969 - Blackpool Trams in 1980s and 1990s livery

Welcome to Podbaba Transport Video 969 that covers the tram liveries of the 1980s and 1990s in Blackpool.
The 1980s livery first appeared on Balloon Car 701 and featured the ivory in favour at the time and a very dark green. The roof and upper deck windows were green and a band beneath the lower deck windows ran around the car. After a short period a green tapered "whisker" appeared above the lower deck windows and this became the stand with the exception of Balloon car 722 that ran for a short period with a green "V" on the front dash. It was quickly removed.

By the end of the 1980s, the livery was looking extremely tatty and two Balloons were turned out in the same livery but using County Cream and Middle Brunswick Green which weathered somewhat better but a new livery that was basically a revamp of the 1960s livery using the County Cream and Middle Brunswick shades began to appear and, almost alongside this change, pantographs began to appear on the balloon cars.
Centenary car deliveries had reached 647 and the planned 648 to 650 were cancelled with East Lancs Coachbuilders to save money post-deregulation.

GEC Traction test car 651 had its traction equipment and bogies removed and a set from the planned last three was fitted and it was renumbered 648.
The OMO cars that had saved the Tramway in the 1970s were "long in the tooth" and were gradually phased out by the Centenary cars with only one example (5) receiving the 1990s livery.

Balloon car 701 was the first to be rebuilt removing the plate galss upper deck corner windows and received a smart "Routemaster" red ad white lined out livery.

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a Podbaba Transport presentation
14th January 2026