Saturday 26th September was a day of trams returning to service in green and cream liveries obviously as not only did we see Blackpool Flexity2 012 make its official debut with its new look but some 217 miles (as the crow flies) to the east there was another return after a repaint. The tram returning to service was Blackpool Standard 159 which returned to service during the East Anglia Transport Museum’s Festival of Transport.
159 had last run at the end of last season and was taken out of use over the winter to allow for it to receive an overhaul which has included a full repaint into its familiar green and cream livery. With the tram set to celebrate its 100th birthday next year the team at the EATM wanted it to be looking its best and judging by its return it is certainly doing that!
The Festival of Transport is a new event for the East Anglia Transport Museum this year, taking the long-standing end of September slot once occupied by Trolleybus Weekend and then in 2025 a London weekend. With heritage bus trips around the local area, the East Suffolk Light Railway in operation plus intensive services on both the trolleybus and tram routes this was a busy weekend. It also featured the after-dark running that the end of September event has become famous for on the Saturday.
Over the weekend five different trams ran in service. Of course, there was Blackpool 159’s return to action along with fellow Blackpool car Marton VAMBAC 11, Sheffield 513, London Transport 1858 and Amsterdam 474.
- The East Anglia Transport Museum is open every Thursday and Sunday in October. It is also open between Wednesday 28th and Saturday 31st October for Frights at the Museum and then on 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd December for Ride the Lights. More details at https://www.eatm.co.uk/
Looking all bright and shiny, Blackpool 159 leaves Chapel Road on the first day of the event.
London Transport 1858 comes past the side of the tram depot.
This is Amsterdam 474 which leaves 1858 and Chapel Road behind.
Another look at 159 as it heads away from Chapel Road and leaves Amsterdam 474 behind.
Sunday 27th September and Blackpool 11 and 159 sit at Chapel Road with Sheffield 513 and Amsterdam 474 seen beyond. (All Photographs by Gary Conn)