One of the most anticipated events at Crich this year, Tram Day, takes place on Saturday 10th September and following the announcement last month that Oporto C65 would be on display during the day full details have now been released including the tram allocations and photographic opportunities on offer.
In total 17 different passenger trams will be in action with up to 13 in service at any one time. A number of trams will be in service throughout the day with a selection in service in the morning only and a number in the afternoon only. The passenger trams will also be joined during the afternoon by a number of Works cars.
The planned allocations are (subject to the usual caveats):
All day: Blackpool 40, London County Council 106, Blackpool 166, Blackpool 236, Leeds 345, Blackpool 762, London Transport 1622
Morning only: Chesterfield 7, Leeds 180, Oporto 273, Leeds 399, Glasgow 1068
Afternoon only: London United Tramways 159, Blackpool 167, MET 331, Sheffield 510, Liverpool 869
It is planned that trams will run between 1030 and 1800 with the cars starting to leave depot in the main from 1000. The last tram is planned to leave Town End at 1800 with London Transport 1622 due to be allocated to this service. As reported on these pages previously 1622 had not originally been planned to run in 2016 but due to tram availability it was resurrected at Easter and has remained in service since. Tram Day will be its last use this year.
Away from the service trams and one of the highlights of Tram Day every year (under its many different names) is the photographic opportunities offered often including withdrawn trams from the depths of the depot and the Great Exhibition Hall. This year will be no different and Oporto C65 is set to be the most popular tram on static display as it makes its one and only public appearance at Crich before moving to Beamish. C65 will be officially handed over to Beamish at 1500 on the Depot Fan but before then will also be included in line-ups with other works cars between 1030 and 1130 (looking set to include the Manchester Horse Drawn Tower Wagon as well) and then with the other Oporto cars in the Crich fleet between 1430 and 1530. At the same time as the second line-up there will also be a line-up of Chesterfield trams. As well as general photo opportunities throughout the day there will also be a line-up between 0945 and 1015 at Town End featuring Blackpool pair 40 and 166 at Town End.
There will also be a Book Sale in the Great Exhibition Hall from 1000 to 1600 and Rita’s Tea Rooms will be open beyond 1700 serving hot and cold drinks, bottled beers and lagers, hot soup, sandwiches and cakes until 1900.
Please note that the schedule below has since been changed, for an updated version please refer to: http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/news/?p=15357
The full programme of events is (subject to change, please check if travelling):
0945-1015: Blackpool in the 1920s – Blackpool 40 and Blackpool 166 at Town End
1000: Trams leave the depot to enter service and works car fleet is shunted on the Depot Fan.
1030: Tram service commences
1030-1130: Works Car line-up on Depot Fan including Oporto C65
1030-1200: Intensive Tram service in operation with 13 trams in service
1130: Berlin 223 006-4 in service
1200-1400: Some trams return to depot for lunch
1400-1800: Intensive tram service in operation with 13 trams in service plus works cars in operation (until approximately 1700)
1430: Berlin 223 006-4 in service
1430-1530: Photographic opportunities on the Depot Fan including the Chesterfield and Oporto fleets
1500: Handover of Oporto C65 to Beamish
1530: Shunting on the Depot Fan to put all the trams away
1800: Last tram with a London theme – London Transport 1622 will perform the last departure of the day
The full programme of events can be downloaded from the Crich Tramway Village website at http://www.tramway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Provisional-Tram-Day-Visitor-Handout-2016.pdf
And if you want to make a weekend of it on Sunday 11th September it is Young Crews Day when the majority of the trams will be driven and conducted by younger volunteers at Crich.
* British Trams Online will be providing Live coverage from Crich on Tram Day on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BritishTramsOnline
Looks set to be excellent event hopefully will be well supported. Good to see detailed itinerary published in advance. “Tram Day” might not be most exciting of event titles but the content itself looks action packed and interesting.
How much of this will actually happen remains to be seen, what with the dire weather forecast. Oh well, fingers crossed that the BBC have got it wrong..
Am sure whatever the weather will be fantastic event. If its biblical may have to tweak a few things but bit of rain never hurt anyone.
Please note the timetable of events for ‘Tram Day’ has now changed due to the weather forecast – see http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/news/?p=15357 for the updated version!