Advertising liveries can be divisive at the best of times – you either like them or you don’t! – but we’re sure that this one is going to be even more controversial with some than ever as Stagecoach Supertram 120 has received a wrap for The Full Monty television series. Of course, this means that 120’s long-standing short-term Sheffield Corporation livery has now been removed after over 12 years.
Its probably been one of the most asked questions over the past decade and a bit – is 120 out today? With its traditional Sheffield Corporation Transport colour scheme its been a very popular tram with enthusiasts but in more recent years there can be no denying that is been starting to look a little tired. The livery was only originally envisaged to be carried on the tram for a limited period to commemorate 50 years since the closure of Sheffield’s first generation tram system but its remained in place for the 51st, 52nd, 53rd, 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, 59th, 60th, 61st and 62nd anniversaries! It even survived 120 being involved in a collision with 118 which meant that the 120 we know today is actually a reformation with part of it having originally been 118 so part of it has been repainted more recently than 2010.
But all good things come to an end and the start of May saw the tram selected to receive a vinyl wrap advertising livery for The Full Monty television show. Set in Sheffield the series is a continuation of the popular British movie and features the original stars of the film. It will be shown on Disney+ starting later this month.
The advert is blue and yellow and includes various images of the cast of the show as well as the usual wording to tell you what its advertising. There are very limited vinyls on the windows included on the advert.
120 has history with adverts and this is the third different design its had – this includes the very first advert seen on the network. That was for the Ask Jon telephone enquiring service between December 1999 and March 2001. Then March 2001-September 2004 saw it carry an advert for Meadowhall and then May 2009-October 2010 it was East Midlands Trains who advertised on the tram. That was directly replaced by the Corporation livery so its been over 14 years since the tram last carried fleet livery!
120 approaches Castle Square when working on the Blue route showing off its new advert.
A head-on view of the tram at Malin Bridge.
Stars of the show Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy and Lesley Sharp adorn the side of the tram.
Another look at 120 as it stands at Malin Bridge. (Photographs x4 by Ryan Hartley, 10th May 2023)
In this photo we take a look at one end of the tram and its new advert.
120 heads away from Hillsborough with a Yellow route service to Middlewood. (Photographs x2 by Stuart Cooke, 12th May 2023)