Farewell to Tram 290

Brush car 290, formerly 637, the last tram to operate the original North station branch and the traditional tramway to Fleetwood, has left Blackpool today via Reid's Transport heading for a life of restoration in Suffolk at the East Anglian Transport Museum. Footage includes the Tour trams around the depot and loading of 290 for departure.

[@hobouk3871]

I love these old trams theyre so nostalgic, we need to preserve these as much as possible. They are also a enviromentaly friendly form of transport aswell so thats an even bigger reason to save them.

[@dukenukem8381]

Nah museums are boring, let them ride until they cant no more

[@jontaylor1652]

Ahhh yes, the iconic Blackpool trams. A thing of beauty. Great video, thanks.

[@bowman4275]

Very pleased she is to be restored and have a great retirement in a museum. She is a piece of our history that deserves preservation.

[@markescartin1915]

NEGATIVE! This old bird deserves a new life on the"F"line in San Francisco.

[@kristinajendesen7111]

Evokes such memories the sound of these old trams, we used to visit Blackpool every year in the 60s.

[@davidellis279]

I probably travelled on this tram when I a child in the early sixties,we used to holiday in Fleetwood every year and go to Blackpool to see the lights,those were the days,I miss them so much and my mum and dad who scrimped and saved to give us a holiday every year,there wasn’t any credit cards in those days not that my dad would have used them if there had been,he wouldn’t even buy anything on HP.

[@hancecrawford]

The old trams had a bit of class I think the new trams will not last as long as old ones

[@Barflax]

Yup to much electronics in those new trams - from a former tramdriver in Stockholm on Linie 12 with trams from the mid 40th which is now history. I drove them in the 80 th.

[@22pcirish]

Utter rubbish. Even with modern electronics, these can be replaced with newer tech 20/30 years down the line and be just as reliable.

[@mbak7801]

@@22pcirish New tech usually means short life. My background is electronics and that breaks at the earliest opportunity and parts become obsolescent and made of unobtanium. For best longevity you want mechanical parts, loose tolerances and traditional materials that any machine shop or hobbyist can knockout with a lathe or mill. Saying the electronics can be replaced after 20 years is an admission of unreliability.

[@ottokar6318]

Absolument, its like that in. All countries.

[@andrewbatty8954]

An excellent video. Lots of variety and I don't think I've seen another which shows the loading of a large vehicle onto a transporter lorry in such detail.

[@arthureverett8220]

I’m glad they’re restoring it and not scrapping it. It would also make a great diner car

[@ziamafradkin9786]

Всё что двухэтажное это конечно Англия.Я из Украины спосибо вам дорогие за помощь и поддержку в войне против российского коммунизма!

[@Phuwadetza1480]

I think the 2 floors tram's face looks like Volkswagen Van's face. It’s classic ,I love it.

[@capitalrail]

Nice to see Reid Haulage and one of the Milner lads at work in their usual quiet, competent way. Also nice to relax and watch it knowing the rolling stock involved wasn't my responsibility - those were nervous times no matter how high the confidence in the haulier!

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@georgeosborne6878]

It is a thing of beauty, and needs to be used and seen and ridden on by the many not just stuck in a museum just to look at they need to be keeped running

[@WilhelmSmit-ql5vc]

Another historical.moment of nostalgia.. and such TLC!

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

Definitely, and the tram appears to be getting on well in East Anglia too

[@billyweir714]

Fascinating video

[@justinobrien3593]

them new trams will last about 20/25 years if that the older trams will have outlived them 4 times over as the new rubbish trams are very light and made mainly of aluminium not steel! Good video of these old beauties!!!

[@davidellis279]

If they are made of aluminium the sea spray and sea air will destroy them in no time,aluminium and salt are deadly enemies,ask any tipper operators who have aluminium tipping bodies what happens when they carry road salt,steel bodies are not much better..

