Launched in September 1961, the Rocket became a regular feature of the autumn illuminations. Unusually for Blackpool the Rocket was a single ended car with controls at one end only.

The “Hovertram” is an illuminated feature car built to give tours during the annual autumn illuminations. It was created in 1963 on the chassis of Railcoach 222 that had been withdrawn from use earlier that year.

Incorporating the revolutionary 'Vambac' (Variable Automatic Multinotch Braking and Acceleration Control) equipment and rubber sandwiched wheelsets they represented a considerable development of the Blackpool tram. The electrical equipment of this particular car was exhibited at the Festival of Britain in 1951.

45 Railcoaches were built at the Preston workshops of English Electric whilst other designs included an Open top single decker, and both enclosed and open-top double deck designs of similar streamlined appearance.

Twelve streamlined open top double deckers were supplied by the English Electric Company of Preston in 1934. Officially called “Luxury Dreadnoughts”, after the old Dreadnoughts they replaced, they were numbered 238 – 249 and followed a prototype (226, later 237) which had been delivered for evaluation earlier that year.

715 was one of the second batch of English Electric double deckers ordered by Walter Luff - this time fully enclosed cars instead of the open toppers delivered first. As with most trams of the Luff era, they were well appointed, ornate, streamlined, centre entrance cars.

Tram 621, originally 284, was the first of 20 streamlined Railcoaches (284-303) supplied by the Brush Electrical Engineering Company of Loughborough in 1937. The Brush Railcoaches were extremely luxurious vehicles for their time, featuring deep cushioned seats, concealed saloon lighting

During the 1930s Blackpool Corporation spent thousands updating the tram fleet with over a hundred streamlined centre entrance tramcars. This investment helped the tramway survive to the present day and many of the trams introduced during the 1930s are still in service at Blackpool today.

The 20 Brush Railcoaches of 1937 are represented in our collection by 287 and 295 (later 632). Whilst 287 represents the original style with streamlined livery and twin indicators, 295 is to be preserved in its later guise with single indicators as car 632.

Stored from 1974 requiring overhaul, 634 returned to use in 1976 with all the standard 1970’s modifications but looking stunning in a special blue and yellow livery promoting the centenary of Blackpool’s incorporation as a Borough.

No. 281 is a towing or motor car, and half of one of ten ‘Twin Cars’ created in 1960/1. The tram had started life as a streamlined English Electric Railcoach dating from July 1935 and was rebuilt by Blackpool Corporation

During the 1970s one man operation (OMO) swept through the bus industry as an answer to escalating staff costs and falling patronage, replacing the traditional conductor.

Jubilee 761 was created between 1976 and 1979 from the frame of 1935 Balloon 725 (formerly 262) that had been withdrawn for overhaul in 1971 but subsequently remained stored.

Blackpool Corporation built a fleet of 42 ‘Standard’ cars during the 1920s in response to both growing patronage on the tram routes and a need to rationalise the assortment of tram types, many originating from the early 1900s.