We brought you the news a few weeks ago that Blackpool & Fleetwood Box Car 40 was on the road to a return into service – and now it has! 40 was first used this year on Tuesday 13th September when it was part of the standard three tram service at the Crich Tramway Village.
Blackpool & Fleetwood 40 – the only operational passenger tram built specifically the Tramroad Company at this current time – had last run in 2019 when it was taken out of service for some attention. With a certain pandemic getting in the way and the need for fewer trams to be used in service at Crich, this work was delayed until 40 was moved into the workshops last month with a view to it returning to service for the late summer/autumn season when move enclosed trams are likely to be needed.
After attention and testing 40 was cleared to rejoin the operational fleet and on Tuesday 13th September it was allocated to service alongside Glasgow 22 and Liverpool 869.
With the return to service of 40 there have now been 17 different passenger trams which have run in service at Crich this year. And a lot of these are due to be running at Tram Day taking place at the Crich Tramway Village on Saturday 17th September. You can read our brief preview of the event here.