Once again as the latest M5000 is delivered to Manchester the previous arrival enters service with Saturday 10th October being the milestone date this time around. 3105 was the tram to be delivered on the back of the low loader having made the journey from mainland Europe whilst on the same day 3104 was first noted in service being used on the Rochdale to Ashton-under-Lyne service.
Saturday 10th October was a very busy for Metrolink with two major sporting events taking place in the city. Someone had thought it was a good idea to hold a major Rugby League match at Old Trafford early evening with the Etihad Stadium hosting an England Rugby Union World Cup tie later on in the evening. As a result a larger number of doubles than usual were in service with seven on the Rochdale to Ashton service alone. In total at least 92 trams were seen in service to try and cater for demand.
3105 arrives at Queens Road.
3104 working with 3073 on the Ashton-under-Lyne to Rochdale service on 10th October. The pair are seen here nearing the end of their journey at Rochdale Railway Station. (Both Photographs by Steve Kemp)
Steve,what a great unusual shot of 3105 arriving at Queens road.It really shows the problems facing the delivery driver and that’s after he struggled to get the vehicle from the main road past the gate house.Then after all that he has to do it all again in reverse.
The driver will drive down to the Potting shed which is the building at the far end of the depot with the doors open,he will line the trailer up with the tracks on the concrete apron, detach the tractor unit and winch the tram of the trailer.
The potting shed is where all the various mods were carried out on the T68’s by a dedicated project team.
Yesterday there was also a major Boxing event at the MEN Arena as well as the two Rugby matches.
A minor correction but I photographed 3104 on the Ashton Rochdale service on Friday 9th October at Victoria.
I know that this idea is extremely unlikely, but it would be good to see three or four of the vehicles eventually painted into the old municipal liveries, in a similar way to what was done a couple of years ago to several of First Manchester’s bus fleet. For example Manchester’s red and white (or cream), Rochdale’s blue and cream, Oldham’s crimson and white, Bury’s green and cream. These could then serve those places. Impractical maybe, and probably it would mean little to younger users of the system, but if Blackpool can do this on a large scale with its heritage trams, then why not? Someone has posted a simulation of what it might look like on a transport photographic website, with a Metrolink tram in the old Oldham livery-it looks very smart!
I think that something similar has already happened on the West Midlands system, (I could be wrong!)
Midland Metro tram 11 was painted in a Blue and Cream livery with Birmingham crests. Several pictures on this site – now of course withdrawn
Sheffield 120 is still cream I believe as well. There was to be a red T68 but at the time Corporate ruled! I’m sure it is something Metrolink?PTE would consider if it was propsed properly.