Original Livey

Wartime Livery

1933 BLACKPOOL ENGLISH ELECTRIC RAILCOACH

 The prototype railcoach, No. 200, was delivered in 1933 as the first of the new trams in the modernisation of the Blackpool fleet.   It made its first run on the night of June 19th and was shown to members of the Annual Conference of the Municipal Tramways and Transport Association, which was taking place in Blackpool that year.  It was a vast improvement on what had gone before,  having deep cushioned reversible seats, roof side windows, opening sun roofs, floor heaters and concealed lighting, as well as a clock in each saloon.  The car was pronounced a success and was soon followed by 24 more, numbered 201 - 224.  The production cars differed slightly in that they were 2 feet longer following complaints of cramped seating space in the prototype.  Another 20 railcoaches were ordered in 1935, the only difference being in the controllers, which were of the Z6 type instead of the Z4 type which had been used on the earlier cars.

 None of the English Electric railcoaches currently survives in its original form, but some were converted to one man operation, being extensively rebuilt with modified ends, and others were converted for Twin Car operation, again having the ends drastically altered, and being used as the power cars to tow new trailers.    The One Man Operation cars themselves have now all been withdrawn, though some of the twin car sets still remain in service.    

 In 1962 car 209 was withdrawn and converted into the illuminated “Santa Fe Locomotive” , which has recently been restored, and in 1963 car no 222 was used as a basis for the illuminated “Hovertram”.

There is currently a project taking place in Blackpool to restore one of the rebuilt cars to original condition.                                                                                                               RETURN TO HOME PAGE