Following on from the previously reported moves of two of the trams owned by the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust to a new storage site in Fleetwood, two more of the collection were moved by Scott’s Heavy Haulage on Wednesday 3rd July. This time, Trailer 683 and Balloon 710 were selected to make the short journey from the industrial yard where they have been residing, to the Associated British Ports site at Fleetwood Fish Dock.
The day began with Trailer 683 being loaded up onto the same low loader which had been used to transport Railcoach 678 and Balloon 726 on the previous day. This tram is the only one of the five previously stored at Halsall Storage in Fleetwood, which has managed to retain its protective sheeting despite the best efforts of the coastal winds, and so it remained totally covered up for the journey to its new temporary home, with the old funnel from the illuminated Western Train also hitching a ride! Of course, 683 is actually privately owned and is merely on long-term loan to the FHLT, along with its partner 673 which remains at Kirkham Prison.
Once 683 had been off-loaded, the Scotts’ team returned to collect Balloon car 710, the longest resident of the industrial yard. It may be remembered that this tram made a special guest appearance at the 2011 Fleetwood Transport Festival before arriving there, and has therefore spent just under two years at that location. Unfortunately, 710‘s wheels had sunk into the tarmac on which it has been stood, making the task of moving it onto the waiting low loader much more problematic than anticipated. Eventually the car was able to make the journey to the docks, where it was off-loaded without incident. It was noted that the vinyls applied to 710 two years ago have weathered extremely badly during its time in outside storage, although surprisingly the paintwork remains in fairly good condition!
This leaves just Jubilee car 761 at the original storage site, presumably due to the extra time needed to move 710. As the hauliers have now had to attend another job, 761 is expected to stay where it is for a little while longer before it can join the rest at the fish dock, close to the intended location of the proposed museum that will ultimately become the trams’ permanent home.