715 for green & cream repaint

After several days of operation between Easter and the May Bank holiday weekend, 715 was admitted to the paint shop on Tuesday 3rd May for a repaint back into 1970s style green & cream livery. The view shown illustrates 715 back in January 2005 when it was receiving its first all-over advertising livery for the Pleasure Beach "Mystique" show.
It is planned to use 715 and Brush car 632, both carrying late 1970s livery styles, on an enthusiasts tour on Saturday 25th June, the day prior to the LTT's "Totally Transport" event on South Promenade in Blackpool. Check the LTT's website for details...

715 returns to service for Easter

Preserved Balloon car 715 became the first 'un-refurbished' Balloon car to operate on the Blackpool tramway in 2011 on Good Friday, after winter hibernation since November 2010. It was one of only five Balloons to operate - cars 711, 715, 717, 719 and 723 on the first passenger carrying day resulting from the winter closure. However, trams are only operating between Pleasure Beach and North Pier.

Over the winter period, the fitting of transponders for traffic light activation on car 715 has been completed. Blackpool Transport has pledged to repaint 715 in 1970s style green & cream livery in time for Totally Transport in late June.

Postscript - 715 operated every day over the Easter weekend.

715 tours for shareholders

Shareholders of Balloon car 715 were invited to have a free illumination tour on the tram on Saturday 6th November, the final weekend of the operating season. The tour followed the inaugural enthusiasts' tour using OMO car 8 which was accompanied by the LTT's Coronation car 304.

715 operated North Pier - Bispham - Pleasure Beach - Bispham - Depot for shareholders and their invited guests. Sorry for the short notice given and also for the number of shareholders that couldn't make it.

Blackpool Transport has confirmed that car 715 is in the 2010/11 repaint schedule and that further use of 715 is planned for 2011, given the number of Balloon cars likely to be out of service due to doorway modifications.

Photo: Jason Cross

715 returns to service - Sat 04 Sept

715 returned to passenger service on Saturday 4th September to provide additional high capacity trams on busy illumination weekends.

Four double deck Balloon cars 700, 713, 718 and 720 are out of service for centre-door modifications and with many other trams sold for preservation and awaiting collection, Blackpool Transport has prepared four trams (Twin sets 671/681, 673/683, 715 and 726) for weekend operation.

715 serviced and panels repaired

715 has received a full service in the fitting shop and electrical compound. A broken window unit has been repaired, seat cushions cleaned and refitted and some panelling repaired. We are awaiting Blackpool Transport advising us of a repainting date, but it could be that 715 is used on illumination weekends as an additional tram in the interim.

Work starts on 715

Work started today on Balloon Car 715's restoration to 1980s condition and return to green & cream livery style. 715 has been transferred to the fitting shop, and following this panelling repairs will be undertaken followed by a full repaint.

It is expected that the tram will be complete for early September, allowing it to operate on busy illumination weekends. Watch this space!

715 update

During June, 715 has been refitted with a full-set of matching seats achieved by swapping over seats from cars 622, 632, 703 and 715 so that the latter three have upholstery types that match. However, once the restoration to green & cream is complete, we will seek to reupholster seats in dark green moquette.

BTS has announced that 715 may return to action in September and October on illumination weekends. With only 8 cars currently operational (cars 706, 707, 709, 711, 717, 719, 723 and 724) and the number withdrawn or sold, re-activating stored car 701 and 715 is a serious possibility.

Repainting of 715 in August is still on the cards - but the new bus service changes are requiring the paint shop staff to remove all Metro-Coastline branding off the bus fleet before 26 July.

Picture: Jason Cross