As with several other heritage tramways in the UK, Sunday 31st October saw the end of another operating season at the Crich Tramway Village with one final opening day seeing a three tram service once more. Its been a season unlike any other but despite the various restrictions in place during the year it has seemed to be another successful one at Crich with a respectable 14 different trams being used in passenger service during the year.
The final weekend saw four different trams used for the normal service – Blackpool 167, Leeds 180 and Leeds 345 did the honours on Saturday 30th with Leeds 399 used instead of Leeds 345 on the very last day, Sunday 31st October.
Leeds was the joint highest city represented in service during the year with three trams used. Blackpool also saw three trams used in passenger service (40, 167, 236) with London seeing two cars in action (LCC 106, MET 331). Other trams used in service were Berlin 223 006-4, Chesterfield 7, Glasgow 22, Liverpool 869, Oporto 273 and Sheffield 74.
With the Workshop having been busy throughout the year – and remaining so now even though the museum is closed to the public – 2022 should see several returnee trams. Newcastle 102 is approaching the end of its TSO funded overhaul and requires final commissioning and testing, London Transport 1622 has been under test over the past few months and trams such as London United Tramways 159, Blackpool 166 and Blackpool 40 have all also spent time in the Workshop over the past few months.
Looking ahead to 2022 and Crich have already announced some special events for next year. This includes the headline Tram Day which will be on Saturday 17th September whilst there will be the return of many old favourites such as the Model Tram and Railway Exhibition (20th/21st August), Memories of the 1940s Homefront (17th/18th April), Great British Seaside (28th May to 4th June) and Classic Motorcyle Day (3rd July).
Subject to any restrictions being in place Crich Tramway Village should reopen on Saturday 12th March 2022. It is again planned that outside of the main summer season the museum will remain closed on Fridays.
Planned events for 2022:
Sunday 10th April – Model Trams Operating
Sunday 17th & Monday 18th April – Memories of the 1940s Homefront
Sunday 15th May – Model Trams Operating
Saturday 28th May to Saturday 4th June – Great British Seaside
Saturday 11th June – SIGNAL Music Festival
Sunday 19th June – Model Trams Operating
Sunday 26th June – Crime at Crich Event
Sunday 3rd July – Classic Motorcycle Day
Sunday 17th July – Model Trams Operating
Saturday 30th July – Sounds Local
Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th August – Sounds of the 1950s and 60s
Monday 15th to Friday 19th August – Discovery Week
Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st August – Model Tram and Railway Exhibition
Monday 22nd to Friday 26th August – Woodland Week
Monday 29th August – Teddy Bear’s Picnic
Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th September – Steampunk Weekend
Saturday 17th September – Tram Day
Sunday 9th October – Model Trams Operating
Sunday 16th October – Community Day
Monday 24th to Friday 28th October – Autumn Fun
A photo from earlier in the season (June 2021) showing Chesterfield 7 in service just passing the depot with Leeds 345 stabled in the headshunt. (Photograph by Jack Slaughter)