Saturday 12th September 2026 was a momentous day at the National Tramway Museum as Blackpool Centenary 645 had its official launch following its conversion into a new Access Tram. While it may not be a full blown restoration to original condition the work on 645 is probably one of the most important projects to have come out of the workshops at Crich in recent years and will now mean that everyone can get on board a tram when they visit the museum.
Blackpool Centenary 645 was one of eight trams built by East Lancashire Coachbuilders in the mid-1980s as replacements for the aging fleet of OMO cars (themselves rebuilt from 1930s English Electric Railcoaches). 645 was delivered to Blackpool on 8th September 1987 and would carry its first passengers on 27th October of the same year.
As with the rest of the Centenary Cars it underwent a rebuild in 2005 and would remain in that condition until the end of the traditional tramway would come. For 645 that end was a little on abrupt side as it broke down and had to be towed back to depot by the Unimog on 6th November 2011.
Originally sold to the Windy Harbour Caravan Park, 645 moved there in January 2012 and would stay until July 2017 when it returned to Rigby Road Depot. By this time it was carrying a graffiti style livery which had been applied on top of the base colours it had carried at the end of its operating career.
Six years later and it was on the move again – and this time it was a very significant move as it would lead to its return to service. It arrived at Crich in July 2023 with the aim of using it as a new Access Tram for the museum with Berlin 223 006-4 needing major work for it to continue in that role.
Work on converting 645 started in earnest in 2025 and since then the Workshop team have not only overhauled the tram to bring it back into service but made it into the new Access Tram. This has included the removal of many of the seats – it now has capacity for three wheelchair users plus 25 seated passengers – and the fitting of a wheelchair lift. It is also considered to be a world first as it will enable wheelchair users to drive the tram as part of the Ultimate Driving Experience programme.
On Saturday 12th September 2026 the tram was officially launched in a ceremony at Stephenson Place with Mayor of the East Midlands, Clare Ward, joining members from the Tramway Museum Society, including members of the Workshop team who had brought the project to life.
Following its launch, 645 ran several trips for invited guests along the line before later on in the day it operated for other visitors at the museum. It was again in service during the morning of the following day but unfortunately it was unable to be used after it had returned to depot for photos over lunch.
Full credit must be given to all those involved in this all important project to get 645 back to the rails.
645 arrives for its launch ceremony. A line-up of trams due to run on that day wait on the opposite track including LCC 1 and Glasgow 22.
Dean Sharp – Project Lead – and Peter Whiteley from the Workshop team during the launch ceremony.
645 is seen ahead of its first run along the line. Its joined by London County Council 106.
645 disappears up the line and passes fellow Blackpool tram, Boat 236, as it does.
The wheelchair lift on 645 is readied for action.
645 comes back to Town End and has London Transport 1622 behind.
645 comes under the Bowes Lyon Bridge with another of its trips.
And a final look at 645 on launch day as it passes the side of the Workshop. (All Photographs by Steven Hughes, 12th September 2026)
- Video of the launch comes from Steven Hughes Transport Videos on YouTube at https://youtu.be/4ZPSA9eGOiw?si=FRlDA3ys736mJg_m and also from Bob Hodges Transport DVDs at https://youtu.be/6ErtFcOgxKk?si=WpsqiwyEUn3RuuvI
There will be plenty more coverage from Tram Weekend on British Trams Online coming soon!
I’m not absolutely certain of this, but I have an idea that on the last day of the traditional tramway 645 may hsve been hauled back.to the depot by sister Centenary car 644 (now scrapped), unless I’m.getting confused with another occasion. I was one of the passengers who boarded 645 at the tram stop on Lytham.Rpad when it was the first car out that day, before failing at Bispham. I seem.to.remember thinking it was the first and only time I saw one Centenary car being hauled by another. Maybe someone can confirm.this – or otherwise!
644 was NOT scrapped – it is still at Farmer Parrs near Broadwater, admittedly not in the best condition having stood outside for 14 years…
IIRC when it failed, 645 was shunted on to Bispham Centre line by another tram, but the final tow-in back to Depot from there was by the Unimog.
Regarding 644, it was reported 3 weeks ago by a renowned Blackpool enthusiast that he had talked directed to James Parr who confirmed that 644 has been scrapped in 2025 due to repeated vandalism. This appears to be confirmed by Google images which show the tram to be no longer there from early 2025.
Out of idle curiosity, I have done some digging on the current location of 644…
On Google Earth imagery from June 2022, the tram is clearly visible on the north of the Farmer Parr’s site in its yellow livery, just by the road. It is still there in June 2024, although this image is blurry and the tram is more difficult to make out.
By June 2025 however, the spot where the tram stood is empty. You can just about see some oil/rust stains on the concrete, however the tram is very definitely absent.
Either they’ve moved it undercover under some sort of awning, given it away, or it has been scrapped. Farmer Parr’s itself seems to be more of an upmarket garden centre/café type place than a children’s farm attraction. I’m quite surprised the disappearance of the tram hasn’t been picked up on by this site!
644 was scrapped on site ages ago.
Unfortunately 644 is no more. It was at Farmer Parts but was scrapped onsite around 2 years ago now.
Yes 645 was the one that failed. Given its move to Windy Harbour I suspect no body expected it to ride the rails again. The workshop team have done wonders to this tram.
644 apparently survives (albeit looking increasingly derelict) at Farmer Parr’s Animal World in Fleetwood, who advertised on the tram for many years.
Replying to myself here as this information seems to be no longer correct. It seems 644 is no longer at Farmer Parr’s.
644 was scrapped long ago.
644 is gone. It was cut up in site about 2 years ago now.
Also congratulations to all at Crich responsible for this fantastic achievement and sorry I wasn’t able to.be there to see it due to.other commitments last weekend.
The reason it was unable to be used after it had returned to depot for photos over lunch was a broken pantograph.
Yes, although the workshop team soon has it fixed and it was mobile again by the end of play.
Some of 645’s history is missing from the article. What is not widely known is that 645 nearly did not make it. In 2017 Windy Harbour no longer wanted the tram and it was advertised without success, the remaining option was scrapping. So I jumped in an whilst having a coffee on holiday in Nice, France I made a deal with Windy Harbour and purchased the tram to save it.
The next step was a donation to the Fylde Transport Trust and the tram was then in their ownership when it moved from Windy Harbour back to Rigby Road. The FTT did have plans for the tram, but an eviction notice issued by the then Heritage Manager at BTS (along with 625 & 726) meant hat the FTT had to find a solution to avoid the tram from being scrapped (again).
A further donation at no charge was made so that the tram passed into the ownership of BTS once more, with a stipulation that if no restoration project was possible, the it would be used for spares for 642 & 648. Then in turn BTS made a deal with Crich for the tram to move there.
A tram with almost as many lives as a cat!
It was good to see FTT members at Crich on the Sunday, and that Crich altered their schedule to put 645 in (previously unplanned) service for that day. The organisations do co-operate!
Putting aside the revelations about the fate of 644, I would like to congratulate TMS and the Crich team for this incredible restoration. They have returned to the rails a tram that I for one thought would never run again, and in a way that will ensure that all visitors can fully enjoy their visits to the museum regardless of their physical limitations. I was very sceptical that they would meet the September deadline, having heard countless times before that X tram will be back on the rails by X date. And yet they’ve only gone and done it! Well done to everyone involved in saving 645 and restoring it back to its former glory.
Safe to say I don’t think it’s looked this aesthetically pleasing since well before its 2005 refurbishment!
………..they’ve only gone and done it! Not only wiithin time, but also within budget!