{"id":47161,"date":"2022-11-19T22:00:39","date_gmt":"2022-11-19T22:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=47161"},"modified":"2022-11-19T12:47:46","modified_gmt":"2022-11-19T12:47:46","slug":"fundraiser-announced-to-bring-balloon-710-back-to-rigby-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=47161","title":{"rendered":"Fundraiser announced to bring Balloon 710 back to Rigby Road"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we reported earlier this month, Blackpool Balloon 710<\/strong> is set to return to Rigby Road Depot where it will initially become a static exhibit at the Tramtown attraction. And now in order to fund its transport from its current home in Wyre Dock, Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have launched an online fundraiser.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We\u2019re sure that everyone reading this article is well aware of the history of this tramcar (we know we\u2019ve written about it enough this year alone!) but as a brief reminder its big claim to fame is that it is the \u201cAlan Bradley Tram\u201d. In an episode of ITV\u2019s long-running soap opera Coronation Street which was broadcast in December 1989, Alan Bradley was \u201chit\u201d by the tram when chasing Rita across the trams and the \u201csoap villain\u201d died as a result. Since that time the tram has often been described as the \u201cAlan Bradley Tram\u201d and for non-enthusiasts has almost become the iconic Blackpool tram.<\/p>\n

When the traditional Blackpool Tramway was set to close and many of the traditional trams were made available to interested parties, 710<\/strong> was acquired on behalf of the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust with the aim it would be put on display in a tramway museum they were planning to open in Fleetwood. For various reasons this didn\u2019t happen and so since leaving Rigby Road in 2011, 710<\/strong> has been in outside storage and has suffered as a result.<\/p>\n

Since it was announced that the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust were disbanding their collection there have been a number of false dawns for the tram \u2013 two even went as far as being publicly announced with Rossall School and the Trolleybus Museum at Sanftoft set to the new home of the tram. But now it appears it is to have a happy future with a move coming in the near future from Wyre Dock to Rigby Road.<\/p>\n

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours are trying to raise \u00a32,500 for the transportation of 710<\/strong>. It will initially have a cosmetic restoration to the 1980s fleet livery, but there is a possibility that in the very long-term future it could be returned to service \u2013 that would be for future generations to decide on though.<\/p>\n