Whilst last year saw the East Anglia Transport Museum acquire three Blackpool trams it shouldn’t be forgotten that before these three arrivals there were already two trams from the Fylde Coast fully restored and operational at the museum. And on Sunday 30th April those two trams provided the two tram service providing the perfect excuse for Bryan Grint to pay a visit to the museum once more!
The likelihood is that you don’t need the two operational Blackpool tram to be introduced to you but in case you do they are of course Marton VAMBAC 11 (the sole surviving tram of this class) and Standard 159 (currently the only operational Blackpool Standard Car in the UK). Over the past few years 11 hasn’t been used a great deal but this has already changed in 2023 with it having been used regularly over the first month of the season after more volunteer crew were trained on the tram over the winter.
The season had begun with trams only able to run from Chapel Road to the woodland entrance because of a slight delay in the completion of trackworks in the woods but the full length of the current tramway is now open once more giving that bit a longer tram ride for any visitors to the museum.
As 159 waits departure from Chapel Road one of two trolleybuses to run on this day, Derby 237 arrives.
The stunningly restored VAMBAC 11 arrives at Chapel Road.
Three green and cream heritage vehicles in a row – VAMBAC 11, Standard 159 and Derby 237.
159 passes the trolleybus depot and is about to turn to the right and head into the woods.
Inside the main depot and Amsterdam 474 – the only other tram to have run in service so far this year when this image was taken – is joined by London Transport 1858 and Sheffield 513.
11 is now seen waiting at Chapel Road and as it does Ipswich trolleybus 105 turns up – more green and cream! (All Photographs by Bryan Grint, 30th April 2023)