Tram No.143, once a mainstay of Blackpool’s heritage fleet has been relocated nearly 300 miles away to the East Anglia Transport Museum after a turbulent history. Operating as a passenger tram from 1924 until 1957, it was then converted into an engineering tram to assist with overhead line repairs, fitted with a diesel engine for independent running.
A devastating engine fire in 1990 left it seriously damaged and destined for scrap, but it was rescued by the Fylde Transport Trust in 2002. The Trust invested over £200,000 in a major restoration with the help of local volunteers and skilled tradespeople, yet the tram’s return to Blackpool in 2010 was marred by delays and setbacks, including a failed motor that left its 2019 relaunch grounded.
With repair efforts stalled and the heritage operation in flux, the tram has now found a new home where it can finally be preserved and operated, offering a brighter future for this iconic piece of Blackpool’s transport history.
Here are 13 amazing pictures of the beloved Blackpool tram undergoing restoration.
