Brush Car 290 to Join Birthday Party

The FHLT have signalled willingness to contribute the Trust's Brush Car to arrangements now under review by the BHT team to celebrate the Eightieth Anniversary of this still extant class of Blackpool tramcar during 2017.

Brush Car 290 has been stored inside Rigby Road Depot since its removal from display at the Pleasure Beach tram terminus in 2014. The tram is earmarked for eventual exhibition (and possible operation) at a proposed Wyre Dock scheme in Fleetwood.

Brush Car 290 as it is remembered from its turn of duty on display at the Pleasure Beach terminus. Photo : Steve Meyer-Rassow

The car will join several other examples of this notable class surviving at Rigby Road in a joined up event this year. Details will be announced by BHT in due course. At a recent visit this past week to inspect both 290 and Jubilee Car 761, Trustees John Woodman and Colin MacLeod also shared possible options involving the future of Jubilee 761 which will achieve its Fortieth Birthday in 2019.

This important example of Rigby Road Works' design and development role during a period when UK interest in trams was non-existent has been saved solely by the Trust's efforts. Sister car 762 was acquired by the Tramway Museum Society and is now part of their operating fleet at Crich. Both units were exemplary prototypes which managed to continue in service right up to the very last week of traditional tram operation in 2011. Below : Blackpool icons all. Jubilee 761 during its final day in service in November 2011 sharing the camera with the Tower and former Woolworth's Building on the Promenade. Photo : John Woodman

Above : Fascinating construction detail of ongoing work inside Rigby Road's Workshop in 1978 as prototype one man operated double deck car - to be numbered 761 is clearly underway. Photo : John Woodman Archive