The last major event of the year celebrating the 80th anniversary of Blackpool’s Brush cars took place on the final ‘Gold’ operating day of 2017 for the heritage trams, with all operational members of the class participating in a short procession and then running in service throughout the day. This was part of the expanded running weekend on Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th November – the last such event of this year in Blackpool.
Saturday 25th saw six trams running comprising the two visiting Brush cars 623 & 630, Centenary car 648 and Balloons 711, 718 & 723. This day saw 630 make its first visit to Fleetwood since 2009, having not managed any runs north of Cleveleys since its arrival on loan in September.
Sunday 26th began with the aforementioned Brush car parade. After lining up at Pleasure Beach, the five trams – 621, 623, 630, 631 and Trawler 737 (ex-Brush car 633) all proceeded to North Pier, pausing near Central Pier en route for a photo stop. On arrival at North Pier the trams were then dispatched to various different destinations, with 630 once again heading for Fleetwood. All five remained in traffic until after dusk, along with Balloons 701 & 717. Notably this day marked 621‘s first passenger journey to Fleetwood Ferry since 2004, whilst the final Fleetwood tour of the year was performed by car 623.
Sadly not that many people turned out to witness this spectacle – no doubt the late notice of the parade combined with the recent atrocious weather in Blackpool did little to help – but nonetheless, it is pleasing that efforts were made to do something a bit different and end this celebratory year in style. There will be a few further opportunities to ride on Brush cars 623 & 630 before they return to Manchester and Crich respectively in the spring, whilst 621 & 631 will presumably be active throughout 2018 and hopefully for many more years to come.