Its time for our usual monthly news round-up of the latest goings on at the Crich Tramway Village home of the National Tramway Museum. This month we have news on Blackpool 40, Cardiff 131, London United Tramways 159, Blackpool 166 and Modern Tower Wagon TW3.
We start, as usual, with news of Cardiff 131. Work is continuing on the cable ducts on the underside of the roof and the main traction wiring harness has been installed on the underframe in ducting to the original pattern. The roof-mounted tail light units have been delivered and fitted, including the lighting and earth wiring. The wheelsets are back (but not yet fitted) and the traction motors have been completed but initial tests have indicated a bearing problem with the newly fitted armature bearings running warm. A further motor test to prove the field systems is to be undertaken. Sprung drawbar units have also been fitted to the underframe whilst the lower body sideframes are now being constructed.
The other major restoration project at the Museum currently is London United Tramways 159. The bogie sideframe castings are being machined with wheelsets and traction motors having been retrieved from Clay Cross (as previously reported on British Trams Online.)
Other trams to pass through the Workshop in recent months have been Blackpool 40 - which has now returned to service following its overhaul and Blackpool 166 which has had all work completed and now requires commissioning before being made available for service.
The Modern Tower Wagon TW3 has had remedial repairs to the wooden work platform. This included raising the top rail height to meet current regulations.
Source: Contact from the Tramway Museum Society