Blackpool's illuminated Western Train
June 2005

In the early 1960s Blackpool created a batch of imaginative illuminated trams for use on illumination tours that added to the annual festival of lights that extends the holiday season. Amongst them was the recreation of an American Santa Fe Train as detailed by Paul Turner. 

After the Blackpool Belle and the Rocket, the third feature car was perhaps the most popular with the public in that it appealed to children of all ages. The Western Train was formed of two cars based on the experience gained with the introduction of trailer operation in 1960/1 – and using some left over equipment. Pantograph 174 of 1928 and Railcoach 209 of 1934 were selected and work commenced on the cars in April 1962 ready for the autumn illuminations. 209 was used to form the locomotive. The rear half of the tram had its cab end removed and was fitted with a new flat roof to form the locomotive tender. This acted as the tram’s passenger saloon. The front of the old body was dismantled and the underframe extended. There was no accommodation in the front half of the car which, naturally featured the boiler and chimney with a tall cab in the middle. The driver sat in the smokebox and below this a mock cowcatcher was provided. Initially steam was given off through the chimney but this was soon stopped, though the decorative bell remained fully functional to the end. The imitation wheels were illuminated and a device allowed these lights to give the appearance of the wheels turning. The give away was when it ran backwards and the wheels appeared to turn the wrong way!

174 needed little modification as its style fitted the bill for an American carriage. Its ends were rebuilt to open balcony layout, fixed back to back seats were fitted and the motors were removed. An English Electric DB1 controller was fitted. The Western Train (also know as the “Santa Fe” after the famous railroad) was the first car to be sponsored from new. Advertising had just been introduced on the trams and the potential of the eye-catching feature cars was soon realised. ABC Television bought the advertising rights on the train and on 31 May 1963 the train was used to convey guests to open the new ABC cinema on Church Street. This was despite the closure of the Marton route the previous October. Once the depot had been emptied most of the track was covered over but the section of route from Talbot Square to Church Street was left intact at ABC’s request so that its tram could participate, therefore going down in history as the last Marton tram.

For many years on switch-on night the train carriage was equipped with a bar with four seats removed. The curved bar was used to serve drinks to the official party including council and transport department officials. This practise is believed to have survived into the 1980s.

In 1971 the set received a repaint and it is believed that this was when the controller was removed from 734 and replaced by a remote control unit, though an air brake valve was fitted too. The old handbrake remains but is hidden under the rear bench seat so that the seat cushion has to be removed and the brake handle fitted into place before the car can operate backwards. Later during the 1970s the locomotive had its characteristic “cow catcher” removed.

In 1978, Fleetwood based "Fisherman’s Friend" took over sponsorship, an association which would last the remainder of the train’s life. In February 1987,  the tender (733) was split from its long term partner and treated to an overhaul which included a replacement set of trucks, minor accident damage repairs, a rewire and repaint. The carriage was also treated to a repaint and truck overhaul with the pair reappearing for the autumn illuminations looking resplendent.

Throughout the 1990s the Train was in demand for filming and private hire work, making regular (by feature car standards) appearances outside the Illuminations time. Another common event was a trip to Fleetwood in December to launch the Christmas lights with Santa travelling with children on the train. Although the carriage remained in good condition, the locomotive was giving cause for concern. It received some remedial work to stop the front end drooping (because of the un-sprung weight ahead of the front axle and corrosion of the underframe) for the 1999 season, but like the famous "Rocket" tram it was withdrawn at the end of the season. It did make one last appearance however when, on 24 January 2000, it was used for filming for Channel 4’s Brookside.