at Carlton Colville. Opening for the first time on Sunday 2nd April it followed this with five days of consecutive opening between Thursday 6th and Monday 10th April to coincide with the long Easter weekend. In this pictorial article we take a look at what was happening on Easter Sunday, 9th April, with photos coming from the camera of Bryan Grint.
As is normal trams, trolleybuses and the East Suffolk Light Railway are all operating on opening days for the museum. There are scheduled to be two trams in service on each day and this year the museum will be announcing their planned output at the start of each month to allow visitors to plan when they may want to visit to see a certain vehicle (provided with all the usual caveats of course!). Unfortunately, the operating season for the trams has started with a truncated route as poor weather has meant track maintenance in the woods has overrun which means trams are only able to run part of the route. To make up for this though an additional free bus tour is running around Lowestoft departing at 1230, 1330, 1430 and 1530.
So far in 2023, there have been three different trams used in service. These have been Blackpool trams Marton VAMBAC 11 and Standard 159 as well as Amsterdam 474.
- The East Anglia Transport Museum is now open regularly until the end of October. Opening dates can be found on their website at https://www.eatransportmuseum.co.uk/times-prices.
A photo taken at Chapel Road terminus before the museum gates were opened for the day where the two Blackpool trams are seen side-by-side. Standard 159 and Marton VAMBAC 11.
The stop board behind Standard 159 shows the current extent of tramway operations. With trolley turned the tram is ready to head back to Chapel Road.
Inside the original tram shed and London Transport 1858 is alongside Blackpool Brush Car 627. The Brush Car has been receiving work over the winter as evidenced by the removal of some of its side panels which will be replaced in due course.
A view down the side of 627 showing to a greater extent the amount of work which has already taken place on the tram.
Sheffield 513 has been temporarily moved into the new (west) tram depot. This view shows the new depot with the Roberts car at the front.
Inside the new depot and we see that 513 has company with Blackpool cars 625 and 726 behind. (All Photographs by Bryan Grint, 9th April 2023)