sideways in the tram depot off the tracks to allow the other trams in the fleet to be housed undercover.
At the end of 2016 the tram – along with Brush 621 – was offered to the Blackpool Heritage Trust and although unlike 621 it wasn’t possible to immediately transport the tram back home. A crowd funding appeal was launched to pay for its transport with the money required raised in just 24 hours. However as it was still off the tracks it had to wait its time to head back to Blackpool with the date finally arriving on 22nd March. This day saw a major shunt move at Beamish with 703 rerailed – after a temporary repair was made to its tyre which had caused its withdrawal – and moved out of the depot and onto track 3 to wait for the low loader.
In addition to 703’s move the chance was taken to move the Newcastle & Gosforth horse tram from the RHEC into the tram depot where its restoration will now continue. The day also saw the rare sight of the remains of Gateshead 52 in the open with recent arrival Oporto C65 also shunted onto the depot fan. Footage of the shunt can be seen on Beamish’s You Tube page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79li0qUkBFE.
Once the shunt had been completed a Scott’s low loader arrived at Beamish and following a quick loading Sunderland 101 left Beamish including a trip through the town one last time, albeit on the back of a lorry. Departing the north east early on Thursday 23rd March the tram arrived back at Rigby Road in the early evening. Again a swift unloading was undertaken and the Unimog shunted 703 back into the depot for the first time since 2010.
703 will make a valuable addition to the heritage fleet back in Blackpool. Its time at Beamish did however give an impression of how progressive the old Sunderland system was in its heyday. It was also a great tram to ride on a cold day at Beamish.
Yes! yet another addition to the Heritage fleet.So looking forward to both seeing& riding on this tram when it is launched!
Everyone is excited about this running again but don’t forget it was withdrawn because of its condition before Beamish eeked out what little life was left – I’d not expect Blackpool to run it, unless Beamish did enough work for it to run on a few gold days. It would look stunning though, especially with a Pantograph, which is correct for Sunderland.
Whatho Peter,
I’m sure you are right but aren’t Blackpool and Fleetwood knee deep in Balloons; there must be around twenty there.
And? A pool of 10 in various conditions is about right, then you have the 9 B Fleet. Not too many. Prague have a large number of the same type of Ringhoffer (in various conditions) but no one bashes them for it!
And? Prague is similar to Blackpool?
A heritage operation using historic vehicles on a modernised Tramway. It utilises a large number of a single class which was the most numerous. I’d say that’s exactly the same operation yes!