BTS 606 has been successfully operating at National Capital Trolley Museum for several months. On October 14, 2011, State Senator Karen Montgomery joined with Museum members and friends to officially dedicate the car for service on the Museum's demonstration railway. In this photo, Motorman Bob Clarke operates the car for our invited guests.

Wesley

PS. A boat car whistle salute to Bill Wall for his leadership with the project to transfer the Lake Shore Electric/Trolleyville collection to so many museums.

Did this car really operate, or is it something made up for the museum/ tourist operation?

Wes

Boat cars were built for tourist service in Blackpool, England. They were built in 1934 by English Electric's Preston Works.

San Francisco's MUNI has one which operates occasionally on the F line, and WRM has one which is currently out of service due to a bad traction motor.

From www.dctrolley.org:

In 1933, Blackpool Corporation Transport (BCT) General Manager Walter Luff was looking for replacements for the traditional "toastrack" (open) trams running on the Promenade. Luff recognized that the toastrack cars were dangerous for the conductor and nearing the end of their useful mechanical lives. Collecting fares, the conductor moved along the running boards on the outside of the car while trying to avoid colliding with trackside obstacles, such as traction poles, because there was no center aisle in this type of tram.

Walter Luff approved a design for an open topped car with a center entrance and central walkway. The design allows the conductor to collect the fares safely and the passengers to board and alight safely. Known as "the boats" with their ship-like streamlined appearance, they have become one of the most iconic designs among Blackpool trams. All cars are virtually identical, except for the prototype, which has shorter body panels. English Electric constructed a prototype car, and BCT responded with an order for eleven more cars.

Labor shortages and lack of passengers greatly reduced use of the boats during World War II. After the war, the boats returned to service on the seaside promenade route once more.

All twelve cars remained in service until after the North Station route closed in 1963, when there was a general reduction in the number of trams available for service. At that time, six cars were all withdrawn and stored before being scrapped in 1968 as they were surplus to requirements. At that time the remaining boats were renumbered 600 - 607.

In the 1970s, interested parties in the United States acquired BTS 601 and 603. BTS loaned BTS 606 to the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival where a special tramway was built through the exhibition site. Painted in blue and yellow, (different from the usual green and cream livery), BTS 606 became the first and, to date, only Blackpool tram to operate in Scotland. The car returned to Blackpool following the end of the festival in September 1988.

In 2000, BTS transferred BTS 606 to the Gerald Brookins Museum of Electric Railways in exchange for BCT 147, a traditional double deck car, which has now been restored back to its 1924 condition and operates Blackpool.

At the end of the 2004 season, BTS withdrew the boats as part of a fleet reduction exercise. Following a number of complaints and a huge outcry by the public, four cars were returned to service during 2005. BTS withdrew the boats for the last time in 2011. BTS 600 remains at BTS with a second boat car set aside for parts. BTS donated the remaining two boats to tram museums in Britain.

The Museum purchased BTS 606 in 2009 from the Lake Shore Electric Railway Museum, successor to the Brookins Museum.

Courtesy of Wesley Paulson and Paul Turner

Thanks for the photo and the background on the "boats". I've ridden the "boat tram" in San Francisco several times; it's very popular on pleasant days, and just yesterday it went on a special excursion. I notice that 606 is flying the Union Jack from her trolley rope, very much in the nautical tradition. I wonder if anyone with a Navy background ever asks the conductor "Request permission to come aboard, Sir!" And I've read that on some short lines, especially in coastal areas, the conductor would be referred to as the "skipper".

Wasn't one of the "boats" in Philadelphia for a while?

Some of our crew invite passengers to leave from the port and starboard side, etc. In addition, the car has a high pitched whistle instead of a gong. I recall that the Muni boat was in Philadelphia for the bicentennial. It remained there for some time before being shipped back to Blackpool before returning stateside to San Francisco. There is a postcard view of the car in Philly at that time.

Wesley

Hi,

I love those Blackpool Boats.

I was wondering. Do you happen to know the dimensions of the boats or plans? I am especially interested in the prototype Number 600. I know that number 600 had lower side panels. Do you or anyone else know how much lower? And how about the tips at the bow and stern, were they lower too?

Thanks,

Charles