The latest news from the Crich Tramway Village with particular emphasis on the restorations of Cardiff 131 and LUT 159 along with all the general maintenance work being undertaken on the trams.
* The overhaul of the controllers of Cardiff 131 to a high standard is nearing completion and the tank baffle plates have been manufactured and installed. The tank support frame and inspection/filler hole framework is continuing whilst component parts of the truck frame have now returned from shot blasting. No problems – except for some corrosion on the leaf spring seats – have been discovered after inspection and non-destructive testing on the side frames. Delamination at the corners of the cross members and a fatigue crack in earlier weld repairs, mean that these will be replaced. The cord bars have been fitted to the underframe which is now complete and in the correct orientation and a drawing for the manufacture of new roof mounted tail lamps has been produced and a question for their manufacture is awaited.
* Not much to report on London United Tramways 159 restoration this month with orders being placed for the bogie side frame castings and top deck seat frames.
* Work has started on the replacement of the traction wiring on Blackpool Toastrack 166 and investigations have also commenced on the sourcing of appropriate festoon lighting.
* The overhauled bogies of Blackpool Standard 40 have now been returned with one traction motor having required a new drive end bearing due to the separation of the white metal on the original. The trolley planks and current collector have been refitted.
Source: Contact from the Tramway Museum Society