On Tuesday 8th April 2014, Blackpool Balloon car 711 bid farewell to the seaside for the first time in its eighty-year career when it left Rigby Road on the back of a low loader. As reported previously, the tram is being loaned to the National Tramway Museum as part of the same deal which will see Blackpool ‘Pantograph’ car 167 revisit its old haunts for the summer season.
711 was of course one of nine Balloon cars to have been modified to supplement the new fleet of Bomardier Flexity2 trams on the core Blackpool service, but since its conversion it has hardly been used at all, and therefore its departure will allow it to be used much more frequently during 2014 than would have been the case had it remained on home turf. The move also highlights the rather parlous situation which the widened Balloon cars have found themselves in; not required for service use and not considered suitable for use on heritage tours when more authentic Balloon cars such as 701 and 717 remain in situ, the trams have struggled to find a role on the upgraded tramway, hence 711 can easily be spared.
On 7th April, Crich volunteers descended on Blackpool to prepare 711 for its road journey to Derbyshire, which entailed draping a large green sheet over the roof of the tram – presumably to protect it from any of the dreaded killer trees that might attack it en route! The following morning, a low loader arrived to collect the tram which was easily loaded up on Blundell Street thanks to the absence of any skirting panels (the main reason this particular tram was chosen), and it departed Blackpool at around lunchtime on 8th April. Initially heading for Preston, the convoy then stabled there whilst awaiting a police escort before continuing the long journey to its temporary new home. The car is expected to be unloaded at Crich on Wednesday morning, and will then presumably be prepared for use as quickly as possible in order to ensure that it can be used to its full potential for the duration of its stay at the museum.
Initially it was understood that 711 would be staying at Crich for two years, but it is believed that plans have changed and that the tram is now likely to return home before the end of this year. This will be a considerable shock to the many people – including your writer – who had confidently expected that 711‘s loan would be extended indefinitely, such is the likelihood that it will not find a sustained role on its native tramway. Whatever the future holds for this tram, the novelty of such a heavily modernised Balloon car running at Crich should certainly be one of the ‘must see’ attractions of 2014 for tram enthusiasts, although it remains to be seen what the general public who visit the museum for a nostalgic day out will make of the tram with its garish purple livery and talking doors! Hopefully efforts will be made to ensure that a more traditional tramcar will operate alongside 711 when it appears in service, as the prospect of a three-car output using the rebuilt Balloon alongside Berlin 3006 and either Blackpool Brush Railcoach 630 or Jubilee car 762 is unlikely to satisfy the more casual visitors who expect to ride on something like Chesterfield 7 or Glasgow 22!
Hang on, this isn't the way to the promenade! Balloon 711 turns onto Lytham Road as it leaves home for its journey to Crich on 8th April. (Photo by Alan Robson)
A pit stop for 711 at Broughton during the longest road journey of the tram's career to date.
Another view of 711 on the Scotts Heavy Haulage transporter, clearly showing the sheeting used to protect its upper deck from being damaged in transit.
Our final view of 711 during its epic journey, showing the end of the tram. (Photos x3 by Martin Strickland)