Picture in Time: Blackpool Centenary 645

“Picture in Time” today again heads to Blackpool as we take a look at one of the Centenary Cars which has enjoyed an interesting post operation life.

Centenary 645 was delivered to Blackpool in September 1987 and would enter service the next month becoming the sixth of the class to carry passengers (641644 and 651 beating it). As with all eight Centenary Cars, 645 would remain part of the year round operational fleet all the way until the end of traditional tramway operation in November 2011. By this time it had been rebuilt (the penultimate one to go through this work) an it wanted to go out in a blaze of glory as it failed on the last day of service being towed back to depot by the Unimog. Sold on to the Windy Bay Caravan Park it was briefly used there before returning to Rigby Road and now part of the FTT collection.

In this view we see 645 heading past Central Pier with a timetabled service to Starr Gate on 30th April 1989. Still in fleet livery it has adverts on the side for Cats at the Opera House which was the big show of the season there running between May and November.

Photograph by Simon Watts

This entry was posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time. Bookmark the permalink.