Another Brush car on the move

Blackpool Brush Railcoach 636 has recently moved to a new home, following an extended period of storage at Derby. The tram is currently owned by the Derbyshire-based Stored Energy Technology company and has been used to test an experimental motor and bogie at Blackpool, although progress on this project seemed to have stalled of late.

However, 636‘s period of rest came to an end in June when the tram was surprisingly transported by a lorry from Scott’s Heavy Haulage, to Long Marston. There it has joined Midland Metro 14 and is expected to be showcased as part of the UK Tram Consortium. This will potentially enable the Brush car to operate again for the first time since 2009 when it underwent a short period of evaluation in Blackpool before leaving its former home town behind for good. It is assumed that the new technology which is being tested on car 636 will be demonstrated to potential investors and/or buyers. It is not yet known how long 636 will stay there or what will happen to it afterwards, although a return to Derby is probably most likely.

Interestingly, Blackpool 636 retains the smart dark green and yellow version of the Metro Coastlines livery it carried during its last season of passenger service, 2004. However, the vinyls listing key stops on the Blackpool system have been removed and logos for Stored Energy Technology have been applied in their place, presumably to ensure that any interested parties will be made well aware of the origins of the equipment it has been fitted with.

636 stands on Blundell Street in Blackpool during testing in April 2009. And now further tests will be undertaken on the tram at Long Marston. (Photo: Fred Fitter)

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2 Responses to Another Brush car on the move

  1. Fred Fitter says:

    Interesting there still be a chance of the development work to continue with Blackpool 636, I was privilege to be invited aboard while they were testing it along the short track in Blundell Street in April 2009.

  2. paul says:

    I wonder if Blackpool 636 will pop upto Birmingham and have ride the rails on midland metro have been tested at long Marston

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