On September 26th, only three days before the Centenary parade, a surprise arrival touched down in Blackpool, one which would steal the limelight from every other visiting tram. To emphasise Blackpools pioneering role in the development of electric traction, it had been decided to demonstrate the two types of propulsion common when the system was inaugurated a hundred years before, horse and steam. However, although the loan of a horse tram subsequently failed to materialise, steam traction was to be demonstrated with the loan of Britains only active steam tram, John Bull, which, ironically shared its hundredth birthday with the Blackpool tramway.
Delivered from the National Tramway Museum and sponsored for the duration of its brief visit by Rexo Smokeless Fuel, John Bull was to prove the highlight of the anniversary celebration when it ran for the first and only time in the Centenary Day parade. It duly became the first steam tram to run on a British tramway system since the 1920s and the very first tram of this type ever to operate in Blackpool.
On the appointed day, John Bull departed depot just before the commencement of the parade, earlier plans to operate a test run in the morning having been abandoned when faults were found which had to be speedily repaired. It ventured to North Pier, commencing its historic run from the special display siding and then brought up the rear of the parade to Pleasure Beach, returning from there to Tower and then back to Rigby Road.
John Bulls brief visit was concluded on the following day when it was returned to the National Tramway Museum after only four days in Blackpool. In its more normal home it was occasionally demonstrated until 1989 when it became a static exhibit and today is usually to be found in the Exhibition Hall, its active years now over.
The photo shows John Bull standing at Tower after the conclusion of its historic journey along Blackpool promenade, preparing to depart south to Rigby Road depot and about to be passed by Brush Car 631 in its short lived Walls Romero advert livery. Photo courtesy of J. W. Sutherland collection.
