‘Well-earned’ rest beckons for No. 715
Farewell tour for Blackpool heritage fleet stalwart before withdrawal for major overhaul.
AFTER more than seven years as an active member of Blackpool’s heritage tram fleet, ‘Balloon’
No. 715 is due to be withdrawn at the end of the main 2022 season ahead of a major overhaul.
The tram has been in regular use on heritage tours since May 2015.
Its owner Fylde Transport Trust (FTT) has made a joint decision with Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours to remove it from service to allow refurbishment work to be undertaken.
No. 715’s last public heritage duties were expected to take place on September 24/25, but it is anticipated that it will make a farewell appearance towards the end of the year. Details of the farewell event will be published on the FTT Facebook page once they have been finalised.
Assessment
FTT says a full assessment of the work which needs to be undertaken on the tram will be made next year. It adds, however, that completion of the overhaul will be a long-term task as there are plenty of other trams and buses in the trust’s collection also awaiting attention which will take priority.
Constructed between 1934 and 1935 by English Electric, the Balloon trams played a pivotal role in the Blackpool fleet until 2012 when traditional tram types were superseded by the Bombardier Flexity 2 vehicles.
While a number of cars were modified in their later years,
No. 715 retains its original body shape.
FTT says it hopes Nos. 143, 279, 304, 621 and 634 will feature during the 2023/4 seasons, although final decisions are still to be made.