Blackpool Balloon 708 has celebrated its 90th birthday with its new home, the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft, marking the occasion at the end of September.
708 has been at Sandtoft since November 2023, when it was transferred to the museum with the idea of it being converted to become a Playtram. Formerly owned by the Manchester Transport Museum Society, it had been stored at Rigby Road for several years but was not considered part of the main MTMS collection and did not form part of their plans for the future. The sale of the tram to Sandtoft allowed the tram to survive and whilst it will not be operational again it will be a vital exhibit at the museum which will allow more activities for visiting families.
As part of their research into what was required to convert it to a Playtram, volunteers at the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft realised that 708 would be celebrating its 90th birthday this year and decided to mark the occasion. And what better way to do so then decorate the Balloon Car with some balloons!
Work on converting it to a Playtram has not yet started in earnest but it is planned that ahead of the winter there will be some work on its roof to provide more protection. Plans continue to be worked on to convert the tram.
A view of 708 showing the 90 balloons in the lower saloon window.
A closer look at 708 and its birthday celebrations. (Both Photographs by Trevor Hall, 21st September 2024)
Such a shame no one could be bothered doing a celebration for the ones still at home.
It’s a real shame, I know that not everyone of them can be preserved but for something to survive for 90 years and meet such an ignominious end is very sad. I don’t go to Blackpool very often these days, I used to love the atmosphere when the old trams were clanking up and down the promenade but now it just seems so sterile.
Agreed! I have been to blackpool once in the last five years. I used to go at least two or three times a year.