143 has been prepared for scumbling today - a base coat of satin egg shell and next week Phil Anderson, the professional signwriter that has recently completed Marton Box 31 at Beamish, will scumble the side panels.
143 can see again following the fitting of the two headlamps generously donated to the project by the National Tramway Museum. These were both fitted today and await final wiring up.
Apart from a few minor fittings, the lower deck saloon is now complete. On Tuesday 4th May, the seat cushions were fitted and with interior lighting switched on, 143 is really beginning to come back to life again as a genuine 1924 Blackpool Standard.
The BusWorks electrician has wasted no time this week fitting the 2 x 12v batteries for the low voltage equipment, wiring up the bells and the lower deck interior lighting. On Saturday 24th April, 143 finally came back to life with fully functional interior lighting and bells.
Thanks to our friends at the National Tramway Museum, 143 now has a pair of matching headlamps. These will be refurbished for use on 143 but it is proposed to fit some discreet halogen headlamps in addition to conform to Blackpool Transport's request. Meanwhile, the low voltage interior lighting and bells have been wired up, along with 2 x 12v batteries and a 24v isolator switch.
Upper deck assembly has started and Gilletts have fitted the internal partitions that look absolutely superb. Meanwhile, the regular team of volunteers have started assembling the upper deck swingover seats.
Rapid progress has been made on trial fitting the upper deck of 143 just one week later than it arrived as a kit of parts from Gillett's of Wesham. On 31 March, the two decks were reunited allowing the internal partitions to be fabricated before the two decks are separated once more. It is then proposed that the lower deck will be moved to Blackpool Transport whilst the upper deck is completed.
