Throughout the operating season so far at the Crich Tramway Village extra trams have gradually been commissioned for service to take into account the changing weather conditions and increasing visitors to the museum. And with the school summer holidays now in full swing the past few days have seen a further two trams enter service – Sheffield 74 and Metropolitan Electric Tramways 331.
Neither of these two trams ran in service during the truncated 2020 season so it was their first passenger use since the end of the 2019 season with 74 being used for the first time on Sunday 25th July and 331 on Tuesday 27th July.
331 had been in the workshops for a little while being commissioned and after an initial fault was discovered – which necessitated its rescue by Croydon Tramlink KLV 058 for towing back to the workshop – was repaired and fully commissioned which allowed it to return to service in late July. This now means there are two London trams as part of the commissioned fleet with London Transport Passenger Board 1622 also due to enter service this year after its testing is completed.
The return of 74 is more of a surprise as it is on the list of trams which require overhaul in the workshops. But with Blackpool 166 having recently been lifted and needing further attention there isn’t currently space in the workshop programme for this to happen so it has been commissioned for now to bring some more variety to the operating fleet.
With 74 and 331 now in service, 13 trams have been commissioned for passenger use so far this year. They are Berlin 223 006-4, Blackpool cars 40, 167 and 236, Chesterfield 7, Glasgow 22, Leeds pair 345 and 399, Liverpool 869, London County Council 106, Metropiltan Electric Tramways 331, Oporto 273 and Sheffield 74.
Sheffield 74 sits on the depot fan having been given a wash ahead of entering service for the first time since 2019. (Photograph by Peter Whiteley, 24th July 2021)
MET 331’s first day back in service – 27th July – with the tram heading towards Victoria Park as it goes up the line to Glory Mine. Passengers can still only board at Town End with alighting possible on the way back both at Wakebridge and Victoria Park/Bandstand/Exit. (Photograph by Jack Slaughter, 27th July 2021)