Blackpool Tramways - Balloons - www.simplonpc.co.uk

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	Blackpool Balloons Page 3: Balloon Double-Deckers This page is under construction! All images link to larger copies which will open in a new window/tab
	This is one of a series of pages on Blackpool trams under construction. This page shows the Blackpool double-deck Balloons, including later re-bodied versions.

	Sections on this Page Balloons (1933) Rebuilt 761 762 Ice Cream Tram (1972) Dates refer to class introduction dates Blackpool Tram Pages:- Blackpool Trams Page-1 - Overview Blackpool Trams Page-2 - Railcoaches Blackpool Trams Page-3 - Balloons Blackpool Trams Page-4 - OMO Cars - This Page! Blackpool Trams Page-5 - Boat Cars Blackpool Trams 2012 - Flexity 2 trams on the rebuilt light rail network Simplon Tram Pages:- Tramways Header Page Birmingham Dublin LUAS Helsinki Trams & Ferries London Tramlink Nottingham Express Transit Riga Trams & Trolleybuses Rostock Trams Sheffield Supertrams Tallinn Trams & Trolleybuses Trondheim Trams West Midland Metro	Associated Pages Tramways Header Page Cruise Ships Ocean Liners UK Excursion Vessels World Ferry Fleets Simplon Postcards - Home Page Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates - Simplon Postcards facebook page References Blackpool Transport website www.blackpooltransport.com Blackpool Transport Maps Blackpool Transport 2012 Route Map Blackpool 2012 Town Centre Map
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Blackpool Balloons
Balloon Double-Deck Cars

All images link to larger copies which will open in a new window/tab

Balloons 237-249, 250-263 (later 700-726)

The first English Electric trams in the streamlined fleet were the standard enclosed single deck trams known as Railcoaches delivered from 1993. These were followed by the twelve open Boat single-deckers in 1934. 1934 also saw the delivery of the first double-decker English Electric Balloons. The first batch 237-249 were delivered as open-top trams. They were enclosed in 1941-42. The second batch of fully enclosed Balloons 250-263 followed in 1934-35. The whole class was renumbered 700-726 in 1968.

The Balloons formed the backbone of the Blackpool fleet until the tramway's conversion to a modern light rail network in 2012. Following the network's re-opening, a number of Balloons were converted to meet the disability regulations to serve as a supplement to the modern Flexity 2 vehicles. (Ref: Wikipedia)

Balloon Car No.237/700

The prototype open-topped Balloon was numbered 226 on delivery. It soon became 237 and was renumbered 700 in 1968. This tram had a more vertical front than later trams which were more streamlined.

Open-topped balloon when new as 226
Plain-backed postcard photo

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Balloon 700 in Lytham Road between Manchester Square and the depot
Photos: ©1976 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.701

Balloon 701at Fleetwood Ferry in the rain in 1980
Photo: ©I971 Ian Boyle

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Balloon 701at Fleetwood Ferry with modified upper deck window in 1995
Photo: ©I995 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.702

Balloon 702 at on the Promenade in 1975
Photo: ©I975 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.703

Balloon 703 at Fleetwood Ferry in 1976
Photo: ©I976 Ian Boyle

Balloon 703 in 1983
Photo: ©I983 Ian Boyle

Balloon 703 at Bispham in 1995 with 'wartime' livery
Photo: ©I995 Ian Boyle

Balloon 703 at 1998 with 'wartime' livery
Photo: ©I998 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.704

Balloon 704 at Bispham in 1976
Photo: ©I976 Ian Boyle

Balloon 704 on the Promenade in 1976
Photo: ©I976 Ian Boyle

Balloon 704 in Fleetwood in 1995
Photo: ©I976 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.705

Balloon 705 on the Promenade in 1976
Photo: ©I976 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.706

Balloon 706 near the Tower in 1971
Photo: ©I971 Ian Boyle

Balloon 706 on the Promenade in 1976
Photo: ©I971 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.707

Balloon 707 at the Pleasure Beach and Bispham 1974
Photo: ©I971 Ian Boyle

Balloon 726 on the Promenade in 1974 with 707 behind
Photo: ©I974 Ian Boyle

Balloon 707 as originally rebuilt with flat ends and no corner windows upstairs
Photo: ©I998 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.709

Balloon 709 at Fleetwood Ferry in 1974
Photo: ©I974 Ian Boyle

Balloon 709 and 718 in the depot in 1974
Photo: ©I974 Ian Boyle

Balloon 709 on the Promenade in 1995 with Pontin's advertising livery
Photo: ©I995 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.710

Balloon 710 passing Robert's Oyster Rooms in 1971
Photo: ©I971 Ian Boyle

Balloon 710 in 1979
Photo: ©I979 Ian Boyle

Balloon 710 on the Promenade
Photos: ©I995 Ian Boyle

Balloon 710 at Fleetwood Ferry
Photos: ©I995 Ian Boyle

Balloon 710 at Fleetwood
Photos: ©I995 Ian Boyle

Balloon 710 at Fleetwood Ash Street
Photos: ©I995 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.711

Balloon 711 in 1979
Photo: ©I979 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.712

Balloon 712 in 1980
Photo: ©I980 Ian Boyle

Balloon 712 in Fleetwood in 1983
Photo: ©I983 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.713

Balloon 713 on the Promenade
Photo: ©I979 Ian Boyle

Balloon 713 on the promenade in 1986 with revised livery
Photo: ©I986 Ian Boyle

Balloon 713 on the promenade in 1995 in yet another livery variation
Photos: ©I995 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.715

Balloon 715 at Fleetwood Ferry in 1971
Photo: ©I971 Ian Boyle

Balloon 715 at Pleasure Beach in 1971
Photo: ©I971 Ian Boyle

Balloon 715 1980
Photo: ©I980 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.716

Balloon 716 at Rigby Road in 1975
Photo: ©I975 Ian Boyle

Balloon 716 near the Tower in 1975
Photo: ©I975 Ian Boyle

Balloon 716 on the Promenade in 1976
Photo: ©I976 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.717

Balloon 717 passing Lewis's (since demolished) by the Tower
Photo: ©I971 Ian Boyle

Balloon 717 at Fleetwood Ferry
Photo: ©I978 Ian Boyle

Balloon 717 at Fleetwood Ferry
Photos: ©I997 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.718

Balloon 718 at Fleetwood Ferry in 1974
Photo: ©I974 Ian Boyle

Balloons 718 and 709 at Rigby Road in 1974
Photo: ©I974 Ian Boyle

Balloon 718 at Fleetwood Ferry in 1994 with MacDonald's advertising livery
Photo: ©I994 Ian Boyle

Balloon 718 on the Promenade in 1995
Photo: ©I995 Ian Boyle

Balloon Car No.719

Balloon 719 passing Lewis's (since demolished) by the Tower
Photo: ©I971 Ian Boyle

Balloon 719 at Pleasure Beach
Photo: ©I974 Ian Boyle

Balloon 719 in 1976
Photo: ©I976 Ian Boyle

Balloon 719 in 1979
Photo: ©I979 Ian Boyle

Jubilee Cars
(761 & 762)

(Ref: Wikipedia)

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