The Fylde Transport Trust have recently given an update on the work being undertaken to return Coronation 304 to service, one of several of their trams which are in the pipeline for entering service in the future. As you’ll probably remember the tram had been worked on earlier this year with support from the East Anglia Transport Museum but during checks an issue was found with one of brake blocks.
It was discovered that one had cracked and would need replacing with one of brake blocks having been removed and sent off to a specialist contractor for replication. This was done a couple of months ago but the complexity of the manufacturing of a new set of blocks means this was not be able to be supplied immediately.
Its estimated that it will take between 6 and 8 weeks for the new blocks to arrive. The minimum order for the blocks is 50 (304 only needs 8!) and so once manufactured the tram will be future proofed for many years to come.
Until such a time as the new brake blocks are received and fitted the commissioning of the tram will be halted (for pretty obvious reasons!).
The ordered of the 50 blocks if also an additional expense for the Fylde Transport Trust and if you wish to help by donating money towards their projects you can find out more on their website at https://fyldett.org.uk/supporting-the-ftt.