27th June 2010

VAMBAC 11 -
BLACKPOOL VISIT CANCELLED
OFFICIAL STATEMENT

The management committee of the East Anglia Transport Museum is sorry to have to report that we have recently received confirmation from Blackpool Transport Services that they are no longer able to continue with the proposed loan of Blackpool VAMBAC 11 for their 125th anniversary celebrations this summer.

The EATMS had agreed to loan this unique car for the main period of the celebrations when first approached by BTS some years ago. In fact, an agreement for the loan protecting the interests of both parties had been drawn up and was under final negotiation when the news that the loan would not go ahead was received by us. It had always been the hope of the EATMS to support this significant celebratory event and it would have given great satisfaction to be able to sample our tram in service in its original home. Additionally, we readily accepted the offer of the loan of an 'Open Boat' tram to operate at the museum for the latter part of our summer season as this would have allowed us to demonstrate this type of car to our visitors, some of whom may never have been able to see these vehicles in service in Blackpool.

Blackpool Transport Services have informed us that they are no longer able to fund the transfer of the tramcar to Blackpool, or the movement of the 'Open Boat' to Carlton Colville, as was the agreement originally proposed by them. With public finances as they are, this is entirely understandable and, not being in a position to fund any such movement of vehicles ourselves, we must sadly accept the difficult decision that has been made.

It has come to our attention that on at least one website it has been stated that the reason for the visit to Blackpool being cancelled is that, "...its owners had reportedly insisted on its use being heavily restricted." Whilst the EATMS does not deny that a number of restrictions had been placed on the types and amount of use the car would see whilst on loan, these were by no means unreasonable and had, in fact, been agreed with BTS in the earliest stages of negotiations some years ago. It must be remembered that VAMBAC 11 is the EATMS 'flagship' operating tramcar, is the only remaning tram of its type anywhere in the world and has control gear of a type that is not only largely experimental but also notoriously complex to repair in the event of failure. The tram's restoration cost somewhere in the region of £45,000 (funded largely by the EATMS) and took 17,500 man hours to complete; a significant committment for a non-profit making, 100% voluntary organisation by any measure.