Over the past few years one of the most intriguing and highly anticipated heritage tram projects has been the aim to return to VAMBAC fitted Blackpool Coronation 304 to serviceable condition. Owned by the Fylde Transport Trust, the tram is located at Blackpool Transport’s Rigby Road Depot (Tramtown if you prefer!) and the current focus of attention is on the installation of an independent emergency braking system.
As part of the plans to return the tram to service 304 requires this new braking system to be installed to ensure that it can be operated safely on the Blackpool Tramway. This has involved much work in the background to develop a system and then prepare for its installation. Electrical contractor JRW have been employed to both design and install this system and they have been making progress in recent months.
To show the progress being made a series of videos have been released and these are available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuzW8n0FM__VzsJ6pVsO8F75gvCFNYkfH.
In a statement on Facebook the Fylde Transport Trust said: “These are videos made by our contractor and are being made available with the aim to demonstrate the effort in bringing this tram back to operational condition for Heritage services. There is still some work to go, and there maybe some modifications as testing takes place, so please bear that this is very much a “work in progress”.”
Once the equipment is fully installed this will enable testing to get underway. Initial tests will be static and within the depot confines before it is extended to the Promenade. But these are still a way off and for now the most important thing is that the work is taking place which should in time enable 304 to return to the rails.
It is encouraging to note that the new braking system is to be tested thoroughly so that 304 can be run safely and provide an authentic Coronation for Heritage Tours. Given that the FTT is organising the work to be carried out, this will allow Heritage Trams to concentrate on ensuring projects such as the return to service of 706 continue to make good progress, as now they will not need to consider returning 660 to the rails for the foreseeable future, and one Coronation would be quite sufficient for tour purposes. Therefore it seems ideal that a more authentic version becomes a runner.
I may have asked this before, but do Coronations have traditional air brakes as well as the VAMBAC braking and a hand brake? Why would a fourth braking system be necessary?
I can’t agree that work should slow on 660 although I do definitely think princess Alice should be returned to use as a matter of urgency. The problem with 304 is it’s still a VAMBAC and historically important as it is, it will still be horrendously unreliable in service on the promenade. There is a serious design flaw in the VAMBAC gear, which was done to get around PCC patents. It means there are a lot more moving parts in the control gear than there really need to be and these have always been prone to jamming. Obviously the salt and sand in the atmosphere in Blackpool doesn’t help this. VAMBACs work much better in a less hostile environment, but in Blackpool it’s just asking for trouble. Hats off to the FTT and BTS’s engineers and the contractors for trying though. I just hope history doesn’t repeat itself.