[@gord307]

I live in the Black Country. The Italian built trams used on the local system are constantly requiring repair, and there have already been calls to scrap them. Rather foolishly, the powers that be purchased only one make of tram, which means when they need to recall them, the whole metro system has to close! I remember these old trams very fondly from my visits to Blackpool in the 80s. I can't say I find journeys on the modern trams very comfortable at all.

[@lancecluster]

Nice tram, very impressive trailer.

[@flyerbob124]

Nice trailer. Made that job go easy.

[@ianweniger6620]

I love how they sound like the world's biggest pinball machines

[@MickCampin-jp9kb]

I think we have a Blackpool Balloon at the North East of England transport museum in Sunderland

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

I think you have a couple of Blackpool trams. I must visit one day.

[@timothylyons5686]

It doesn't want to go to no museum. It's a working tram and it wants to be working rather than being looked at in a museum.

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

Its going to the museum to be restored for the museum's operational line.

[@CullenRick]

@60s Man 60s Guitars Better than being made into a can for dog food.

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

@60s Man 60s Guitars most tramway systems are the same. Even remaining in Blackpool it wouldn't find much use

[@CullenRick]

Hasn't been a working tram in years, but now has a chance. As a working tram in a home that wants it, it can also return to visit - which it certainly would not do if left to rot or if scrapped.

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

@@CullenRick exactly, it has a future now which isn't baked bean can's. I'm certainly pleased it's going to Lowestoft

[@SFNightOwl]

❤😢 Thanks for the great vid! So glad to see the tram hitting the rolling stock lotto jackpot...off to a life of greased joints and fresh paint for the rest of its days, being constantly clucked over by flocks of rail fans. I'm surprised at the resemblances with US PCC cars, similar times and technologies I suspect. Being from San Francisco I have had many a wonderful excursion on Blackpool stock (toot toot!). One day I look forward to riding in original situ.

[@hobouk3871]

Ive been on a few of the green and cream trams myself as a kid many years ago back in the 80s. I remember them as being noisey and bumpy but such a joy to ride on along the seafront :)

[@ottokar6318]

The tram you see at beginningwhich looks modern is the same we had here in Nancy (east france)it was awful, much disable, fails, etc but im old and i knew the olders which was on duty till 1956. Very simple but reliable all time.

[@johnjephcote7636]

So little clearance up a slope. I was wondering how the cars coped with those wartime, tempoary track bridges used to get a tram over firefighting hoses laid on the road.

[@scopex2749]

Very sad to see another vintage tram gone forever from the Prom. when i wasin the RAF I married a WRAF girl ad we had our honeymoon in a BnB in Blacky!! We felt like that pair from 'Watching'. Riding every different tram we could get on!

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

Fortythis one is not gone forever. It's heading to a Museum in Suffolk for restoration but may return one day

[@ravindranr2366]

Universal locomotive!

[@Nate0493]

I always wondered what happened to the static one on the prom that was the BFC tram

[@MarkHenstridge]

Hi, great video. Watching from home here in Adelaide, South Australia. Good to see the tram is heading for restoration and a new home, I hope to visit the UK in the next five or so years and will most certainly head to Blackpool. Thanks for uploading this video...New Subby

[@errolnicholson5632]

Goodbye Tram 290👋🏿👋🏾👋🏽👋🏼👋🏻👋xx

[@davidshenton6313]

such a pity, a lot of trams have gone, we had them in our town, Rawtenstall. I think that sometimes progress is a backwards step.

[@athewake]

Every town in the uk should rethink the comeback of the tram. Love the crowbar to switch the points.

[@Hondanissanman]

It was out with the old and in with the new 👍.

[@a1wireless1964]

i'm glad she was saved! I thought for sure it was going to be turned into scrap.

[@jean-marcaudirac2329]

Qui a eu l' idée de mettre des portes entièrement vitrées de bus à la pauvre 700 ??

