Its summer 1978 and we’re back on the Blackpool Tramway as we feature some more excellent photos from Donald Brooks as “Picture in Time” returns to the Fylde Coast once more.
The tram we feature here is Balloon 720, one of the second series Balloon Cars which were built fully enclosed as new. Originally numbered 257, the tram entered service in February 1935 and remains in Blackpool to this day. It was one of the Balloon Cars selected for conversion into a “B fleet” car, which saw features such as the widened centre entrance installed so that it could be used with the LRT platforms for an additional service which has never really been used. 720 had problems from the start with its upgrades and saw little use; it hasn’t been used in anger since 2011.
In this photo – taken late June/early July 1978 – 720 is being hotly pursued by Blackpool bus 537 on Lord Street, Fleetwood. Its obviously a warm day judging by the drivers windscreen being wide open. The tram has a trolley, is in 1970s fleet livery, features Corporation crests and we can also see in between deck adverts for the Lion Cabaret Bar. This part of Lord Street has changed with the Natwest Bank on the corner of Styan Street, which is now a junction closed off to vehicular traffic. This was in fact the second Natwest branch on Lord Street at the time – now the only bank in Fleetwood is a branch of Halifax.
Photograph by Donald Brooks, June/July 1978