Tuesday 6th May 2013 was a very exciting day for the North East Electrical Traction Trust, as the first of the group’s collection of historic trams was delivered to the North East Aircraft Museum in Sunderland. The chosen vehicle was Blackpool Balloon car 721, which had previously resided at a top secret location near Scotch Corner awaiting its move to Sunderland, where it will eventually be displayed.
NEETT have been planning for some time to construct a new depot in which to store it vehicle collection on the premises of the aircraft museum, and the move of Blackpool 721 was one of the most visible signs to date that this dream is set to become a reality in the near future. The tram was transported from Scotch Corner to Sunderland by a low loader supplied by GCS Johnson Ltd, whose premises were previously home to 721, and who have already been used to move various aircraft for the museum where 721 will now reside. Despite a few minor hitches, the tram was moved succesfully and unloaded until a short length of track on the site where the new depot in which it will live is to be constructed. Completition of the building is currently anticipated this summer, which will then allow further trams to make the journey to the museum, including fellow Blackpool escapees, Centenary car 647 and Twin set 674+684.
In the short term, it is planned to erect some scaffolding around the Balloon car so that some work can be carried out on it, ahead of the time when it can be displayed to visitors at the museum as a representative of NEETT’s growing collection. On its previous road journey from Blackpool, 721 sustained some damage to its roof at one end which requires repairing, and this will be followed by a repaint. As previously announced, the tram will receive a special red and white livery in the ‘Routemaster’ style, as worn by sister 701 in the early nineties, to replace the rather faded black and gold Pleasure Beach advert it has carried since 2009. Despite being stored outside for more than a year, 721 still appears to be in excellent condition and externally looks good, apart from understandably being absolutely filthy. The tram could probably still run, and an operating loan to another museum has been suggested before and may well materialise in the future.
Whilst most organisations struggle to achieve their goals in the present harsh financial climate, it is extremely pleasing to see NEETT moving forwards in such a positive manner and hopefully it won’t be too long before all of their trams are safely housed undercover. Needless to say, further support is still needed to help make these plans come to fruition and all donations towards the Trust’s upcoming projects are very much welcomed.
All of the photos accompanying this article show Balloon 721 arriving at its new home in Sunderland on 7th May, and were supplied by the North East Electrical Traction Trust. Also visible in the fourth image is the Bradford trolleybus also placed in the care of the Trust.
Love the tram pics, but wow I want that Vulcan Bomber, and amazing and under appreciated aircraft.. I WANT IT….
Brilliant pic of 721 with vulcan bomber behind. I saw this plane land many years ago at,what was then Sunderland airport, on a makeshift extended runway knowing it could never take off again Nissan car plant was built on the site The combined air and a electric vehicle museum leads to an interesting future for the site.
Went to the museum, wow what a difference the trams will make to the site when properly housed & overhauled. My only neg comment is that the aircraft & military vehicles need to be exibited better as they just look like a scrapyard.
The go ahead by Sunderland council for the museums new shed (13/08/13) is great news. All the trams could be undercover soon and standing on the new 3 track layout within the shed.