[@jacquespollet7999]

je pense qu'il n'y a qu'à Blackpool pour voir des tramways " impérial " so british

[@royfearn4345]

C'est vrai, Jacques.

[@mistersurogat]

nice video

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

Thanks

[@gord307]

I'm assuming this is the tram which spent years neglected, sorry, exhibited on the seafront? It is wonderful to see that she will be getting some tlc and will be running again 👍🏻

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

Yes that's the one. Hopefully she won't take too long to restore for the team at Lowestoft

[@dorotheaisserstedt9238]

Oh, Doppeldecker - Tram - noch nie gesehen. Staune !

[@ottokar6318]

Tramways is à magic invention, they s d never been replaced by buses.the smartest cities in Europe has all maintened their ones, top class for tourisme.

[@theriddlers4630]

More than a nice video like some people say the new trams yuk the older ones are the better ones hehe and always will the best the old tram they only put a few out in the summer less new one but more of these old one's

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

The older ones have more character, but in terms of reliability, easy of maintenance, cost and regular passenger access, the new ones are more suited to the modern mass transit movements. Certainly far easier to get prams / wheelchairs and elderly on/off than the old trams.

[@tardismole]

Insert Sid's last wave in Ice Age here.

[@keithtanner2806]

I would like to know what they were thinking of when they chose the funereal livery for the new trams. Dreadful.

[@rastaman5105]

Nice doubledecker trams , a question from me from the Netherlands ? why are the trains in Great Brittan not doubledeckers , like our EMU doubledecker trains { VIRMm and DDZ EMU,s } ??

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

The reason is out bridges are too low for double deck trains. Our early train builders didn't build things tall enough to accommodate double decks and we haven't adapted since.

[@TheIlJeep]

@@StevenHughestransportvideos also too long load/unload of passengers.

[@Kaczorek2366]

Did the tram go to the museum or to the cassation?

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

It went to a museum

[@SteamCrane]

How do they haul the double deckers? Looks like they might be too tall for the roads.

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

The double decks just fit but the route has to be planned to avoid any low bridges. If course they remove any Pantograph or Trolley pole before they move trams.

[@richardmarshall4322]

Its a shame they can't get the Marton Vambac from the East Anglian Museum. Its the only one left that worked the old Marton route. Should be on the Fylde, not in Suffolk.

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

It would be nice for it to return for a visit, but to be fair the Vambac equipment makes it non standard so would involve a lot of retraining of volunteers. Mind, it 304 ever returns that will take the same training

[@jasongoulden2938]

These old trams are works of art compared to them glass boxes on wheels they have now wouldn’t waste my time going to Blackpool now unless they have a special running day for the older trams which I presume they do?

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

Yes, they have 4-5 weekends a year with an intensive service of old trams and most weekends/school holidays there are older trams running. Whilst the older trams are more interesting, the new ones are perfect for moving commuters and locals around. Certainly easier to get on/off for elderly and disabled.

[@PaddyWV]

You'f have thought at least Crich rather than all the way to Norfolk. I suppose space is a premium these days. 😄👍

[@thiswan1]

Be careful our Mumbles Train (Giant Trams really) were all scaped bar one which was sent to Leeds and got vandalized no foresight with our local council then.

[@PaddyWV]

@@thiswan1 Sorry to read that. We often don't Value our larger historic vehicles enough.

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

Crich already have one and didn't want a second.

[@mow4ncry]

You don't happen to have a spare traction motor for The Open boat trams do you we have one in California that has a bad traction number

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

I'd suggest contacting Blackpool Transport directly..they can put you in touch with the heritage team who might be able to help

[@biggedybiggedybong8032]

So have all the old trams gone now?? Havnt been to BP for over 20yrs

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

No, there is still plenty of old ones running on heritage services. Just some of the older ones have headed to various museums around the UK, like this one which has gone to Lowestoft

[@markescartin1915]

I love this! Everywhere else there using cheap radios made in China but in England they insist on hand signals. GO FIGURE?

