The operating fleet at Crich is set to increase by one by the end of July with Blackpool Standard 40 due to return to service on Tuesday 26th July at a special ceremony attended by special guests from Blackpool. 40 was withdrawn from service at the end of last season for an overhaul and repaint in Crich’s own workshops and with this now coming to a conclusion the tram will be commissioned for service.
40 has long been a very popular member of the fleet at Crich often being the tram which has covered the most mileage in a year and having not seen workshop attention for a number of years it was starting to look a little tired at the end of 2015. But following some tender loving care in the workshop 40 now looks resplendent once again having received another coat of the attractive Red, Teak and White livery of Blackpool Corporation Transport.
To mark the tram’s return to service Jane Cole, Managing Director at Blackpool Transport, and Bryan Lindop, Head of Heritage at Blackpool Transport, will be visiting Crich on Tuesday 26th July. This will coincide with the official launch of the tram back into service at 1130.
The return of 40 will bring the operational electric tram fleet to 17 vehicles: London County Council 106, London United Tramways 159, Blackpool 166, Blackpool 167, Leeds 180, Blackpool 236, Oporto 273, MET 331, Leeds 345, Leeds 399, Sheffield 510, Blackpool 762, Liverpool 869, Glasgow 1068, London Transport 1622 and Berlin 223 006-4 being the others.
Two views of 40 in the workshop showing the shiny new coat of paint. (Both Photographs courtesy of Crich Tramway Village)
Probably better than new!.
Fantastic skills up and down the UK.
Looking superb. Hopefully it can come home for a holiday again one day.
Excellent news. Full marks to Crich Tramway Village advertising in advance the tramcars re entry into traffic in sufficient time for people to try to make plans to attend. Trying to tweak plans to attend. Looks incredibly smart. The repaint may have took longer than some might have hoped but looks like it worth the slightly longer wait looks superb. Good to see the Managing Director & Blackpool Head of Heritage attending inter cooperation between the two organisations will be incredibly important going forward.