Although the heritage tram tours in Blackpool so far in 2014 have been a resounding success, one tram has been noticeably absent from the promenade so far this year. Following a repaint in a stunning red and cream livery which earned it the British Trams Online ‘Tram of the Year’ award in 2013, Boat 227 was expected to be a regular performer on the heritage service this summer, but unfortunately the tram was sidelined before Easter due to electrical faults. Since this time the car had remained tucked away inside the depot at Starr Gate, undergoing attention to rectify this issue.
Happily, the electrical work on 227 has now been completed by the skilled engineers at Starr Gate. On Friday 25th July, it was transferred back to Rigby Road to rejoin its two sisters which remain in Blackpool, leaving Starr Gate depot devoid of vintage trams for the first time in many months. It is now hoped that the weather will be kind over the August Bank Holiday weekend so that this beautiful tram can finally be used in passenger service again, and once again receive the attention it deserves. With Balloon car 701 currently in the Paint Shop where it is being treated to a full repaint in the red and white livery it previously carried in the early 1990s, the potential for photo opportunities featuring two red streamliners together is mouth-watering and will hopefully ensure that the next stint of heritage tram operation will be a very successful and enjoyable event.