Monday 15th May 2023 is the 120th anniversary of the start of electric tram operation on the London County Council tram system and to mark the occasion two surviving tramcars which ran on that system are to be displayed at the Crich Tramway Village. The trams will be 106 and 1, which represent the start and the end of the design of trams for the LCC.
Although neither tram has yet to run in service in 2023 (106 is on the list to be commissioned but has not yet carried passengers whilst 1 is coming to the end of a major restoration which is scheduled to be completed this year) they are to be displayed together for photos on this significant anniversary.
The start of the London County Council electric tramway was celebrated in style on 15th May 1903. There was an elaborate banquet for 2,334 people and then a specially decorated tram conveyed the Prince and Princess of Wales (the future King George V and Queen Mary), their family and a select group of officials from Westminster to Tooting. A mounted guard of honour was provided by 12th Middlesex (Civil Service) Volunteers (LCC Company). Souvenirs were produced to mark the occasion, which included paper napkins for the use of those attending the banquet.
One of these souvenirs is part of the collection at Crich and it has recently gone on display for the first time in a new temporary exhibition “The Art of Trams”.
106 dates from 1903 with 1 being built in 1932. 106 has long been an operational tram at Crich but 1 has never previously been part of the operating fleet. It was selected for restoration with work starting in 2014 and it is planned that this will finally reach an end this year. All told its expected the restoration will have cost £500,000.
Kate Watts, Curator at Crich Tramway Village, commented: “The 15th May is a great opportunity to photograph the two trams representing the start and end of an era on London tramways and we are excited that LCC1 is planned to be completed this season. The major restoration on LCC No. 1 has taken around 9 years and will have cost nearly £500,000 by the time it is complete, funded by the London County Council Tramways Trust.“
Monday 15th May is a normal operating day at Crich – and we know there are a lot of Bank Holidays in May but this actually a normal Monday! – with the museum being open between 1000 and 1630.
106 in the sunshine at Stephenson Place. (Photograph by Crich Tramway Village)
1 is seen here mid-restoration during a shunt with it having made it just outside of the depot confines. (Photograph by Dan Heeley, courtesy of Crich Tramway Village)
A credit to all who have a connection to the project.
Whilst i appreciate that its nice to do on the exact day, would Sunday not be better for visitors?