Following the recent confirmation that London County Council 106 is to occupy the Crich workshop during 2013 for an overhaul, it is pleasing to report that the tram has now moved into the works and is currently being stripped in preperation for work to begin. As reported previously, this project will be financed by the London county Council Tramways Trust, who undertook the original restoration of 106 at their Bonwell Street workshop premises in London (since closed).
Having spent much of the last few years stored out of service in Depot V, only accessible by the traverser, LCC 106 was recently extracted and transferred into the workshop for the removal of various parts. Over the recent May Day Bank Holiday weekend, the car body was removed from its four-wheel truck which is expected to receive some attention as part of the overhaul process. However, the main focus will be work on the body which has not had much significant attention since its last major restoration, which culminated in the tram becoming the first London car to operate at Crich in 1983.
Although not everyone is happy to see another London tram receiving such extensive renovation so soon after the major restoration of London United Tramways 159, at a time when funding is in short supply the generous support of the LCCTT must be appreciated, and it will be good to see 106 back in regular service after an absence of several years, providing a welcome boost to the pool of open toppers in the running fleet.
Despite showing LCC 106 being moved towards the workshop by the Blackpool loco, this photo is not new but in fact dates from 2010, when 106 was being prepared for a planned visit to Blackpool which was destined not to go ahead. (Photo by Tony Waddington)