227 in original condition and livery
602 in Yellow and Black "Handibus" Livery
1934 BLACKPOOL “OPEN BOAT” TRAM
The 12 open “Boat” trams were introduced in 1934 as part of Transport Manager Walter Luff’s modernisation programme. Originally known as “streamlined toastracks” they were intended as replacements for the ageing but popular toastrack cars then in service, some of which dated back as far as 1911.
Built by English Electric, the new cars were numbered 225 to 236. The prototype car, number 225 (now numbered 600) has sides slightly lower than the production cars, earning it the nickname “Little Willy”!
Withdrawals commenced in 1963 when four cars, 229, 231, 232 and 234 were taken out of service, and eventually scrapped in 1968. Of the remainder, 5 still remain in the Blackpool fleet (as at June 2007) and 3 have gone to tramway museums in America.