Work on the repainting of preserved Blackpool Brush car 290 for continued static display near the Pleasure Beach on Blackpool promenade appears to be complete, with the tram now sporting a very smart looking green and cream livery. In addition, its appearance has been further enhanced with various images of trams showing the history of the line to Fleetwood applied over the windows to hide the unsightly graffiti ‘art’ painted over its glazing last year.
As expected, 290 has received an amended version of the familiar half green, half cream livery worn by the Brush cars at various times in their lives and most recently sported by this particular tram in 1994. Further touches such as side sweeps and chrome fleet numbers placed above its platform doors add to the finished appearance.
On the landward side, the windows have been adorned with posters showing various types of tram which have operated between Blackpool and Fleetwood between 1898 and 2011, including an OMO, a Coronation and one of the very early Tramroad crossbench cars. The wording ‘The way we rode from Blackpool to Fleetwood’ also features prominently along with the various archive images. The other side sports a large board promoting 290‘s owners, the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust, with the windows stripped of paint to present a greatly improved overall appearance. The fencing around the tram has also been refreshed with the opportunity taken to advertise the Trust’s 2015 calendar which features images of various preserved Blackpool trams.
Although it remains to be seen whether the current custodians of Brush car 290 can secure its long-term future, it is pleasing to see the tram looking vastly better for this recent attention and the use of the tram which brought an end to the traditional tramway through the streets of Fleetwood to educate tourists about the history of the tramway to the town is highly appropriate and a very credible move by the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust.
The new window displays on Blackpool 290 can be clearly seen in this view of the tram, taken on Friday 22nd August shortly after they had been applied. (Photo by Paul Derrick)
The opposite side of 290 with the thin layer of gold spray paint now thankfully just a memory and a much more attractive and carefully applied green and cream livery in its place.
A side view of 290 showing off the side of the tram which faces the sea, with the board promoting its owners just visible in the saloon. (Photos x 2 by Colin Macleod)
I have to just mention to all reading BTO,that everyone must agree that this weekends turnout has been a success.With much attention given to the various heritage trams,it was nice to see Brush 290 all painted up in the traditional Blackpool colours of green and cream.Full credit to everyone who worked in the rain and wind to achieve this and credit also to Andrew Waddington for the news updates and photos to date to readers afar who could not make it to Blackpool.Tomorrow night here in Blackpool,we have the annual ,”Ride the lights”,where all the local residents have the chance to cycle through the illuminations prior to the official switch on,on Friday evening.I am sure the Blackpool residents are going to sit up and take notice of 290 whether they are on their walkabouts or travelling to work,whatever.
It is good to see 290 restored to this livery. I could not understand how anyone could have got close enough to spray it without being seen on a busy thorough fare and is it not covered by CCTV?
Hi David,
It wasn’t vandalism in the true sense of the word, it was part of an organised exhibition of so called ‘public art’ and as such was sanctioned by god knows who! As an enthusiast, I was absolutely horrified when I first saw it and am so glad that it has been obliterated.