Work on the final two Blackpool Balloon cars in the current door rebuilding programme, 711 and 719, is finally approaching completion. As reported previously on this website, both trams were recently transferred to Starr Gate depot for repainting and this work has now been completed on car 719.
As expected, 719 has become the second double-deck tram to receive the new Flexity-style fleet colours of white and purple (following on from 700 which was treated in July). Modifications to this tram are now thought to be complete, and so it is highly probable that it could see some use before the end of the season, with a number of the rebuilt Balloons expected to run during the autumn half-term holiday period. Surprisingly 719 has not been fitted with end skirting panels, as previously added to sister cars 700, 713, 717 and 720 and also retains the same headlight arrangement as was fitted during its last major overhaul back in 1996. Presumably the interior will also not have been greatly changed since its stint as the Walls ice cream parlour tram.
With 719 now repainted, attention has been turned to 711 and although the work on this tram is less advanced, at least one end of the car has already been painted in dark purple and work is expected to progress over the next few weeks. Although not impossible, it seems unlikely that this tram will be ready for a return to service this year and therefore it will probably end up missing the whole of 2012.