We have one final black and white image from Blackpool for you in this edition of “Picture in Time”.
As with many first generation tramways when a tram’s days in service came to an end several were converted to become Works Cars and Blackpool was no different. There has been a history of many trams being saved long enough to enter preservation because of their use by the works department and this one kind of fits that category – although in a roundabout way!
Works Car 5 was formerly English Electric Railcoach 221 and became part of the works fleet for six years between 1965 and 1971. It would then enter the OMO conversion programme where it became no. 5 as an OMO it was preserved by the Tramway Museum Society and is now stored at Clay Cross where it was moved in 2000.
In this photo we see 5 at Thornton Gate in the permanent way yard. Its twin destination display states “DEPOT” on one side and “PERMANENT WAY” on the other.
Photograph by Tony Stevenson, August 1971
What was the permanent way siding used for?
The yard was initially a set of sidings for coal traffic from Fleetwood – the realm of the electric loco preserved at Crich. Mineral wagons were hauled from railway sidings behind Copse Road depot.
When that traffic ceased, it became the storage yard for track materials, but also was the location for the scrapping of a number of cars.
A trailing point was installed when track relaying took place for the upgrade and is still in situ, but I dont think it was ever used.