Trustee of the Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation, Phil Burgin, provides an update on the restoration of Blackpool 298.
Blackpool 298’s restoration is being fully funded by the TSO and work on the tram is progressing at a good pace, keeping the bodywork technicians in the workshop at the tramway museum at Crich busy.
At the time of writing the framework of the body is complete, which has enabled the tram to take on a Blackpool railcoach appearance with the familiar cab end profiles. Internal partitions are now being fitted, using the originals. The sliding doors have been test fitted and their movement checked, whilst the motors for these have been overhauled ready for fitting. More excitingly for some, the unique sliding sunroofs, which are actually off a double deck balloon tram, are in the process of being test fitted and adjusted so they will fit a single decker.
Identifying the correct pattern and colour of the moquette seating has proved a challenge, but a pattern has been agreed from old black and white photographs and the colour has been established using photos of the interior of Blackpool buses that were purchased around the same time as the Brush railcoaches. Samples of the moquette are currently being checked to agree that these are correct so that an order can be raised with a moquette manufacturer soon.
On the mechanical side of the project, the pipework for the air system has been fitted under the under fame and refurbishment of the bogie frames is virtually complete, albeit with some additional welding work to complete. It’s interesting to note that the bogies that are to be used, are the ones from another Brush railcoach, obtained from Blackpool, as these were deemed to be in better condition than the originals, which will now be used as accommodation bogies for other restorations.
The motors that have already been refurbished, will soon be joined by the refurbished gears, axles and wheelsets from an outside contractor, then the plan is to start fully assembling the bogies. Other works soon to be started include refitting of the internal side panelling and windows, all of which are original.
As work is progressing well, thanks to the project management of a TSO trustee and the workshop team, excitement is starting to build as a tramcar starts to emerge from a collection of parts. Hopefully in the coming years a launch date can be proposed if progress is maintained.
As can be appreciated from the progress noted above, it is essential to keep external funds coming in through sponsorship bodies like the TSO, to carry on funding restorations at Crich, especially given the current economic climate that museums find themselves in. The current age profile of the TSO is over 60 and new members are desperately needed if the museum is to continue its excellent restoration work into the future. So, if you are interested in supporting the TSO and committing either a one off payment or regular payments, please send an email to tsotrams@gmail.com and a member of the TSO will get back to you.
Photograph by Phil Burgin
Nice
If only ten of you who read this contribute £10.00 per month then in a year the T.S.O. will be £1200.00 better off.Without more people coming forward the prospect of more restorations will fade. This would be a sad loss to Crich and the tramway preservation movement. So please make a donation, just think of what a hundred of you could do.