No sooner had it played a major role in Tram Day at Crich then Blackpool Brush Railcoach 630 was transferred to the Workshop for preparations to be made for its visit to its old home tramway. Indeed on Monday 18th September the tram was on the road to Blackpool, returning to the resort for the first time in nearly six years.
630 was one of two trams to operate the last service on Saturday 16th September (along with Liverpool 869) at Crich and was then promptly taken out of service to allow the workshop team to make final preparations for the tram’s transportation. With this work concluded the very familiar sight of a Scotts low loader arrived at Crich on Monday 18th September and after the usually efficient loading 630 (which took place in the main museum street) headed off to the Lancashire coast.
Once the tram is back at Rigby Road Depot it will be commissioned for service and it is planned that it will be available for service on Friday 22nd September when an extra special Cleveleys Flyer heritage service will run during the afternoon. This is due to be exclusively operated by Brush Cars with 631 and Heaton Park’s 623 also scheduled to run. It is also due to see the debut of 621 following the completion of its overhaul. We will preview all events due over the weekend in Blackpool in the next few days.
Once the weekend’s events are out of the way, 630 will remain in Blackpool throughout the winter. This will not only give Blackpool extra all weather capacity for the heritage service but also allows Crich a bit more manoeuvrability when work on the depot roof commences. All in all, a win-win situation for all concerned and yet more evidence of the support and good will that exists between tram preservation groups.
630 is winched onto the low loader.
Just two days earlier and 630 met up with 7 in the museum street for a photo line-up, this time round they are both there are again but they won’t be seeing anything again for a while! The Blackpool Electric Locomotive is also in the shot along with Liverpool 869.
630 sits on the low loader with an appropriate destination – Manchester Square. The pantograph has been removed but tower remains in situ.
630 in the car park at the start of its cross country trip back to Blackpool.
One final view of 630 in Derbyshire. (All Photographs courtesy of Crich Tramway Village)