Following the surprise departure of Blackpool Centenary car 643 from Broadwater Caravan Park on 28th February, it has been confirmed that the tram has been donated to the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust. The tram has been relocated to Fleetwood fish dock, where it joins several other trams from the Trust’s collection.
As 643 is in excellent condition and was superbly repainted in a pleasing version of the mainly cream 1950s ‘Coronation’ livery, the offer of the tram was clearly too tempting to resist for the FHLT and it was duly accepted into their collection. With growing doubts over the likelihood of this group’s ultimate aim of developing a museum attraction in Fleetwood ever becoming a reality, many people had assumed that the Trust would be seeking to dispose of some of its trams – so the acquisition of another one will come as quite a surprise! However, the organisation is understood to be looking at alternative options to display some of its collection and 643 would potentially be a very attractive static exhibit, so the decision to accept it can probably be justified. It may also be remembered that the FHLT originally intended to preserve two Centenary cars; however, 646 was sold for scrap after being vandalised. Now 643 will allow this group to showcase a Centenary car in its ‘shoebox’ shape, contrasting with the more original prototype 641.
Hopefully, despite its role as a cafe coming to a premature end, 643 can now look forward to a positive future and its new owners will be able to display it so that the efforts expended on it last year will not go to waste.
Considering it would be kept in better condition than 290, with regular maintenance, I reckon it would make a lovely cafe where 290 is at the pleasure beach!
Now that is a really really good idea, and would be perfect on the heritage running days