Sunday 10th July saw the much anticipated entry into service of an open top tram at the Crich Tramway Village with Blackpool Boat 236 being used as part of a three car service at the Roaring 20s event. This was the first open top tram to be used at Crich in 2022 and comes just over a week after the resumption of services following the replacement of corroded overhead poles in the depot yard.
We often go on about how this tram last ran four years ago or that tram last ran six years ago and whilst for 236 it was only last year that it last ran it seems to have quite an eventful period at Crich since it was last used in passenger service which means it deserves its very own article to mention the occasion!
Up until Sunday 10th July the two periods of operation at Crich this year have seen only enclosed trams run. The closest to an open tram in the pre-closure period was Oporto 273 with its semi-convertible nature whilst during the first week after the resumption we had seen open balcony Glasgow 22 enter service, before finally 10th July saw 236 cleared for service after the completion of commissioning.
With warm temperatures in the UK since entering service 236 has been a very popular choice – in fact its been used on all three days since Sunday! Sunday 10th and Monday 11th saw it running with Glasgow 22 and Leeds 399 with Tuesday 12th July seeing 22, 236 and Blackpool 167 all in use.
Welcome back to service Blackpool 236! Basking in the Derbyshire summer sunshine the tram waits at Stephenson Place. (Photograph by Peter Whiteley, 10th July)
Nit-picking isn’t a respected activity, but I do take exception to calling a Blackpool Boat an open-top car. “Princess Alice is an open top car–a term which generally refers to double deckers. A boat is just an open car. I learned these terms in the 1950s. Perhaps time has passed me by.
Alwys knows as open or open top in Blackpool so the term is correct. Its also factually correct as well as the top of it is open and it has solid sides unlike a rack! If you want to be pedantic we should be saying luxury toastrack!!!