Remaining the capital for this week’s modern Picture in Time image we are on the Croydon Tramlink system in 2002 featuring one of the original CR4000 trams – 2541.
As with all of the CR4000s 2541 was built by Bombardier in Vienna, Austria and was then transported across mainland Europe to Vlissingen in The Netherlands where they boarded the ferry to Dartford and then another road trip to Therapia Lane. All of the trams were delivered to Croydon on a Monday evening with the exception of one – and that was 2541. Because of heavy snow in Frankfurt as 2541 was making its way to port it was delayed and didn’t make it to Croydon until the Thursday of its planned delivery week – 18th February 1999. Once delivered 2541 was commissioned for service and entered service at operations started in 2000.
We catch up with 2541 in 2002 still with the original roller blinds and livery. The tram is running a Beckenham Junction service around the central Croydon loop.
Photograph by Nigel Pennick