Best Blackpool Fleet livery

[mikefurnival]

What was the worst livery?
They are the same choices but please write your choice.
(I think the worst is the 1970's)

[steamnut44]

The post war period, during my childhood, was when I remember spending many a happy holiday in Blackpool and it was the Trams that made it for me. There was such a variety, from open and closed Standards, Pantograph Cars, Brush & EE Railcoaches, and of course the beautifull Balloons, all with twin destination blinds. I remember once, counting 12, all lined up along the Pleasurebeach Loop, awaiting there turn to load passengers, that were queing for at least fifty yards. You didn't jump in your car in those days, you hadn't got one, unless you were well off. You came on the train or coach, and you travelled by tram. I even saw George Formby signing autographs on a tram, on one occasion and I still have mine too.

They ran, just not along the Prommenade, but along Clifton Drive, Dickenson Rd, Talbot Square up to North Station, South Station and as far as Squires Gate.
The livery of all over green, with white 'S bands along the sides, gave them even more of a streamline look. They were what Blackpool was famous for and it was a sad day, when they started to chop and remould what was once an outstanding tram fleet.

I wouldn't give you time of day for the ridiculous colour schemes that they appear in today, and thank God at least, that they have manage to return 700 back to it's original condition and livery, with it's eye catching twin destination blinds.

I nearly forgot the Illuminated Trams, I remember the old Godola, and even the Progress Balloon, all now long gone. The Mississipy Showboat was one of my favourites and the Western Train. But there were others too, The Shell Hovertram, The old HMS Blackpool and of course the Rocket, which thankfully, is being restored by the Lancastrian Transport Trust, so maybe in a few years time, we will see it once again, in all it's splendour.

You young ones don't know what you've missed, believe me, Blackpool during the fifties was alive with twice as many trams in service, than there are today, it was brilliant!!!

Geoff

[davvydo]

i like the green and cream livery best, what era is that ?

[steamnut44]

The Green/Cream like Tram 700 was the wartime livery, but lasted well into the mid fifties.

[Nemetode]

The Coronation's cream based livery without doubt, and the cream based livery "Princess Alice", the 1990's recreation of the prewar open top Balloons carried before the hideous overall ad livery was applied, are the best. To my mind all seaside buses and trams should be cream, thanks to childhood day trips to Rhyl (cream Crosville Lodekka coaches and open toppers) and Blackpool!

The worst liveries are absolutely all the overall ad schemes except the "Northern Smoothie" beer tram. They are garish, poorly designed and completely tasteless and tacky, which may be what Blackpool is but a 1930's tram deserves better. You wouldn't put a 70 year old granny in a leather miniskirt, fluorescent make up, lime green hair and fishnet stockings, and expect her to take up residence in a lap dancing club, would you?

[steamnut44]

Well I can assure you my seventy year old granny would, she was a rare old bird when she was alive. LOL

I agree, these all over advert trams are very tacky, but this is how they get their money these days.