The restoration of Blackpool Boat car 236 (or 607 if you prefer to use its post-1968 fleet number!) has finally been completed at Crich Tramway Village, with the fitting of decorative festoon lights to the tram. Four strings of coloured light bulbs have been strung from the poles which were fitted at each corner of 236 when its restoration was undertaken last year.
The main overhaul work on 236 was carried out in Blackpool Transport’s workshops and the tram was launched into regular use at Crich a year ago. Now its immaculate appearance has been further enhanced with the addition of orange light bulbs, just as the tram would have carried during the 1950s, which is the period its current appearance aims to replicate. Although the Boat car has yet to carry passengers in its revised guise, it was shunted back into the main depot recently following workshop attention and will hopefully soon be back in traffic.
Our thanks go to Andrew Spencer for kindly allowing us to publish his photographs of 236 being shunted on 10th June.
'Boat' 236 seen moving through the depot gates on its way from the workshop to the depots at Crich.
236 again in the depot yard, passing the London Tramlink KLV 058.
236 returns to the depot, sandwiched between two other Blackpool trams: Pantograph car 167 and the electric locomotive. (All photos by Andrew Spencer)