We’d previously reported on Crich’s plans for the Coronation weekend which was to see Leeds 602 on display (on account of its entry into service in 1953 at the time of the last Coronation and being painted into a purple livery) but that wasn’t all that happened at the home of the National Tramway Museum as it was joined on the depot fan by Glasgow Coronation 1282!
Previously unadvertised 1282, which usually resides in the main depots at Crich, was positioned on the depot fan throughout the long Coronation Bank Holiday weekend with Leeds 602 stabled on the Traverser as it had been during the previous week. In addition to the two trams out on the depot fan, Chesterfield 8 (in the Great Exhibition Hall) was decorated for the occasion (similar to how it was decorated for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral last September) whilst there were also notices placed on the depot fan to give visitors an idea of how trams have helped to celebrate royal occasions in the past.
With the Coronation events now over both trams are back in the depots. It has already been confirmed that 602 will remain stored in the depot until the end of the 2023 season with Blackpool 762 having taken its place in the Great Exhibition Hall.
Glasgow 1282 is one of a large class of tramcar known as Coronations, and so it was displayed on the depot fan on the Coronation weekend. Here it is seen in the sunshine on Sunday 7th May.
Leeds 602 poses on the traverser on 7th May. This tram was opened up to visitors who could look inside the tram, which is of course normally housed inside the Exhibition Hall. (Both Photographs by Peter Whiteley, 7th May 2023)