This week “Picture in Time” moves from 1977 to 1978 as we take another look at the Blackpool Tramway back in the 1970s.
This was early season, April 1978, and the fashions of the time are in evidence with the chill of spring off the Irish Sea seemingly still making itself felt. In the background is Coral Island (which although developed over the years still has elements of the same building today) and then just over the other side of the now gone Tower overbridge is where Spyglass can be found now and has been redeveloped in recent years). Beyond that was the Woolworths and now more recently has become the Albert and Lion Wetherspoons pub.
As for the trams and we see two OMO cars passing on their respective journeys – 7 heading south and 10 north. Both are in the red and cream livery with 7 featuring a red trolley tower and 10 a cream one (or rust if you like!). The former also has roof advert boxes (Stanleys Steakhouse, Radio Rentals, Royal Navy ads). 7 is working to Starr Gate on route 9 and presumably 10 is off to Fleetwood although at this time the rear blinds were set to white blank so its not possible to 100% confirm that.
Today 7 survives as Replica Vanguard 619 which is now preserved at the Heaton Park Tramway whereas 10 was scrapped on site in Reading having gone south as part of a conference centre where it was painted in the Reading Buses livery!
Photograph by Donald Brooks, April 1978