As we reported earlier this month, Blackpool Balloon 710 is set to return to Rigby Road Depot where it will initially become a static exhibit at the Tramtown attraction. And now in order to fund its transport from its current home in Wyre Dock, Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have launched an online fundraiser.
We’re sure that everyone reading this article is well aware of the history of this tramcar (we know we’ve written about it enough this year alone!) but as a brief reminder its big claim to fame is that it is the “Alan Bradley Tram”. In an episode of ITV’s long-running soap opera Coronation Street which was broadcast in December 1989, Alan Bradley was “hit” by the tram when chasing Rita across the trams and the “soap villain” died as a result. Since that time the tram has often been described as the “Alan Bradley Tram” and for non-enthusiasts has almost become the iconic Blackpool tram.
When the traditional Blackpool Tramway was set to close and many of the traditional trams were made available to interested parties, 710 was acquired on behalf of the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust with the aim it would be put on display in a tramway museum they were planning to open in Fleetwood. For various reasons this didn’t happen and so since leaving Rigby Road in 2011, 710 has been in outside storage and has suffered as a result.
Since it was announced that the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust were disbanding their collection there have been a number of false dawns for the tram – two even went as far as being publicly announced with Rossall School and the Trolleybus Museum at Sanftoft set to the new home of the tram. But now it appears it is to have a happy future with a move coming in the near future from Wyre Dock to Rigby Road.
Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours are trying to raise £2,500 for the transportation of 710. It will initially have a cosmetic restoration to the 1980s fleet livery, but there is a possibility that in the very long-term future it could be returned to service – that would be for future generations to decide on though.
- The fundraiser can be accessed at https://www.gofundme.com/f/transportation-of-balloon-tram-710 and a video explaining more is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X44p-OsEKOo
Thanks for info Gareth.
I think it is such a shame and a mistake that any of the heritage fleet were banished from Rigby Road in the first place.
Wht were BTS supposed to do with 70 odd Heritage Trams? Are you saying Crich, east Anglia and Heaton Park shouldn’t be allowed any?
The thing that bugs me most about 710 is – why now? Why not 5, 6, 7 or more years ago, before it had deteriorated to such a terrible state? I always saw great marketing potential in it, but now it will cost a small fortune just to make it presentable. I’d have happily been first in line to donate to an appeal to bring it home at one time, but not now… I’ve heard a few people express doubt that it will survive the journey home in one piece (at least one other preservation group apparently rejected it for that reason), which would certainly be a tragic end to the story of this iconic tram.
Why now?? Purely and simply it wasn’t available 5 years ago…
While FOFT still had ambitions for their own museum, they were never going to relinquish a potential star attraction to a perceived rival…
‘The tram that killed Alan Bradly’? A character in a soap, an actor; a fantasy! 710 ‘killed’ nobody. If ‘Coronation Street’ addicts would be attracted to such an icon they would be already be conditioned to ‘believe’. It was a Blackpool Balloon which, in the story, dealt the fatal blow; so ‘Corrie’ fans would not know (or more importantly want to know) if it was the actual tram. Any Balloon in ’80s livery would do and, ignoring the protests of the tram purists, it could even have fleet number ‘710’ applied. Low cost, ensuring the future of a more well preserved individual of the type, and bringing in the Corrie fans who would not wish to be disillusioned. There are precedents throughout the history of transport and preservation.
Big G for a start NO Tram in 80s livery will do as it wa sin 90s livery. YES it matters its the actual Tram. Its in the nations psyche as when driving I was oftemn asked if I’d killed Alan Bradley. If it doesn’t matter what it is perhaps we should ask the railway world if shoving Rocket nameplate on a pacer will be OK.
In fairness to Big G, I think the announcement on 710’s return stated it would be painted in 1980s livery; I hope this was an error, as it should be the 1990s style as you correctly said.
Personally I absolutely detest the idea of lying to people about which tram did what. It might not matter to some, but a lot of people want to see something that is part of TV history, just like they might wish to visit the stately home where a period drama was filmed, for example. I have serious reservations about the project to rescue and cosmetically restore 710 due to its delicate structural condition – but I’ve always believed that it has huge potential from a PR viewpoint. The attention that the fundraising appeal has attracted already speaks volumes.
Lying, fantasy, there is a very hazy dividing line. When we tell young children about ‘Santa Claus’ we are effectively lying, fuelling an enjoyable fantasy. When we read a novel, or watch a soap, they are technically ‘lying’, as the events did not happen. Alan Bradley did not exist, and could not therefore have been killed by 710, or any othr tram. Fantasy, or lies? Like ‘Rocket’; a nameplate does not alter the fact that it is totally a replica of the original locomotive.
Come on people, trams ( and trains and buses) are rebuilt after being outside for 60 years plus. This one is no different. Anyway at today (26th November) the money raised to bring it home stands at 50 % of what is required. It will get there!
I really don’t understand the thinking behind the Blackpool Heritage operation and the enthusiast obsession with balloon cars. I thought that currently there was a concerted effort to try clear space at Rigby Road to allow the depot reorganisation to take place. Now yet another wreck is to be dumped there. Admittedly my only source of information is this the news section of this excellent site but it does seem that someone needs to take control and set a well defined policy of what should be saved and what can justifiably be disposed of if the operation is to survive. All those advocating saving every possible car must be prepared to dig deep and subsidise their pet projects. Without well defined direction and significant external funding I can’t see the heritage side of the tramway surviving.
Every Balloon should be saved for posterity. It may well be that currently money is not available to have all trams up and running, but just look what would have happened to Steam Engine history in this Country if Woodham Brothers had started scrapping engines as they came in! Balloon Cars are iconic!