{"id":356,"date":"2023-03-15T15:57:14","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T15:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hptramway.co.uk\/new\/?page_id=356"},"modified":"2023-04-01T03:25:22","modified_gmt":"2023-04-01T03:25:22","slug":"blackpool-619","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hptramway.co.uk\/new\/blackpool-619\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackpool 619"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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619 is a replica of a Blackpool and Fleetwood Vanguard tram and was built in 1987. This tram was originally built in 1935 as Railcoach 282 becoming 619 when the fleet was renumbered in 1968. In 1972 it was withdrawn from service and entered the works to be converted to a one-man-operated (OMO) tram. It re-entered service in 1973 as OMO 7 and ran in this form until 1987.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OMO 7 was transferred to the Mode Wheel works in Salford, where it was stripped and rebuilt as a replica Blackpool and Fleetwood vanguard tram by  Bolton Trams Ltd. Various modifications were made compared to the original tram, most notably a centre isle to allow loading at the rear platform instead of open sides for loading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Returning to Blackpool, it operated in service on sunny days (and a few wet and windy ones!) until 2004 when it became one of many trams \u2018mothballed\u2019 at the time. 619 was reactivated and returned to service for the 2008 Illuminations where it proved to be a popular car on Illumination Tours on the mild evenings that year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In June 2010, as Manchester 765<\/a> moved on loan to Blackpool, 619 made the return trip settling down into regular service at Heaton Park throughout the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the 2010 season, 619 entered the works for a repaint, temporarily regaining the fleet number 7 in recognition of its time spent OMO 7 in Blackpool aswell as becoming the 7th electric tram to operate at the Heaton Park Tramway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

619 became a regular performer at the park, proving incredibly popular with the general public until the end of the 2017 season when it was withdrawn for overhaul and a chance to repaint the car in a livery more authentic to the Vanguard trams of the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delayed by the pandemic it returned to service in December 2022 just in time for the Lightopia festival in the Park where once again the car proved a hit with the public. Readmitted to the Workshops following the tramways winter shutdown for final cosmetic work to be finished 619 was once again relaunched in March 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n

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619 in service during 2008 in Blackpool<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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619 having just arrived at Heaton Park<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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After completion of its 2010 repaint.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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After its 2022 repaint.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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619 is a replica of a Blackpool and Fleetwood Vanguard tram and was built in 1987. This tram was originally built in 1935 as Railcoach 282 becoming 619 when the fleet was renumbered in 1968. In 1972 it was withdrawn from service and entered the works to be converted to a one-man-operated (OMO) tram. It re-entered […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-356","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hptramway.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hptramway.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hptramway.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hptramway.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hptramway.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=356"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/hptramway.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/356\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":498,"href":"https:\/\/hptramway.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/356\/revisions\/498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hptramway.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}