With their Art Deco streamlined styling these Blackpool Corporation trams must be considered one of the most iconic first generation electric trams ever built, and also the longest lived with some still serving in the Blackpool fleet. The trams were built in the mid-1930s as part of the modernisation of the Blackpool tram fleet which also included the
Boat Car and
Brush Railcoach. The first thirteen trams built had open topped and were originally known as the "Luxury Dreadnought" class. The second batch of fourteen trams were fully enclosed with central doors and stairs and gained the nickname "Balloons". During the Second World War the open topped trams were fitted with top covers. The trams had a large passenger carrying capacity, later modifications increased the capacity to ninety four.
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249 preserved at Crich in original livery
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| Information |
| Number built: |
27 |
| Built: |
1934-35 |
| Builder: |
English Electric |
| Motor: |
2 EE305 electric motors (600v DC OHLE) |
| Power: |
104 hp (86 kW) |
The Balloon trams were the backbone of the Blackpool fleet for decades, being regularly updated and refurbished. One even appeared in Coronation Street, running over a character!
In 2012 the Blackpool tramway was converted to a light rail system with new modern rolling stock but nine Balloons were modernised and retained in service to supplement the fleet. Others have been retained as part of the heritage fleet or preserved elsewhere. Indeed only a small number of the original fleet of twenty seven trams have been scrapped.
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Another view of 249
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The streamlined Art Deco styling is apparent here
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