Another step towards a possible return to service for Newcastle 102 occurred on Wednesday 30th September, when the tram was briefly raised off its trucks. As reported previously 102 has been residing in the Crich workshop where its condition is being assessed with a view to potentially restoring it to an operational condition in the fairly near future.
As most readers will probably be aware, Newcastle 102 suffered a broken axle in 2000 and has not operated since, latterly being stored at the back of the depots. The Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation have recently expressed interest in sponsoring the required work to get it back into service, however to determine the likely cost involved a more detailed condition survey was required and to do this it was necessary to separate the tramcar from its bogies. This has allowed a really detailed examination of the damage sustained to be undertaken, whilst also looking at the condition of the bogies and underframe. Although initially restored in the 1970s, 102 has been an infrequent performer at Crich and this easy life will hopefully mean that less work will be required than to other, more regularly used trams, which were restored at a similar time.
Once the workshop engineers and curatorial staff were satisfied that their examination was sufficently thorough to enable the existing condition survey on the tram to be completed with the required details, 102 was lowered back onto its bogies and then it was shunted back across the depot fan with assistance from the Blackpool electric locomotive. It was then placed back inside Depot V, where it will remain stored whilst the findings are reviewed and written down. Hopefully the findings will be encouraging and allow the TSO and the workshop team to proceed with the overhaul this stunning car deserves, returning another popular open topper to its rightful place in the operating fleet.
Newcastle 102 resting at the front of the Crich workshop on 19th September having moved in ahead of its starring role at the recent enthusiast event. The heavily stripped LCC 1 can also be seen in the background. (Photo by Andrew Waddington)