Balloon 715 to paint shop

Our preserved Balloon car 715 was admitted to the paint shop today where it will receive late 1970s style green & cream livery, matching our preserved Brush Railcoach 632. It is planned to hire 715 & 632 for a 1970s themed tour on Saturday 25th June - the day prior to the Trust's "Totally Transport" event.

LTT trams 632 & 715 in action

Preserved LTT trams 632 and 715 are currently enjoying a return to use on the tramway, in what could be their last year of regular operation. Both trams are fitted with transponder equipment that allows them to communicate with the traffic light control systems being installed along the upgraded tramway - and in 2010 confined other trams to the Pleasure Beach to Bispham section only.

715 was used regularly over the Easter period on the restricted Pleasure Beach to North Pier service and 632 returned to traffic on 29th April - the royal wedding day.

Standard 143 update

It has been a long 8-months with seemingly no visible progress on Standard 143. However, behind the scenes has not been inactive. Work on preparing the double deck Balloon cars with widened doorways for the post-2012 tramway has occupied the workshops over the winter months and there is a growing uncertainty over the role of the 'vintage' trams on the upgraded tramway. Both of these issues have resulted in Blackpool Transport parking up 143 over the winter months.

However, a kit of body parts required to complete the bodywork restoration of 143 now exists and awaits assembly. For example, the open balcony stanchions and panelling, the balcony staircase panelling, staircase grab rails and balcony seat brackets and the end destination boxes.
All of these are ready to be delivered to Rigby Road depot for fitting to 143.

We are currently discussing with Blackpool Transport an arrangement whereby the LTT would contract BTS to do the work over the summer months.

LTT Events 2011

LTT has arranged two depot open days for 2011. The first will take place on Sunday 10 April and the second on Sunday 11 September. The Depot, at Brinwell Road, Blackpool (FY4 4QU) will be open from 1200 to 1600 with £1 admission cost. A free vintage bus service will run from Blackpool Town Hall with the first bus at 1200 and then every 20 minutes to 1600.

Also our flagship event, Totally Transport will take place on Sunday 26th June - details are here http://www.totallytransport.info/

For more information please contact paul@ltt.org.uk

Work starts on Atlantean 362

After some delay due to the focus on tramcar restoration projects during 2010, work has started on the lower repanel of Blackpool Atlantean 362. Withdrawn from service back in October 2006, 362 is to be repainted in the early 1990s green and cream livery style, with matt black window surrounds. The framework on 362 is in reasonably good condition, but there is some corroded sections to repair and horizontal timberwork for the decorative mouldings.

Vote OMO8 for Tram of the Year 2011

OMO tram 8 has been nominated for Tram of the Year 2010 by readers of the British Trams Online website, competing with Blackpool 'Marton Box' 31 and Liverpool 762.

After 18 years out of action since withdrawal in May 1992 and then against all the odds operating again in 2010, OMO 8 certainly deserves your support. Winning would allow the LTT other publicity opportunities in Blackpool to showcase our work and your vote is critical.

Go to http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/ to cast your vote.

Balloon 704 joins LTT collection

Effective from 1st Jan 2011, Balloon car 704 has joined the LTT collection. Earlier in 2010, car 708 had been acquired but talks soon began with the Heaton Park Tramway who had acquired 704 either for spares or a future restoration project. An LTT member offered to donate funds to facilitate an exchange of trams between the two organisations, with 704 considered for restoration by the LTT.

704 has been out of passenger service since 2003 and has been partially stripped internally, with many opening window units missing. It was withdrawn because of serious water ingress from the roof and, once stripped down, serious corrosion of the steel framed roof cove framing was discovered. Despite this, the structure of the tram is sound and many of the cannibalised parts are replaceable.