Up until now the only noticeable progress that Trampower seem to have made is the construction of a prototype tram – the City Class tram. First seen in Birkenhead and then in Blackpool (where it suffered a fire in January 2007) this tram has been out of the public eye for a number of years being stored in a number of locations with its current home being a boat yard close to the Ribble Steam Railway in Preston. Kevin James provides us with these photos of its current condition.
Seen from the other side of the lock in Navigation Road three views showing the tram in store. As can be seen it is stored in three sections with the small centre section visible in photo two. (All Photographs by Kevin James, 6th January 2018)
Presumably despite what appears to be relatively modest efforts to rebuild the prototype its unlikely that it could be considered for use if/when the proposed Preston Trampower Test Track is delivered. You forget just how old the Tram actually is and how long its now been outside as well. It ought to be returned to approximation of its previous condition in a future Blackpool Transport museum as a STATIC if anything. I would of thought to move the project on they be looking at T69s or similar to test on their proposed test track and then look to develop their own replacement CityClass (if they really want to) later down the line.
Exactly, requirements and technology have moved on a lot since it debuted in the 1990s. The ‘new’ Preston system needs new or at least good quality second hand vehicles. I suspect considering who it is we might see a couplem of Skodas.
It is shocking if this is the only tram they have to run in Preston. How much will it cost to make it serviceable – if it can be? At least one new vehicle is needed on test, or the at least repairable T69s before they are sold for scrap and all go to the great tram depot in the sky. A T69 could be rebuilt if necessary, cheaper than putting a wreck back on the rails.