Cardiff 131, London United Tramways 159 and MET 331 - and also Chestefield 7, Sheffield 15 and Liverpool 869.
Starting this month with the major restoration work on Cardiff 131 where much of the assembly work to the body has been completed including assembly and installation of body sideframes, fitting of the roof (along with many fixtures and fittings connected to the roof), fitting of internal boards from the tank to the roof, installation of platform stanchions, the boarding on platform vestibules and the brake and mechanism staffs. Painting of the underside of the roof continues along with preparing the exterior boarding. The traction and lighting wiring is complete and work continues on the earth wiring. The wheelsets have undergone non-destructive testing and are fit for use whilst the traction motors are back following load tests. Other work to take place has seen a correct length trolley pole being prepared for fitting whilst new axle box bearings are being scraped to suit the axle journals.
Work on the bogie components of LUT 159 continues with the body support rods having been completed. Staircase risers and stringers have been riveted together and work continues on various body fixtures and fittings with a quotation for all the wrought iron panels is being sought.
The overhaul of MET 331 has now begun in earnest with the current collectors being removed from the roof for overhaul. The body has been lifted from the trucks and the compressor removed for work to be undertaken by a contractor. The bogies are being dismantled and work commencing on them whilst it is planned that the traction motors will be removed and sent to a contractor for overhaul.
Chesterfield 7 has spent some time in the Workshop for remedial work to take place to remedy the poor condition of the upper deck drop windows and roof.
Sheffield 15 has also spent some time in the Workshops undergoing some paint attention to the north end dash panel, which was damaged during a incident with the misuse of the quick release pin mechanism. Paint damage was also suffered to the other end dash panel and this too was rectified.
Liverpool 869 has spent a period of time out of service because of a de-wirement. The trolley head became detatched, requiring repair and time was also taken to discover how this happened.
* Interested in trams? Then why not become a member of the Tramway Museum Society? Membership carries with it the right to a free copy of the Society’s illustrated quarterly Journal, free admission and free rides on the trams when the Museum is open to the public, and a voice in running Britain’s National Tramway Museum. For more details, and how to become a member click here.
* For all the latest photos of the goings-on at Crich please visit Richard Lomas’ excellent blog here – latest updates including photos of the recent progress on 131.
Source: Contact from the Tramway Museum Society