It’s not just Blackpool, Manchester and the West Midlands who are currently enjoying track laying as the major winter project at the Crich Tramway Village also involves some new track being put down. Unlike the other aforementioned locations though at Crich is very much a like for like replacement with the formation at Glory Mine being relaid. It is planned everything will be back in place and in operation by the start of Crich’s 2019 season in March.
Since an update was last released from Crich the project has moved on to the actual installation of the new track following the completion of the trackbed and its fresh ballast. The pointwork for the area had been sent away to a contractor for refurbishment and once this was returned to Crich work started on putting it all together in the permanent way yard. This was followed by it being moved to Glory Mine where it was then put into the correct place for trams to run on once again. Attention then turned towards installing the straight plain line between the two ends of the passing loop. The next stage will now see the curved sections of trackwork installed.
Away from the track the chance has also been taken to repaint the ten traction poles located around the terminus which will help to protect them from corrosion and degradation. The overhead also hasn’t been left out with Crich’s overhead line team making the necessary alterations to ensure trams will be able to move around the terminus. As previously reported this includes several new lengths of wire to the sub at the far end of the line which will be cleared for trams again in 2019. Existing spanwire has also been altered, new insulators have been fitted and a new traction pole has also been put in.
As well as the last of the track work still to be finished includes installing the top ballast finishing overhead line arrangements.
The work is scheduled to be completed in time for the reopening of the museum on Saturday 16th March 2019.
* The latest images of the work can be found on the Crich Tramway Village website.