The London Event at the East Anglia Transport Museum in Carlton Colville over the weekend of Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July saw the very first short-term loan of a tram to this location with London County Council 106 proving to be a very popular exhibit throughout the weekend. Although the first day started off overcast and showery the majority of the weekend saw dry conditions – just the sort of conditions you need for an open top tram ride through the woods!
With its large collection of operational trolleybuses from the capital the East Anglia Transport Museum is often the centrepiece of celebrations of all things London Transport with this weekend originally aimed as being the 80th birthday celebration of trolleybus 260. This trolleybus was one of four trolleybuses from London which ran on both days of the weekend with nos. 796, 1201, 1521 also in action. For most of the weekend up to three of trolleybuses were in operation at any one time; this included the vehicles running both ways around the circuit.
In addition to the trolleybuses there were several other London based vehicles in service and on display including a couple of vintage buses and some traditional London Black Cabs. There were also vintage bus trips to Lowestoft and Beccles throughout the weekend mainly using local buses which are part of the collection at Carlton Colville.
But the main attraction for many visitors was London County Council 106 which had arrived at the Museum for its short visit on Sunday 3rd July. After attention to put the tram back together and to commission it and some test runs 106 was ready to carry its first passengers at its temporary home shortly after 1100 on the first day of the event. With London Transport 1858 having run the first journey and with 106 duly waiting at the Chapel Road terminus the rain duly arrived giving those early passengers a refreshing shower! The morning saw further showers develop – including one particularly heavy and prolonged period – but that didn’t seem to deter many visitors from enjoying a top deck ride with only around one trip seeing no passengers braving the top deck. For most of the time though the top deck of 106 was very popular showing the benefit of having an open top tram at the Museum – a feat which will hopefully be repeated in years to come once the restoration of Lowestoft 14 is completed.
All in all the event seemed to be very popular with the East Anglia Transport Museum reporting that over 1000 people attended over the two days – excellent attendance figures for this small museum.
With the event over 106 was prepared for its return to Crich departing on the back of the traditional Scotts low loader during the morning of Tuesday 12th July arriving back in the Derbyshire countryside later the same day. It is expected to be a swift return to service for the tram as it is likely to be in demand for the Edwardian Event which takes place this coming weekend including another horse tram operating day on Friday 15th July.
* Full photographic coverage from the event will follow on British Trams Online later this month.
London County Council car 106 is seen about to pass stabled Blackpool 159 on Saturday 9th July 2016, during its guest appearance at EATM's 'London Event'.
London Transport tram 1858 in operation at Carlton Colville on Saturday 9th July 2016.
The loan by Crich of London County Council 106 meant that it could join resident London Transport 1858 in providing a two car all London tram service during the EATM's special event that also saw four ex LT trolleybuses in operation. The two ex London trams are seen about to pass each other on Saturday 9th July 2016. (All Photographs by Mike Haddon)