This week “Picture in Time” heads to Beamish as we feature one of the trams which has been a long standing member of the operational fleet.
We are of course talking about Blackpool 31 – a Marton Box Car which was transferred to Beamish in 1984 after a second career on its home tramway as a works vehicle. Restored over three years the tram has been in service most years since and has even enjoyed a few trips away from Beamish, on a couple of occasions to Blackpool and a memorable spell at the Heaton Park Tramway as well.
At a time when the trams were all carrying local advertising we see 31 here at the Entrance on a day which isn’t exactly screaming out at us as a day to enjoy a tram ride on an open topper!
Photograph by Ken Jones, 18th August 2008