Balloon 711 & Box 40 return from Crich

Balloon 711 and Box Car 40 blocking the nearside lane of the northbound A6 at Preston near the M55 interchange

Blackpool Balloon 711 and Blackpool & Fleetwood Box Car 40 returned to Blackpool from their loan period at the National Tramway Museum on 30th October. What should have been a smooth journey began with the trams being loaded onto two of Scotts trailers at Crich on 29th August, the plan being to travel up to Blackpool on the same day. Unfortunately the trams were delayed for many hours, a mere 20 miles away from their destination, near the Broughton junction of the M55 motorway at Preston. Here are a few photos of the trams blocking one lane of the main northbound A6 road at Preston, adjacent to the M55 motorway junction.

Balloon 711 and Box Car 40 blocking the nearside lane of the northbound A6 at Preston near the M55 interchange

Balloon 711 on the back of Scotts low loader at Preston, waiting to make the final leg of the journey to Blackpool

Box 40 behind Balloon 711 on the northbound A6 at Preston, waiting for clearance to leave for Blackpool

A view showing Scotts vehicles completely blocking the left hand lane of the northbound A6 by the M55 junction