The 1930s modernisation plan saw the development of a family of centre entrance cars including the Railcoach, Balloon and Open Boat. The prototype boat (225) arrived in January 1934 and was followed by 11 production cars (226-236) in July and August 1934. These differed from 225 in having higher sides. Officially titled “Luxury Toastracks” they quickly became known as boats, reflecting their Gondola like appearance with a central canopy and streamlined profile. Blackpool ’s thrift extended to the use of second hand control equipment (BTH B18s) in most cars, though new motors were purchased for most cars.

Duties included the well known Circular Tour in its late 1930s resurgence and again in the late 1950s when it was resurrected for the first time since 1939. Other than that duties were mainly Promenade ‘specials’ though the cars were initially kept at Marton Depot and saw service on this inland route to access their base. In the 1960s they moved to Bispham depot, briefly, until this closed and they relocated to the centralised Rigby Road complex.

233 entered service on 7 August 1934 – the day after the summer bank holiday. Naturally a summer only car, work s records show a routine service in 1941 with a reported mileage of just 41,000 or the equivalent of 18 months service for a year round car. Mileage fell to around 2,000 per annum post war and to around 1,000 in the 1990s, which suggests a career mileage of about 150,000 miles - or five to six years work . 233’s first truck swap was quite early – in 1945 – receiving a set of Railcoach trucks. Its sisters survived until 1959-1961 for their first truck overhaul

The initial boat livery was cream with green waist, front V and canopy (save for cream canopy top) and in January 1960 233 gained the second version which lost the green waist and v. The previous winter had seen the application of Perspex windscreens at each end to afford some protection to the driver. The closure of the street routes caused a substantial fleet reduction. The boats were not immune and 229, 231, 232 and 234 were withdrawn at the end of the 1963 season and scrapped in 1968. The remaining cars (225-228, 230, 233, 235/6) became 600-607 – 233 becoming 605. Another round of repaints then took place with a further minor livery change – the entire upper section being green (canopy, tower, top of saloon sides and windscreen) with the rest cream. 605 was treated in April 1972 and was one of three to receive shaded fleet numbers as an experiment.

The 1970s saw the withdrawal of cars 601 and 603 and but the rest kept making high season appearances until 1983 when a shortage of trolley poles saw most sidelined. 605 managed to avoid sacrificing its pole and was the only boat in use during 1984. Its sisters returned for 1985 and then 605s turn for a rest came round – it was stored from May 1987 to May 1990. During this time an experiemental new glass windscreen was fitted which was then rolled out across the fleet. Sponsorship from the Fylde Tramway Society encouraged Blackpool Transport to paint the resurrected car in its original style – its first repaint since 1972. 1993 saw the venerable B18 controllers replaced by English Electric Z-type controllers from withdrawn cars and two double seats were removed to accommodate the larger units giving a reduced capacity of 52 from 56. 

For a brief period in 1993 it ran on ex OMO car trucks with rubber suspension to release a float set of Boat trucks to enable fractures to be repaired. October 1998 saw a repaint into wartime mainly green livery – which the boats didn’t carry and the car retained this scheme for the rest of its service life in Blackpool . Threatened with withdrawal on occasions from 2004 it ran into 2009 when it was bought for preservation by LTT.