The transformation of the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust’s Blackpool Brush Railcoach 290 has continued to make impressive progress in the last few days with a good impression of the final green and cream livery now in evidence. This has been in spite of progress being hampered by the recent poor weather conditions experienced at the tram’s current exposed resting place on the Blackpool promenade.
Very little now remains of the previous graffiti paint job on 290 and in its place comes the undercoat for a more traditional new look. Good progress has been made on applying the undercoat over the past couple of days – so much so that the first cream gloss finish should be applied to the lower body panelling on Monday 18th August. Most of this work has been carried out by members of the Trust with the wife of one of the Trustees even being roped in to help! The end result should be a much more attractive static exhibit for the 2014 illuminations and hopefully after receiving such attention the tram can then be re-housed undercover before too long to preserve its fresh paintwork.
The aim is to have the tram looking more presentable for the August Bank Holiday, when the planned use of sister car 631 on Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram service on Monday 25th should enable two green and cream Brush cars to be seen in close proximity for the first time since the summer of 2010.
The landward side of 290 showing the green gloss paint on the top half of the tram as well as its platform doors, with the lower body panels in undercoat. This was the side that was previously painted in a very thin layer of all-over gold which did not stand up to the weather very well at all, so this is already a vast improvement!
The other side of 290 is seen at a similar stage in the repainting process. Note the light bulbs suspended from the trolley tower which have been moved to assist with painting the roof, and the remains of the graffiti paint on the windows.
A more recent view of 290 on 15th August with the side panels painted cream and the festoon lights back in situ. (All photos by Colin Macleod)
How come they are doing all this work at Pleasure Beach loop?
I’m not sure I understand what you mean. I doubt the FHLT could afford to move the tram elsewhere just to repaint it!
Looks good already.side by side, monday will be well worth a photo.