Blackpool tram 645 - 4 Oct 1992

Sunday 4 October 1992 - Blackpool Transport began tramway operation in 1885. The tramway today is an 11 mile long line stretching from Starr Gate in South Blackpool via Central Blackpool on to Bispham, Cleveleys and Fleetwood.

Until the late 1960s the trams had traditionally been centre entrance/exit with a door on either side but in the 1970s a number of rebuilds were carried out making them suitable for driver only operation. The layout featured a front entrance positioned by the driving cab plus a centre exit, there was a driving cab at each end and so each side looked the same resembling a two door bus. Some of the mechanical components originated in English Electric built 1930s trams.

During the 1980s Blackpool Transport commissioned East Lancashire Coachbuilders to body a number of trams like 645 which was seen heading southbound near Leyburn Avenue, Bispham. The resulting bodywork used features normally seen on bus bodywork at the time.

Blackpool’s trams had originally used the single pole method of electric collection but the pantograph style method of collection was introduced in later years. As a result the pantograph was mounted on a tower structure on single deck trams.

On the reserved track sections of track the lines were protected with concrete fencing with pedestrian crossing gates provided every so often. Note the tram shelter on the right.