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Jubilee cars

Two bus-like double-deckers rebuilt from Balloons to be run by the driver alone in winter: 761 in 1979 and 762 in 1982. Both ran until the traditional tramway closed in November 2011.

Drawing to come

Type
Tram, double-deck, one-person operated, double-ended
Builder
Blackpool Transport, rebuilt from English Electric Balloons of 1934-35
Built
1976–1982
In service
1979–2011
Lines
Blackpool Tramway
Formation
Two double-deck cars on Balloon frames lengthened with full-width cabs: 761 (1979) with a front entrance only, 762 (1982) keeping the centre doors as exits
Trains in fleet
2
Power
550 V DC overhead; Westinghouse thyristor chopper control · how it works
Profile
tram
Total capacity
761: 104 seats as built, then 98; 762: 90 (Fylde Transport Trust)
Status
Withdrawn on 6 November 2011, when 761 ran on the last evening (British Trams Online). Heritage: 761 survives at Rigby Road, owned by the Fylde Transport Trust and meant to return to use, but has not carried the public since 2011; 762 is at the National Tramway Museum, Crich, where it carried passengers in 2026 (British Trams Online, 13 July 2026). No heritage tram carried the public in Blackpool in 2026 after the Frigate's last Illumination Tours on 2 and 3 January (British Trams Online, 13 July and 1 September 2026); Blackpool Transport says the operational heritage cars need welding, electrical and axle repairs first, and 2027 is the earliest return.
Preserved
761 in Blackpool; 762 at the National Tramway Museum, Crich

unverified Some of these figures haven’t yet been checked against an official source or a published history. What’s in doubt ↓

Sources

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unverified 762's donor Balloon (714): Wikipedia only
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