[@biggedybiggedybong8032]

Hand signals cant be jammed by some spotty oik sat at home on his Baofeng....😉

[@geordieurbex2200]

Where did you post this to get so many views

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

No where, it's just been watched loads. I think it was picked up by KZbin's algorithm somewhere along the line. Perhaps because of other Blackpool bloggers doing similar videoes

[@geordieurbex2200]

@@StevenHughestransportvideos ok cheers

[@anthonyjohnramsey]

why didnt they disconect the back safe guard

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

I guess it would have taken longer.

[@matthewesler8379]

Where is tram going

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

East Anglia transport museum in Lowestoft

[@lesigh1749]

It's such a shame what the Blackpool council did to the trams. To the whole town frankly.

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

It is and it isn't. Although the older trams are a tourist attraction, they are certainly not suitable to be a modern transit system (no disabled access / buggy access) and the track was at the end of its life. Upgrading to modern trams has enable Blackpool to keep some of its history going whilst enabling others to travel in the coastal route too.

[@lesigh1749]

@@StevenHughestransportvideos They could have used buses for modern transit and retained the trams purely as a heritage tourist attraction. I live on the east coast and Whitley bay saw its entire seaside resort theme deconstructed for the same reason. it's just a big housing estate now, the B&Bs and amusement arcades are almost totally gone, the fairground visits once a year instead of being always there, and even the nightclubs vanished. Blackpool seems to be sliding the same way.

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

The problem is, without the investment that light rail gave the tramway had no future and didn't meet regulations. It doesn't cover it's costs as a tourist attraction, especially the replacement of track due to the coastal erosion. Alas I think what we have is the best we could have got. And Blackpool certainly seems to be attracting new investment these days for arcades etc

[@suepugliese6951]

where is this?

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

It's Blackpool, filmed mostly on Blundel Street

[@bdblazer6400]

looks like original VW Bus

[@bigteddy66]

It nowhere near as ugly. It's not possible to be as bad as that.

[@barrytipton1179]

Hope they put Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and charger points at new home

[@CosgroveNotts]

Inappropriate use of forklift

[@pedantik]

- maybe you could tell us why ?

[@xxxggthyf]

What's inappropriate about it?

[@pedantik]

@@xxxggthyf - I can't see much if anything wrong - FLT's are used for other tasks as well as "forking". They have towing attachements so no issue there especially as in this case a solid towbar was used.

[@xxxggthyf]

@@pedantik I do wonder if, for some bizarre reason, people who do FLT courses these days are told that towing things using the towing attachment, that was obviously put there to allow it to tow and be towed, is a no-no. I wouldn't know as I'm old enough to have learned to fork before training courses were even a thing and have always treated the idea of a FLT 'licence' with contempt. There is after all no requirement to have a 'licence' just to be competent which I am. I did have to do a MEWP training course and that did have a 'Thou shalt not tow' instruction. But that was because the hydraulic motors on the wheels weren't up to the job and you'd knacker them. Not really a safety thing.

[@kengui7253]

The rails need be changed to ….😮

[@Ian-xq4rt]

The new trams may be more reliable, but Blackpool has lost it's character I feel, sometimes, people like things unchanged, Blackpool just doesn't appeal to me anymore

[@StevenHughestransportvideos]

That is fair, but the new trams are more suitable for the mass transit in the coast. And passenger numbers appear to show they are still popular. Beyond enthusiasts most people like the mix we have

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Who designed that terrible 'modern' livery? Doesn't match a seaside resort one bit!

[@peterp7063]

It might be old and historic but it is, and always was, ugly!

[@Knight1968]

its old, scrap it

[@derekferguson385]

It will probably outlive you. 😂😂😂

[@mbak7801]

@@derekferguson385 Trolling like that one day that will come true.

[@JoeSpeen2]

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