Another addition to the tramcar fleet!

Another addition to the tramcar fleet!

/ February 27, 2012 / Leave a comment / News

The puns can run thick and fast – ‘Don’t miss the boat at Beamish’ seems to be a favorite for the moment! But what has brought forth such creativity (!)? We (Beamish) are delighted to have reached agreement with the Lancastrian Transport Trust to bring another LTT owned tram, Boat 605, from Blackpool for operation at the Museum. Talks have been underway for some time, and as an additional benefit to the deal, the British Trams Online website has agreed to sponsor the repaint of 605 from its current WW2 style livery into the classic 1930s cream and green guise complete with renumbering as 233. More technical detail regarding the tram can be found on the LTT’s website: http://www.ltt.org.uk/our-trams/open-boat-605

Full news coverage of the loan and of 605’s (or rather 233’s) stay at Beamish can be found on the BTO site: http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk

Below: This photo, courtesy of Jason Cross, reveals 605 (233) in glorious sunshine in Blackpool, highlighting its distinctive (though not original) wartime style reversed colours.

Below: These two images, taken by Andrew Waddington, further illustrate 605 during its later working days in Blackpool.

233 is due to arrive at Beamish on Wednesday, to be followed by a period of inspection, commissioning, cleaning and testing before a planned launch into service at Easter. It will appear at the GNSF event (all being well) before being temporarily withdrawn to allow for the repaint and renumbering to its original guise to take place.

This is an exciting move and I have to confess a real personal liking for the Boat fleet. This car is in excellent condition from our preliminary inspections and will no doubt be an enormously popular addition to the tram fleet – especially if 2012 brings the odd sunny day in which to really make the most of it!