The excellent progress being made on returning a traditionally shaped Blackpool English Electric Railcoach to the rails in 2019 is showing no signs of slowing down with work now underway on a complete rewire of 279. The tram, owned by the Fylde Transport Trust, is being worked on at Brinwell Road with generous funding come from supporters to allow the work to take place.
As we have reported previously the tram is being rewired to modern standards with approval of Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours. The work on this rewire has been subcontracted to specialists in industrial electronics, JRW who started on Tuesday 21st May.
With the main feed cables from the trolley to cab switches running behind the saloon panels above the windows it was necessary to first remove this panelling which led to a surprise – the discovery of the old tram stop list from the time that 279 was in use as a Twin Car with its limited stop service. Not only did the stripping of the panelling reveal this historic piece of the tram it also showed evidence of a cable short circuit.
The contractors will remain on site completing the rewire before further progress on restoring the tram to operational condition can be made.