From last week’s look at a Blackpool Coronation Car running in service we have a sadder image this week as we see two of the class being scrapped in Thornton Gate Yard.
The two trams pictured here are believed to be 650 and 653 which both met their ends at Thornton Gate during May 1970 and they were captured in the process of this work taking place on the 16th of that month. Neither of these trams ever lost their VAMBAC equipment whilst in service and were both taken out of use in October 1969 along with 645, 646 and 651 – all of which would also be scrapped at Thornton Gate.
As can be seen in this image stripping of panels and glazing has started on the trams with the rearmost of the two seemingly further advanced towards the end of its career as a tram. Various parts which have been stripped from the trams are scattered in the vicinity.
Photograph by Donald Brooks
In spite of the doom-laden image these scrappings suggest, I recall that in the Summer of 1970 the Coronation Cars in general were very much in evidence, either on specials or the main service, many with roof advertising boxes designed with this class of tram in mind. Admittedly some were in rather poor working order – I recall travelling on one back to Fleetwood from a Circus Matinee. I seem to recall it was one of the three remaining VAMBAC cars and it was a real bone-shaker and almost as noisy as an English Electric car, especially on street track. Most, however, seemed to run reasonably well. It often seems as though the summer season of 1970 was in effect the ‘swansong’ of the Coronations. I recall that it was during this summer that an all Balloon service was introduced to Fleetwood on the busier market days (Tuesdays and Fridays) and this service was extended to all days from the following summer, as the Coronation Cars went into final decline (down to 9 by the 1971 Illuminations and 5 by the following main season).