723 at Pleasure BeachHaving been branded as the 'The Magical Express Tour' tram Balloon 723 is on the Pleasure Beach turning circle on a Tour from the North Pier / Tower stop where the 'Christmas by the sea' event is taking place until 3rd January. The event has an Ice Rink and Christmas Market set up on the Tower headland. 18.12.21 A very quick stop off at Blackpool this afternoon allowed me the chance to grab a couple of photographs of Blackpool's most recent Heritage Fleet tram to receive an all over advert!

Balloon 723 has been branded as the 'The Magical Express Tour' tram and has been revynaled on the outside with mainly black vynal with a white strip along the base of the tram.   Along the white base and onto the black are various characters including people ice skating, snowmen and Christmas Trees.   On the panel on either side where the stair case is located, there is an image of a full moon with Santa on his sleigh being hauled by his reindeers passing it.   On the between deck panelling, there are slogans for 'I love BP (Blackpool)', 'Christmas by the sea' and 'The Magical Express Tour'.  The destination blinds have been vynaled over and also feature the text:'The Magical Express Tour'.   The 'Christmas by the sea' event is taking place at the Tower Headland from 19th November until 3rd January. The event has the 'Star Flyer' ride, an Ice Rink and Christmas Market set up on the Tower headland.   723 is operating tours, which are running from North Pier / Tower heritage stop to Pleasure Beach (non stop) and return with it only being possible to board at the North Pier / Tower stop. See further info and times at: https://blackpoolheritage.com/tours/the-magical-express-tour/

723 is one of Blackpool's iconic Balloon tram fleet and is a regular performer on Blackpool's heritage tram tours and Illuminations tours.   Having received a major refurbishment in the 1990's, which involved the removal of it's curved end upper deck windows, curved roof windows and swing over seats, 723 received many other modifications including the fitting of flourescent lighting, high intensity headlights and heating, making it ideal for winter use.   723 was regularly seen in use either on the Fleetwood or Cleveleys services or even on specials until withdrawal in 2011 prior to the completion of the tramway upgrade and introduction of the Flexities in 2012.   723 was not chosen for conversion to one of the 'fat door' 'B' fleet balloons due to it having remedial repairs done to its underframe rather than the full replacement carried out on subsequent refurbishments / overhauls and would join the heritage fleet, first as the 'scruffy surprise' in 2015 when it was used during the Anniversary event, having been stripped of its advertising vynals revealing a rather scruffy coat of 80's green and cream underneath.   After a repaint with a fresh coat of 80's green and cream in 2016, 723 became a permanent member of the heritage fleet.

The photos below show Balloon 723 in it's 'Magical Express Tour' livery at Pleasure Beach on 18.12.21

723 at Pleasure BeachHaving been branded as the 'The Magical Express Tour' tram Balloon 723 is entering the Pleasure Beach turning circle on a Tour from the North Pier / Tower stop where the 'Christmas by the sea' event is taking place until 3rd January. The event has an Ice Rink and Christmas Market set up on the Tower headland. 18.12.21	723 at Pleasure BeachHaving been branded as the 'The Magical Express Tour' tram Balloon 723 is seen entering the Pleasure Beach turning circle on a Tour from the North Pier / Tower stop where the 'Christmas by the sea' event is taking place until 3rd January. The event has an Ice Rink and Christmas Market set up on the Tower headland. 18.12.21	723 at Pleasure BeachHaving been branded as the 'The Magical Express Tour' tram Balloon 723 is on the Pleasure Beach turning circle on a Tour from the North Pier / Tower stop where the 'Christmas by the sea' event is taking place until 3rd January. The event has an Ice Rink and Christmas Market set up on the Tower headland. 18.12.21
723 at Pleasure BeachHaving been branded as the 'The Magical Express Tour' tram Balloon 723 is on the Pleasure Beach turning circle on a Tour from the North Pier / Tower stop where the 'Christmas by the sea' event is taking place until 3rd January. The event has an Ice Rink and Christmas Market set up on the Tower headland. 18.12.21	723 at Pleasure BeachHaving been branded as the 'The Magical Express Tour' tram Balloon 723 is seen at Pleasure Beach on a Tour from the North Pier / Tower stop where the 'Christmas by the sea' event is taking place until 3rd January. The event has an Ice Rink and Christmas Market set up on the Tower headland. 18.12.21	723 at Pleasure BeachHaving been branded as the 'The Magical Express Tour' tram Balloon 723 is seen at Pleasure Beach on a Tour from the North Pier / Tower stop where the 'Christmas by the sea' event is taking place until 3rd January. The event has an Ice Rink and Christmas Market set up on the Tower headland. 18.12.21

Also seen were Flexity 2 trams 006, 001, 003 and 017 also at Pleasure Beach and at Rigby Road Depot OMO 8, Centenary 645, Brush Railcoach 632, Balloon 717, Millennium Balloon 707 and Coronation 663 which were all prominent at the front of the depot.

006 at Pleasure BeachFlexity 006 with advertising for Tunnocks carmel logs departs Pleasure Beach with a service from Starr Gate - Fleetwood 18.12.21	001 at Pleasure BeachWearing an all over advert for the Merlin Attractions (Sea Life Centre and Tussauds Wax Works), Flexity 001 pauses at Pleasure Beach with a Fleetwood - Starr Gate service 18.12.21	003 at Pleasure BeachWearing an all over advert for Prettylittlething.com, Flexity 003 approaches Pleasure Beach with a Starr Gate - Fleetwood service 18.12.21
017 at Pleasure BeachFleet liveried Flexity 017, one of two additional Flexity 2 trams built for the almost complete extension to Blackpool North Station is seen at Pleasure Beach with a Fleetwood Ferry - Starr Gate service 18.12.21	631, 717, 707 and 663 at Rigby Road DepotBrush Car 631, Balloon 717, Millennium Balloon 707 and Coronation Car 663 are seen at the front of Rigby Road depot 18.12.21	OMO 8 and 645 at Rigby RoadPlum and Custard liveried OMO 8 and all over red with white fronted Centenary car 645 are seen at the front of Rigby Road depot 18.12.21