Blackpool Tramways - January 26, 2019
Car 680 (originally 280) was one of a batch of 20 single deck rail coach constructed in 1935 by English Electric of Prestorn. It was rebuilt with flat ends in 1960/61 and in the summer season usually ran with trailer T10. Its trailer was withdrawn from 1972 and it operated as a winter car.
After accruing a high mileage, 680 was withdrawn from service on 20 October 1989 for major overhaul which took place from July 1991 to March 1992, returning to service on Good Friday 17 April 1992.
The modernised car featured new windows and fixed seats and was finished in a new livery with black window surrounds added to green and cream. It lost this in 1995 for a series of all-over advertisements.
On 30 October 2008 680 was withdrawn and later passed into the ownership of the Manchester Tramway Museum Society.
Repainted cream it operated at Beamish Museum in 2014 before moving to Heaton Park in Manchester in March 2015. Restored to its 1990s appearance in August 2015 it returned to Blackpool and joined the heritage fleet on loan.
