Its been just over a week since the Crich Tramway Village opened for another year and we’ve already seen six different trams run in service – and more are being prepared for service including Blackpool Standard 40 which has undergone some test runs ahead of its return having missed last year undergoing overhaul.
The six trams which have run so far are Glasgow 22, Blackpool 167, Leeds 180, Leeds 399, Sheffield 510 and the latest to return to action, Liverpool 869. Since the museum opened for the first time on Monday 13th March there has been a mixture of a two and three car service in operation and this pattern will continue throughout the season, except on selected special event days when a more intensive service will be offered.
Talking of special events and its been confirmed that this year’s Tram Day will be a Tram Weekend as its taking place on both Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th September – so double the chance to see as many of the operating trams running as possible!
Back to this year’s operating fleet and one tram which it hopefully won’t be too long until its back running in passenger service is Blackpool Standard 40. This tram didn’t run at all in 2022 as it was undergoing an overhaul in the Crich workshops but with this work now completed 40 has ventured out onto the mainline again for the start of testing as part of its commissioning for service. Other trams are also being prepared for service including London County Council 106 which has also embarked on testing – this was another tram which was absent from service in 2022.
There is nowhere else in the UK where you can see a scene like this – two open balcony trams together. During a test run Blackpool 40 is at Glory Mine with Glasgow 22 (which was in service) for company. With the sun shining there aren’t many better sights than this are there?
And we also see 40 on test at Stephenson Place as it edges towards a return to service. (Both Photographs by Peter Whiteley, 21st March 2023)