Completed October 2012
This was my first try at building a model of a tram using LEGO bricks and didn’t turn out too badly for a first attempt. It was decided to build a Blackpool Coronation tram after I found a scale drawing published in a Blackpool Tram book. The drawing was scanned into the computer and printed out to be approximately O gauge (7mm = 1 foot), which gave me something to work from to keep everything as near to scale as possible with the limitations that building with LEGO bricks creates.
By working over the top of the scale drawing, I managed to make some good progress with designing most of the Blackpool Coronation and keeping it to scale, but the front windows and the doors at the centre of the tram proved difficult, so those were left until I’d completed the rest of the model in the correct colours. Solutions for getting the slight angle to the front windows and recessing the centre doors took a bit of playing with different parts to get right, but a few days work solved those problems.
The tower for the trolley arm to sit on top of was another difficult part of the model. The top is supported by a couple of clear parts in the centre, while the upright parts on the corners are actually short lengths of electrical cable bought from Maplins that are bent to shape. This is more flexible than the official 3mm flexible tubing that LEGO produce and alot easier to get hold of in white.
^ A side view of the completed LEGO Blackpool Coronation Tram standing on it’s display plinth. The final model of the tram is 7 studs wide and about 43 studs long. The base measures 16 studs wide by 64 studs long.
Although I’ve included many details such as the springs on the trolley base, aswell as the fenders and tow bar coupling on each end, I did miss off the headlights. The bogies, wheels and lifeguards are also in the wrong colours, but I think I’ve managed a fair representation using the parts and colours available. This is only a static model though, so won’t run on any of the LEGO train sets, but it is the correct gauge for the tracks that LEGO produce. Due to the design of the bogies and side panels, there isn’t space for the bogies to rotate, so it can’t negotiate any curves.
For displaying my LEGO Blackpool Coronation tram, I built a basic plinth for it to stand on that looks like a section of road with tram tracks running along it. The main road is buit with the bricks on their side, using 1 x 4 bricks with a groove running along the length of one side as the tram rails. I also added a small plaque at the front of the plinth to say what the model is.
^ A close up of one end of the model, showing the detail of the fenders and towbar coupling.
^ A close up from the side view showing the centre entrance doors and the trolley tower of my LEGO model of a Blackpool Coronation tram.
^ This side view of one end clearly shows the slight angle to the windscreen.
^ A better view of the roof, trolley arm and trolley tower.
^ For those that don’t know what a Blackpool Coronation tram looks like, here’s a comparison image with the LEGO model on the left and the real thing on the right.
^ And another similar comparison picture comparing the detail of the trolley base on the model and a real trolley base on display at Crich Tramway Village, Derbyshire.