This week our modern tram archive image comes from the early days of Midland Metro – just a little over four months since the line had opened to the public.
This image shows the very first numbered of the T69 trams – 01 – on the final approach to Birmingham Snow Hill with a service which would have originated at Wolverhampton St George’s. The exact date of the image isn’t recorded but it was taken during September 1999 (probably the first half of the month) with the line only having opened at the end of the previous May. Taken from the end of the railway platform at Snow Hill the tram has just entered the single line section into the terminus with the double track seen just behind the tram. The railway tracks can be seen on the left hand side.
As for the tram 01 was delivered to Wednesbury Depot on 17th February 1998 and became the first of the T69s to be withdrawn from service in the autumn of 2006 meaning it only ran in service for a little over 7 years. It was also named Sir Frank Whittle for a very short period of time between 2005 and its withdrawal with the names transferred to 04 shortly afterwards. It remained stored at the depot until October 2014 when it was moved for further storage at Long Marston. The tram has since been removed from there to Rotherham where it was scrapped.
Photograph by Gareth Prior