It seems a long time ago now, but in 2016 we were all delighted to see the Fisherman’s Friend Trawler Tram back on the tracks. Everything here on the Fylde Coast takes a battering from the weather, and the Illuminated Heritage Trams are no exception. They’re out on the promenade in some of the most awful weather, and it takes a toll on them. And so the Trawler Tram had undergone a complete refurbishment.
Fisherman’s Friend Trawler Tram – Back on the Tracks
It was 2001 when we first saw this popular tram, made from a 1937 Brush Railcoach, car 633. It hadn’t received any substantial maintenance work since then. 15 years is a long time to trundle up and down the harsh conditions of Blackpool seafront!
Normal style filament lightbulbs originally lit it up. The refurbishment also included relighting it with low-energy LEDs.
Did you know that the world famous Fisherman’s Friend lozenge is made a few miles up the road in Fleetwood? From there, they’re exported all over the world. The Fisherman’s Friend Trawler Tram is shaped to look like a fishing boat – illuminated with the branding of the famous throat sweet. It’s modelled on Cevic FD241 trawler – the company’s emblem. The Lofthouse family, makers of the sweets, made a generous financial contribution to the restoration so that it could be overhauled and repainted.
Did you know? Cevic was an actual Fleetwood trawler which ran aground off the Isle of Man in June 1917.
With fully fitted cabs at either end, this tram can, unusually, travel in both directions. Before the huge tramway upgrade you’d have often seen it in regular use during the day. Over the years it‘s given really good service but had become rather weary looking. So the tram was officially retired at the end of the 2014 season.
…the Fabulous New Version!
It’s turn finally came round during the early months of 2016 when it went into the workshop for conservation and full refurbishment. Now it can carry passengers for many years to come.
The next photo is from Tram Sunday, the year after its full make-over. You can see how immaculate it is – with each of the tiny dots being an LED light.
And here it is, lit up with all the LED lights. Doesn’t it look spectacular!
And here’s a short video of it in action…
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Working Together to restore the Fisherman’s Friend Trawler Tram
This project is a brilliant example of a shared initiative. Lofthouse’s, a private company, provided the finance to make it possible. Blackpool Transport carried out the overhaul and repaint of the tram. Blackpool’s Illuminations Department designed and installed the external illuminations.
The work on the Trawler was extensive and included
- mechanical overhaul
- complete external repaint
- replacement of the seat cushions with the traditional leaf green moquette
- replacing all the external illuminations with state of the art LED equipment
The Trawler Tram is now the brightest star of the fleet and by far the most ‘illuminated’ of all the illuminated trams!
Illuminated Heritage Tram Tours
You can enjoy a ride on the Fisherman’s Friend Trawler Tram with one of the special Illuminated Heritage Tram Tours.
Illuminated Heritage Tram Tours ONLY depart from the special tram stop at the loop opposite the front entrance to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Get details about Illuminated Heritage Tram Tours here
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