Another return in “Meet the Trams” as we’re back at the East Anglia Transport Museum to feature the latest tram which has been used in passenger service during 2026 – Blackpool 159.
Blackpool 159 will be celebrating its centenary in 2027 having entered service on its home tramway in June 1927. The Standard Cars would be built in various batches during the 1920s with 159 being one of the trams to be built from scratch in Blackpool Corporation Transport’s own workshops. Originally open balcony, open platform it would become fully enclosed after just three years of use in 1930.
159 would be one of the last Standard Cars to run in normal service in Blackpool and for its last few years it had become something of a pseudo illuminated tram with the addition of external lights (in 1959). The tram would run for the last time in Blackpool on 23rd October 1966 when it was one of just three of the class still running.
All of those three would enter preservation (147 to the USA, although since repatriated and 158 to Crich, although just to provide spares with it being scrapped 1978) with 159 departing Blackpool for the very last time on 18th April 1967.
The location for 159 would be he far east as it would find a home at the East Anglia Transport Museum in Carlton Colville near Lowestoft. Once there it would hold the distinction of being the first tram to run under its own power in 1970.
The tram has operated in most years since and with its centenary approaching it was decided to give it a full overhaul and repaint. This saw the tram taken out of service at the end of 2025 and after the completion of the work it was back in action on the first day of the Festival of Transport on 26th September 2026.
The newly returned to service Blackpool 159 is seen departing from a busy Chapel Road. (Photograph by Bryan Grint, 26th September 2026)