Blackpool Tram Delivery
In 2015 the late Tom Riding recalled below the movement of a batch of Blackburn built single decker tramcars to Blackpool in 1984.
“I borrowed a long low height trailer in April 1984 from my good friend Don Parkin the then managing director of Smiths of Eccles.
It was just the job for moving a batch of what was at the time a number of brand new ‘Centenary Class’ tramcars from Blackburn based East Lancashire Coachbuilders on Whalley New Road to Blackpool Corporation’s Rigby Road depot”.
The 20th of April 1984 and Seddon Atkinson 401 4×2 tractor unit Reg No A350 PCW Fleet No 82 ‘Jubilant’ was assigned to move prototype Blackpool Centenary car No 641.
Powered by a Gardner 8LXCT 300 engine, and driven on a regular basis by Fred Squires, it is seen here shortly after leaving East Lancashire Coachbuilders on the A666 Whalley New Road about to turn left on to the A6119 Ramsgreave Drive in Brownhill Blackburn
This particular picture of the tram delivery from Blackburn to Blackpool appeared in the August 1984 edition of the ‘Modern Tramway’ magazine.
Seddon Atkinson 401 4×2 tractor unit Reg No A350 PCW Fleet No 82 ‘Jubilant’ is pictured here heading west on the A6119 Ramsgreave Drive, the Blackburn ring road, on it’s way to the Whitbread brewery at Samlesbury to be weighted prior to it’s onward journey to Blackpool.
Seddon Atkinson 401 4×2 tractor unit Reg No A350 PCW Fleet No 82 ‘Jubilant’, driven by Fred Squires, is pictured here after coming off the weighbridge at the Whitbread brewery on Cuerdale Lane Samlesbury.
51 feet 6 inches long and weighing in at ten and a half tons, minus it’s bogies and equipment, the tram was the first of this kind to be delivered to Blackpool Corporation.
A close up shot showing the prototype Centenary car No 641 on the low height trailer that Tom Riding borrowed from Smiths of Eccles.
The trailer was perfect in moving the tram which weighed ten and a half tons was 51 feet 6 inches long and 8 feet 2 inches wide.
This picture was taken after it came off the weighbridge at the Whitbread brewery on Cuerdale Lane Samlesbury prior to its onward journey to Blackpool.
Seen here passing beneath Junction 31 of the M6 near Preston on the 29th of April 1984, Seddon Atkinson 401 4×2 tractor unit Reg No A350 PCW continues on it’s journey to Blackpool with the brand new Centenary class tramcar No 641 on board.
After negotiating the roundabout on the A59 beneath Junction 31 of the M6 Centenary class tramcar No 641 travels North on the M6 as it heads for the M55 and on to Blackpool.
Heading North on the M6 while crossing the River Ribble as it continues on up to the M55 junction and then on to Blackpool.
Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No A350 PCW continues on it’s journey West heading towards Blackpool with the brand new 51 foot 6 inch long Centenary class tramcar No 641 on board.
Seddon Atkinson 401 4×2 tractor unit Reg No A350 PCW nears the end of it’s journey outside Blackpool with the brand new prototype Centenary class tramcar No 641 on board.
Note the guy in the Ford Cortina standing up out of the sun roof getting some action photographs of the delivery.
After being safely delivered by W & J Riding Blackpool Centenary tram car No 641 is pictured here on the 27th of October 1984 shortly after entering service with Blackpool Corporation.
One of eight Centenary class cars operated by Blackpool Corporation all were withdrawn from service at the end of 2011 prior to the upgrade of the tramway.
