Another edition of “Old and New” for you as we are again in Blackpool as we take a look at two trams from different eras in more or less the same location on the tramway.
Its 5th September 2007 for this “old” image as we see one of the eight strong class of Centenary Cars at Manchester Square. On the pre-upgrade tramway the main stop here was after the junction to Rigby Road Depot so trams which terminated to go back home unloaded just about here before they activated the traffic lights to cross the Prom. That’s what Centenary 642 has done here as its day on specials comes to an end. Its carrying a plain yellow livery – which was once the base for an all over advert (it carried three adverts for Mecca Bingo between April 1999 and July 2006, the first of which had a yellow base) – and would carry on like this for the remainder of the pre-upgraded tramway.
The new modernised tramway now sees Manchester Square stop before the junction to Rigby Road Depot with its two platforms opposite each other as seen here. But the junction is not something which need concern 011 as no Flexity2 tram should ever be going up Lytham Road. The Craig-y-don hotel remains on the other side of the Prom road. This was taken on a dreary 30th September 2024. (Both Photographs by Gareth Prior)
I never thought I’d see the day where a Centenary Car was the better of two possible options. But here’s the proof!