It may have gone under a number of different names over the years but Tram Day, which took place at the Crich Tramway Village on Saturday 17th September, is still undoubtedly the main enthusiasts type event to be held at the home of the National Tramway Museum. With its usual mix of an intensive tram service (this year seeing 15 passenger trams and three work vehicles out on the mainline) plus special photo line-ups on the depot fan this was once again an event which showcased the best the national collection has to offer.
The lead up to the event this year had been dominated by the sad news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and as a result the originally planned programme of events was altered to commemorate this sombre occasion. This saw the day start shortly after 1015 with a procession of trams which had been in service when the Queen was born in 1926. Blackpool & Fleetwood 40 led this procession followed by Cardiff 131, Glasgow 22, Leeds 399, Sheffield 74 and Chesterfield 7.
Starting opposite Victoria Park the trams gently made their way down to Stephenson Place. In doing so they appropriately passed under the Bowes-Lyon Bridge which was once on the Bowes-Lyon estate in Hertfordshire and was where the Queen Mother lived much of her childhood. Once they had reached Stephenson Place an impeccably observed minutes was undertaken before the tram service began.
The first passenger tram of the day was Blackpool & Fleetwood 40 – only recently having returned to service after workshop attention. This was one of 12 passenger trams to run in service during the morning, a further three came into service for the afternoon (replacing three from the morning with the rest being all day cars).
As trams entered service it was down to the business of preparing the various depot fan photo line-ups, the first of which would be trams coming into service soon. This would feature three trams which have enjoyed extensive workshop attention over the past few years: London Transport 1622, Newcastle 102 and London County Council 1. Although 1622 had returned to service a few weeks ago it has since had to be taken out of use again and so it missed its starring moment at Tram Day but its appearance for photos on the depot fan shows what will be able to be enjoyed soon. Newcastle 102 has been undergoing testing/commissioning this year but is now looking set to return to action in 2023 whilst London County Council 1 continues to go through its extensive restoration work ahead of testing commencing.
There were two further depot fan line-ups in the afternoon – both of which were commemorating the closure of two major UK city systems 70 and 60 years ago. 2022 marks 70 years since trams last ran on the streets of London and two trams which once ran in the capital featured as part of a mini line-up in front of the workshop. This was London Transport 1622 (which was moved from one side of the depot fan to the other for this line-up to allow different photos) and it was joined by currently out of service London County Council 106.
Then on the other side of the depot fan it was Glasgow’s own closure which was marked by a small line-up of trams – all currently on static display and requiring work before they can be considered for a return to service. The three trams commemorating the 60th anniversary since the last trams ran in the city were 812, 1068 and 1282. Although a much smaller scale line-up than seen 10 years ago to mark the 50th anniversary of the closure (50 year anniversaries, of course, being more significant than 60) it was a pleasing nonetheless to see these trams which haven’t run in service for a number of years back out in the open.
The day was not without its incidents with Sheffield 74 suffering a fault which saw it parked up at Glory Mine at the far end of the line before being rescued after the last service car of the day returned to Town End. There was also an intermittent problem with the points at the south end of Wakebridge although nothing which caused much disruption to the service.
Shortly after 1700 the final service cars of the day ran from Town End. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the last trams in Glasgow this saw Glasgow 22 and Liverpool 869 (once Glasgow 1055) run in formation along with Chesterfield 7. The Chesterfield car may have no connection to Glasgow but it is expected to be withdrawn from service at the end of the season with an overhaul now required.
So, another Tram Day was over and with 15 passenger trams, three works cars and a works trailer out on the mainline plus withdrawn and soon to enter trams displayed on the depot fan what more could an enthusiast want? Let’s see what they come up with for the next enthusiast event at Crich!
Trams in service: Chesterfield 7, Glasgow 22, Blackpool & Fleetwood 40, Sheffield 74 (until early PM), London United Tramway 159, Blackpool 167 (AM only), Leeds 80 (PM only), Blackpool 236, Oporto 273, Metropolitan Electric Tramways 331 (AM only), Leeds 399 (AM and replacement for 74 PM), Sheffield 510 (PM only), Blackpool 630 (PM only), Liverpool 869, Berlin 223 006-4
Works Cars on mainline: Croydon Tramlink 058+061 (PM only), Cardiff 131, Blackpool Electric Locomotive (AM only)
- We will have plenty more photos from the event in a future update of British Trams Online.
Glasgow 22 at Stephenson Place having just come down as part of the Queen Elizabeth II procession. Blackpool & Fleetwood 40 and Cardiff 131 had already pulled forward to the terminus for loading by this point. Leeds 399, Sheffield 74 and Chesterfield 7 are also seen in this view.
Newcastle 102 out in the sun for photos as part of the “In Service soon” line-up. Hopefully it won’t that long before this stunning tramcar is carrying passenger along the mainline once more.
Also part of the same line-up (not so much a line-up as more a display of trams in various places) was London County Council 1.
Up at Glory Mine where we see Glasgow 22 arriving with a service from Town End.
A poorly Sheffield 74 is parked up at Glory Mine and in this shot is joined by Croydon Tramlink 058+061. Stop boards have been placed in front of 74.
Glasgow line-up on the depot fan. Left to right we have 1068, 1282 and 812.
And the other side of the fan was London’s turn: 106 and 1622.
Blackpool & Fleetwood Box Car 40 at Wakebridge. (All Photographs by Gareth Prior, 17th September 2022)
It was an excellent day, aided of course by the glorious sunshine. Attendance seemed to be very good, with the car park full and queues for tram rides through much of the day and many tips fully loaded. While I appreciate the logistics of such an event are complex and time consuming for a volunteer workforce – and “enthusiasts” might not be seen by the museum as its prime audience – I can’t help wondering if running more than one event like this a year (maybe another each spring) would help swell the coffers.
Quite a few years ago there were two enthusiast-orientated events every year: Tramathon (usually in May or June) which saw all serviceble trams running, and the Enthusiast’s Day in September which was more about unusual events such as depot fan lineups, rare track tours etc. In about 2010 the two were merged and its been like that ever since.
Next year might be a good opportunity to try and revive this practice – if Newcastle 102 is ready for the summer this could provide a good excuse to hold an extra event featuring its launch? As you rightly say, it takes a lot of effort to make events like this happen, but at least the running costs are low.