It featured in one of the most notorious deaths in Coronation Street history, and now Tram Number 710 is about to get a new home as volunteers have raised the money to save it.
The tram featured in a Corrie storyline back in 1989. Rita Fairclough (Barbara Knox), as she was then, was in a relationship with Alan Bradley (Mark Eden), father of current Rovers landlady Jenny (Sally Ann Matthews).
Rita was foster mother to Jenny, and had a tempestuous and difficult relationship with Alan. He cheated on her several times before finally posing as her late husband Len Fairclough (Peter Adamson) to borrow money for his business, using Rita’s house as security on the loan.
When Rita tried to expose the fraud Alan attempted to kill her and was jailed for six months.
After his release he tormented Rita, following her to Blackpool where the storyline climaxed in him meeting his death after being hit by a tram. 27 million people tuned in to watch the episode, as Alan’s reign of terror finally ended.
The tram that struck Alan is currently owned by the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust and is being kept at Fleetwood Docks.
Alan Bradley couldn’t be saved – but the tram has been (Picture: ITV/REX)
More: Trending
The Tramtown museum in Blackpool have raised over £2,500 in a campaign to rescue the tram and bring it from Fleetwood back to Blackpool.
Paul Galley, a local councillor who also volunteers for Tramtown, says the public is hugely interested in the Coronation Street connection.
‘This is a unique opportunity to save a bit of Blackpool’s history. We know it will be popular as “where is the tram that killed Alan Bradley?” is the most popular question we get asked by visitors to Tramtown.’
The tram is currently painted in purple and yellow, and the plan is to restore it to the colours it had in the 1980’s. If the funds are available, the tram could then hopefully be restored to working order.
The hero tram saved Rita (Picture: LDRS)
It’s hoped that many people will be interested in coming to see the tram when it’s on display at the museum.
Blackpool Transport’s head of heritage Bryan Lindop added, ‘We know that not only can we save this unique tram, but tram 710 can work for Blackpool in a different way over the years, to become an attraction in its own right.’
MORE : Coronation Street star Alan Halsall on Tyrone and Fiz’s wedding: ‘It’s been a long time coming’
MORE : Coronation Street spoilers: Stephen kills Elaine as his next murder victim is confirmed?
A piece of TV history.
