For our final instalment of Picture in Time for 2017 we are heading back to Blackpool for a typical 1980s image of a tram running along Lord Street.
The tram in question is Balloon 708 which was delivered new to Blackpool in September 1934 (originally numbered 245). As one of the first batch of English Electric double deckers it was built as an open topper but it became fully enclosed in November 1941 with a fairly early conversion to single indicator blinds in 1956. 1968 saw the tram renumbered 708 but it kept its trolley until 1991. Finally withdrawn from service in 2004 it eventually became part of the Manchester Transport Museum Society’s collection and after spells in Bolton, Bury and near Sunderland it returned to Rigby Road for storage in 2016, where it remains today.
In this view we see 708 running along Lord Street, Fleetwood with a full length journey for Starr Gate in 1987. Still carrying the aforementioned trolley the tram is also in the attractive 1980s Green and Cream livery with in between decks adverts also evident.
Photograph by Noel Downie