Blackpool trams invade Sunderland!

In a week dominated by road journeys involving preserved trams, the North East Electrical Traction Trust has now completed the process of moving all of its Blackpool trams to the North East Land, Sea & Air Museum at Sunderland. Twin set 674+684 and Centenary car 647 have now arrived on site, joining fellow Blackpool car Balloon 721 and Krefeld 412 to give this museum a rather impressive collection!

A hectic week began with Trailer 684 leaving Gateshead, where it has been stored for the last twelve months, on Tuesday 2nd July. The following day it was joined by its long-term partner, Towing car 674 and the pair were placed on a long section of track together. Whereas at Gateshead the duo were stored alongside one another, now they resemble a proper twin set again, and although they have not yet been recoupled they certainly make an impressive sight. It is also excellent to see that both halves of the unit appear to be in excellent condition despite not running for several years, with a full complement of swing-over seats intact and the interiors looking very smart indeed.

With both halves of the Twin car unloaded, the same lorry then returned to Gateshead to collect Centenary car 647 which has now also joined 674+684 on the same section of track.  This tram has had some of its advertising vinyls peeled off, revealing traces of a previous pink advert livery, but otherwise looks the same as it did when it last ran at Blackpool in November 2011. Again, the car remains intact and seems to have stood up to outside storage exceptionally well, suggesting that work to restore these trams will not be too challenging for their owners.

Although these trams remain outside for now, the construction of a new depot at the NELSAM site is expected to start imminently and hopefully within a few months, all of NEETT’s trams will be accommodated undercover. This will include Graz 210 which is currently stored elsewhere, and the Manchester Transport Museum Society’s Blackpool Balloon 708, which is due to move from Bury to Sunderland shortly. Not previously mentioned on this site was another move involving Budapest twin set 2576+2577 which has now left British soil, having begun its long journey back to Budapest a few weeks ago. All of these positive developments clearly indicate that NEETT has already become one of the key players in the British tram preservation scene, and with more exciting plans in the pipeline, this organisation looks set to keep going from strength to strength.

684 is seen being prepared to leave Gateshead, its home for the past year, behind, as 674 looks on waiting for its turn to be moved to Sunderland.

On July 3rd, 674 is seen being winched onto a low loader to leave Gateshead. Here the tram is unusually seen from the end normally coupled up to 684.

Later the same day, Centenary car 647 is seen aboard the same lorry. Note the removal of some of its advert vinyls, although most remain for the time being.

A mouthwatering site at Sunderland for any Blackpool tram fan, with 647, 684 and 674 all lined up at their new home. (All photos courtesy of NELSAM/NEETT)

This entry was posted in North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust. Bookmark the permalink.

5 Responses to Blackpool trams invade Sunderland!

  1. bob riley says:

    great to see these trams at sunderland all of which have their own section of track, they will be undercover soon. dare we hope for a length of running track in the future. seems to be a lot of running track at the museum ( ex tyne and wear metro I understand) hears hoping.

  2. Pete the Blackpool pensioner says:

    In the lower photo 674 seems to be converted into an Avro Vulcan illuminations special.

  3. bob riley says:

    I hate advert vinyls the sooner these are stripped off and the cars revert to fleet livery the better.

  4. colin reid says:

    I used to travel to school on Sunderland trams in the 1940s and 1950s. Almost the whole town (as it was then) were strongly against the withdrawal of the trams and the council did not consider storing some important, historical examples which set a trend, nothing saved from the hugely important Hetton Railway, nothing saved from the shipyards. Now that tourism is important to bring in trade, they have nothing to attract anybody. I am told by a tram driver in Nottingham, that their new fleet of Spanish trams built by Alstholm are being completed in Sunderland and sent by road to Nottingham. Where is this being carried out? Anyone know?

  5. Gareth Prior says:

    As far as I know no work is being undertaken on the Citadis trams in Sunderland. They are being delivered directly from Barcelona to Nottingham.

Comments are closed.