Pleasing news to report is that Blackpool Balloon car 701 has finally entered the Rigby Road workshops in preparation for a full repaint in the popular red and white livery it carried between 1991 and 1993, immediately following its last major overhaul. This work is being generously funded by the Fylde Tramway Society following an appeal for donations towards the cost of repainting this popular tram in its most famous livery from the past.
Although other workshop projects have been prioritised, such as the work on Box 40 to restore it a more pristine condition for its centenary year, 701 has not been forgotten and over the course of the winter the underframe of the tram was subjected to a detailed examination, to determine whether any more major work will be needed that has not been budgeted for. Then on 8th May, 701 was moved into the Fitting Shop where several of its side panels were removed so that the condition of the body frame could be assessed. Happily, these assessments both revealed that the tram remains in excellent condition thanks to the high quality of the work undertaken when it was rebuilt in the early ‘nineties, and as a result the car should be fit for many more years of service in its new role as a designated heritage vehicle. The tram will be accomodated in the Paint Shop shortly where its transformation can begin, replacing the unattractive bright yellow paint it has worn for several years with a much more stylish red and white livery, bringing back happy memories of how it looked more than two decades ago. Your writer is particularly looking forward to 701‘s completion, as the tram wore that livery when I first visited Blackpool way back in 1992, and it was always a colour scheme which I have remembered with great fondness.
701 has joined visiting Blackpool Pantograph car 167 in the Fitting Shop, where it has resided since shortly after its return to Blackpool recently. Within 24 hours of its arrival the trolley and lifeguards had been refitted, and now 167 is being prepared for its expected passenger debut over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. This process will include the installation of transponders and the fitting of brackets on which to hang a bamboo pole on one side of the car, as Blackpool Transport have recently decided to dispense with trolley ropes on its fleet. Although this fairly simple modification has already been carried out on Bolton 66, it is expected that assistance will have to be provided from the Crich workshop with this task, to ensure that 167‘s historic value is not compromised and that any subtle alterations to the car can be easily reversed at the end of its loan period. Hopefully this work will be completed in time for the tram to be released into service for its planned debut, which is sure to be one of the highlights of 2014 for the Blackpool heritage tram service.
Balloon 701 and Pantograph car 167 seen together in Blackpool's Fitting Shop on May 8th, with some panels removed from 701 to enable its sole bars to be examined. (Photo courtesy of Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours)