A small update on the current situation regarding the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust and its collection of historic Blackpool trams has recently appeared on the website of Rigby Road Publishing, a small venture run by one of the FHLT Trustees. This states that the original objective of creating a tram museum in Fleetwood is currently under review; however, it is also understood that plans are being formulated for new displays featuring two of their trams.
No indication has been given as to which of the Trust’s vehicles will be involved in the new plan, as it is merely indicated that plans are underway for two trams to be used to provide new public displays to benefit visitors to Blackpool. It is to be hoped that this will include a plan for Brush car 290, which remains at Pleasure Beach in a poor external condition, having been repainted with a thin layer of gold paint last year which has not stood up well to the harsh coastal climate. The tram’s appearance has further deteriorated after it sustained a smashed window, which has now been blocked out rather crudely. However, it is understood that the car has not suffered much, if at all, from leaking which is certainly pleasing and quite surprising given the long period it has been standing outside for, and the tendency of the 1930s streamliners to leak! It is also sincerely hoped that any new static displays will see the trams involved treated more sympathetically than the controversial graffiti livery on 290, which has been a source of much controversy.
Meanwhile, the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust are currently reviewing their aim of developing a tram museum attraction in the town of Fleetwood, which had been tentatively scheduled to open at some point during 2014. Much like the Lancastrian Transport Trust before them, the development of an extensive heritage tram fleet by Blackpool Transport has considerably reduced the need for such a collection to exist and the group is now considering its future role. Having struggled to overcome a number of issues and failed to attract much financial support from either the local Council or the enthusiast community, some difficult decisions could well have to be taken and it remains to be seen in what form this organisation will continue to function. Hopefully the move of Jubilee car 761 back to Rigby Road for undercover storage will ensure that at least this tram will survive for the foreseeable future, due to its historical significance, but it is to be hoped that options to ensure that their other trams will also live on will also be available.
Always seemed like his “artistic” ramblings plastered over 761 as it headed to the safety of Rigby Road was final parting shot as the curtain closed on what has been a turbulent some would say surreal chapter of preservation. Thankfully with Bryan at the helm and Blackpool Transport & Partners on the march will all be consigned to ancient history. He is in a position to build on the running days and explore all the options including static opportunities when they arise.
Both the LTT and the FHLT set out with laudable objectives, unfortunately both have also been plagued by the same issue of individual egos who, to the outside observer, seem more concerned with their own interests than the well being of the trams in their collections. The presence of those individuals, the mistrust they engendered, and some highly questionable public outbursts leading to a lack of enthusiast support and donation income.
It was always obvious to the neutral observer that the chances of both their museum projects succeeding and being sustainable in the long term were remote.
Back in 2011 when the chances to ride the heritage cars in Blackpool seemed limited, I like many did hope that one or the other would succeed or that they could come together as a single venture but I suspect those same egos would have severely hindered any cooperation. Since then the tram preservation world has moved on: the 2012 Blackpool heritage operation showed that carefully targeted operation could be a big tourist draw for Blackpool and much better supported than any static museum is ever likely to be, while other preservation groups such as NEET and Heaton Park have made great strides leaving the FLHT scheme superfluous.
I do worry though for the future of some of their collection. Given the treatment of 627 you do have to wonder what the proposed “new public displays to benefit visitors to Blackpool” will be, and apart from 761 there are better examples elsewhere of all types so I doubt there will be much interest from other groups in taking on the remaining trams, unless Crich take the opportunity to right the mistake of declining 648 by taking 641…
Just read the Gazette today.
Its is a great idea to have such an attraction to Fleetwood, but the focus seems to be on trams. What Fleetwood needs is a TRANSPORT museum featuring old vehicles that used to be used in fleetwood such as fire engines, police cars, buses and trams.
Think of the boost on Tram Sundays, visitors across the globe come to see the vehicles on display on Lord Street, then taking themselves to the museum for more transport history.
have an area where a vehicle from a police car to a tram is restored from preservation to a new looking vehicle of what is looked like then.
a cafe which is tram theamed with lots of pictures and a BusMans Breakfast menu(healthy and the old greasy spoon type breakfast)
Speak to Stagecoach Depot for support on this along side owners of preserved vehicles from the fleetwood area.
Lets get transport in fleetwood every day of the year 🙂
If they’d done this a few years ago they could have had an Isle of Man ferry to complete the Fleetwood transport collection. Unfortunately the Manxman has now been broken up.