We feature a second Glasgow car in a row in “Whatever Happened To? Today but this one – Glasgow 812 – is one which has since been withdrawn from service.
Glasgow 812 was built in 1900 as one of the ubiquitous Standard cars, originally an open top car but modernised as the years progressed. It went through the works in 1930 to bring it into the fully enclosed condition it is known for today. Finally withdrawn in 1960 it soon made the move to Crich and would carry its first passengers during 1966. It would receive a restoration in the late 1970s and by Tramathon 2005 it had been back in use for 24 years.
But in 2021 the tram is now out of service again having last run in 2015 at which point it had to be taken out of use awaiting space in the workshops for a full overhaul. It still waits for this today can now be seen in the depots.
On 12th June 2005 and Glasgow 812 pulls into Wakebridge when heading up to Glory Mine.
This is 19th September 2015 with Glasgow 812 sitting at Glory Mine, it is at the then limit of the operating line. (Both Photographs by Gareth Prior)
I would be interested to know why so many Crich cars are out of service and will probably never run again in my lifetime because they are awaiting “a full overhaul”. Surely if the problems with them are not too severe (burnt out motors and controllers etc) why would it not be better to give them a partial overhaul in order to allow them to see further service. I am not suggesting flogging them to death which seems to be the current policy regarding several cars in the fleet.
I suspect the reason trams don’t get mini overhauls to keep them running is the same reason as why most things don’t happen – lack of money! It doesn’t make much economic sense to spend money on a tram if you know that things like motors are on borrowed time. It would be nice to see cars like 2, 45, 60, 812 & 1068 put back into service but I suspect most people donating money would rather see a ‘new’ tram done, hence the full restorations like LCC 1.
One advantage of withdrawing trams before they give up completely is that sometimes they can be revived for special occasions, as we saw with Rack 2 in 2018. Next year marks the 60th anniversary of Glasgow’s last tram, as well as Glasgow 22’s centenary…. we can but hope!
My understanding is that cars are withdrawn when either major work will be required or they deveop a major fault or body defect.
They are withdrawn to prevent further deterioration or damage, assessed and if its a major job then they go in the queue. Don’t forget some of the cars didn’t get full overhauls or as thorough as they would now back in the early days so they were partly running on the life left after their last major overhaul prior to preservation.
Cars do get attended to, 102 for example, but workshop space and money can make it longer than we would like.
I don’t think Crich flog anything to death – its not their way.
One car I personally think should always be operational is 45 as the car which started it all (more or less)! And 812 because its my favourite.