After a lengthy lay-off, London United Tramways 159 has been seen out and about on test at Crich Tramway Village this week. It may be remembered that the tram was launched into service in July 2012 following a major restoration – but the tram derailed on its launch day and has not operated since, whilst workshop team investigated how to try and prevent a repeat occurrence.
Having researched similar bogies on trams overseas, it is believed that some adjustments have been made to LUT 159 and now the tram has been commissioned for use. On Wednesday 5th June, the car performed two successful round trips of the Crich tramway and if further test running is equally successful, then 159 will hopefully be able to join the regular operating fleet this summer.
On the weekend of 6th/7th July, Crich will be hosting ‘A Capital Weekend’ which will showcase its collection of London tramcars, as well as other vintage vehicles from the capital city. Hopefully 159 will be able to run in passenger service for this event and if this happens then it will surely steal the show. This would be quite appropriate as 159 should have been the star attraction at a similar event held almost exactly a year earlier, but the decision to not risk running it after the aforementioned derailment incident made the event something of a disappointment. Here’s hoping that the past year can now be put behind us, and that LUT 159 can take its rightful place as the TMS’ flagship exhibit, finally justifying all of the hard work and finance invested in its reconstruction.
London 159 seen on a test run, passing the museum entrance in glorious sunny weather. (Photo by Steve Kemp)
I am surprised that maximum traction trucks, used for decades in the earlier part of the twentieth century under thousands of trams, seemingly robust and effective in service, should prove so troublesome and take a year to sort out. Can someone tell us what went wrong?