Tram Day, the annual main enthusiast’s event at the Crich Tramway Village, takes place on Saturday 16th September. We already knew that recently arrived Bournemouth 85 was expected to play a starring role in the day but it has now been announced that the 80th anniversary of the Blackpool Brush Railcoach and the 60th anniversary of Liverpool Corporation Tramways closing will also be themes for the day.
The Museum will in fact be opening earlier than normal at 0945 with the first photo set-piece being organised at Town End. This will help to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Blackpool’s Brush Railcoaches with 630 lined-up alongside fellow Brush tram, Chesterfield 7.
One of the highlights each year of Tram Day is the special tram line-ups on the depot fan, often featuring rarely seen trams out of their usual homes and 2017 will be no different. As expected Bournemouth 85 will be the centrepiece of both the morning and afternoon line-ups. Starting off between 1130 and 1330 the theme is “Non Standard Gauges” with 85 joined by Derby 1 and other trams that ran on narrow and wide gauge systems. Details of the other trams have not been announced which does mean there is some mystery to the day! Then from 1400 to 1530 it is a South Coast line-up with 85 displayed along with its fellow Hampshire tram, Southampton 45.
Other highlights of the day include a single deck tramcar cavalcade in the street at 1020 followed by a single deck tram service from 1030 and then an intensive tram service using 9 trams between 1100 and 12000.
Works Cars will be in operation on the mainline between 1300 and 1600 and the afternoon will also see the return of the intensive tram service with 9 (some different) trams from 1400 to 1730.
Last trams will run at 1730 and to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Blackpool Brush Railcoach and to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Liverpool Corporation Tramways closing this service will be formed of Blackpool 630 and Liverpool 869. For the former it will be the last use at Crich before its holiday in Blackpool.
The full list of trams due to be in service are:
All day – London United Tramways 159, Oporto 273, Blackpool 630, Blackpool 762
AM only – Chesterfield 7, Blackpool 166, Blackpool 167, Blackpool 236, Leeds 345
PM only – Blackpool 40, London County Council 106, Metropolitan Electric Tramways 331, Leeds 399, Liverpool 869
In the Great Exhibition Hall there will be a Book Sale and the Whetstone models will be operating during the day. And if you like all things transport the West End Motor Club are due to be visiting between 1100 and 1700 with their pre-1977 vehicles.
The full programme of events – subject to the usual caveats – is available on the Crich website at https://www.tramway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Tram-Day-Visitor-Programme-2017.pdf.
* We are hopeful that British Trams Online will be providing our usual “Live” coverage of the day on Facebook and we will then provide full coverage on the main website next week.
Please be aware that a slightly revised list of operating trams has now been provided on the Crich Tramway Village, with the allocations now as follows.
All day – LUT 159, MET 331, Blackpool 630, Blackpool 762 & Liverpool 869
AM only – Chesterfield 7, Blackpool 166, Blackpool 167, Blackpool 236 & Leeds 345
PM only – Glasgow 22, Blackpool 40, LCC 106, Oporto 273 & Leeds 399
Note that Leeds 180 & Sheffield 510 are currently unavailable and will not be in service. All other events seem to be unchanged but may be subject to amendment due to the weather or other factors.