As always the annual Enthusiasts’ Day at the Crich Tramway Village on Saturday 14th September featured the usual mix of an intensive tram service coupled with various tram displays on the depot fan. The pre-publicity for the event seemed to suggest that a horse car line-up with the first official appearance in public at Crich for Leeds 107 would be the “mane” attraction but in the end a double deck tram from a nearby East Midlands city stole the show.
Leicester 76 last ran in passenger service in 1975 and its appearances in the open have been very limited since then with it being a major exhibit in the Exhibition Hall for the past 20 years but Enthusiasts’ Day 2013 was to see the tram hauled out into the open much to the delight of the many visitors at the event. Stabled just off the Traverser in the front of the main entrance to the Exhibition Hall the sun came out from behind the clouds shortly after it was positioned and the cameras clicked away. On a personal level this was the one tram at Crich I had wanted to see in the open for a long time as having spent three years in Leicester at University this is as close to a home town tram as it gets!
Although this was the main highlight (well in my opinion anyway!) of the day there were countless over highlights. The morning saw two displays on the depot fan with the day starting off with “Little and Large” as Sheffield 15 and Blackpool 762 were briefly stabled alongside each other and once the morning service trams had left the depot a London line-up was put together featuring two current operational trams, one recently withdrawn and one shortly to enter the Workshops for a restoration. This last tram is of course London 1 another tram which has not seen the outside for a while and was also situated at the back of the Exhibition Hall, showing that nothing at the Museum is now off limits for display at one of these type of events. The other three London trams were of course London United Tramways 159, MET 331 and London Transport 1622. The main display of the afternoon was the much anticipated horse car line-up, which for the first time featured five trams: Chesterfield 8, Oporto 9, Sheffield 15, Cardiff 21 and newcomer Leeds 107. The sight of these five trams on the depot fan shows how the horse car collection is now very much unrivalled on the UK mainland.
Away from the displays on the depot fan 16 passenger trams carried passenger during the day (eight in the morning replaced with a different eight in the afternoon) and they were joined by Cardiff 131 which ran some demonstration journeys – with passengers – during the morning and early morning.
As a result of Leicester 76 and London 1 being extracted for display (and in the case of 1
eventual restoration) some shunting had gone on the previous day to replace them in the Exhibition Hall. In the case of 1 its place has been taken by Liverpool 869 whilst Johannesburg 60 has currently been included instead of Leicester 76. Although some people have expressed disappointment that 869 has been placed at the back of the Exhibition Hall hopefully the fact that an effort has been made to use trams located here during this event will allay some fears it is there for the very long term (and if you don’t
like where 869 is now just wait until you see where MET 331 is now and what is in front of it!)
Two other trams were also shunted during the day with Oporto 273 moved from the back of the depot into the Workshop and Edinburgh 35 was also shunted to allow other trams to be placed back in the depot.
A couple of years ago Enthusiasts’ events at Crich seemed to be stagnating a bit with the same trams seemingly always being displayed but the last couple of years have seen just how good a show Crich can put on with a 16 tram service plus rare photographic opportunities. It is events like these that only Crich can put on with their extensive collection and here’s to many more in the years to come!
* Full coverage of the event will follow on British Trams Online soon including a comprehensive Photo Gallery and a more detailed report on the day. In the meantime, and thanks to Geoff and Hazel Quarmby, we provide you with a small selection of images from the day which will hopefully give you a taster of what to expect.
A line-up of some of the morning service cars seen in Stephenson Place led by Berlin 223 006-4.
The first of two major line-ups during the day was this London line-up featuring MET 331, London 1, London Transport 1622 and London United Tramways 159. Although not as colourful as last years Glasgow line-up it is still quite a sight.
The "suprise" display around lunchtime was of Leicester 76 (although anyone taking a look in Depot V upon arriving at Crich on the day would soon see what the surprise was going to be!). It is seen here in sunshine outside the Exhibition Hall.
The afternoon horse car line-up is seen here on the depot fan with Leeds 107, Sheffield 15, Oporto 9, Chesterfield 8 and Cardiff 21 all waiting for the cameras. (All photos: Geoff and Hazel Quarmby)
Where’s 331?????
It was put at the back of road 12 behind Edinburgh 35 and Leicester 76.
I have to say well done to all the Operational, Workshop and other frontline staff (shops/catering etc) for yesterdays event. While perhaps not quite as spectacular as last year’s Glasgow Day (no one realistically expected it to be), it still showed what the Museum is capable of and the potential and variety of their fleet.
One thing I think all correspondents on here should remember (and I include myself here as I admit to my guilt) is that it is quite possible that these pages are read by non-enthusiasts who may be contemplating a visit to the museum. We should be careful that we don’t put folks off visiting Crich. I am sure that many visitors have a very pleasant visit and that the families enjoy themselves.
I managed to get on to many of the trams – including 131, but unfortunately I didn’t manage the three Glasgow cars and 74. The ride on 131 was a treat; as a matter of interest how much does it operate in passenger service? Well done to all the staff at Crich for a wonderful day, everyone was extremely friendly. Leicester 76 on the fan was a surprise, I was almost sure it would be the Leeds Vambac. I think I’ve had my last ride on 331 for the foreseeable future though – being parked behind Edinburgh 35 is never a good sign!
Gareth, glad to hear of your links to Leicester, the city where I grew up. Sadly, I was only four years old when Leicester’s trams finished, but I can recall that I was ‘bribed’ to behave on visits to the dreaded dentist by the promise of a tram ride. The dentist’s was close to Victoria Park, and we rode up London Road from the Clock Tower to reach it; I can just remember getting off the tram in the middle of the road. My first tram ride, and the beginning of a lifetime interest / obsession!
Many years ago, when I still lived in the UK, I spent many hours helping Bob Hall and Charlie Haycock with the first restoration of 76 at Crich, which increases my special feelings for this fine car. My only regret is that she has so long been a ‘non-runner’.
I think 76 would make a fine operational car, representing the reversed staircase system, and would look perfect with chesterfield 7. It has historical importance at crich, the first car fully restored there. It would bring some variety to the fleet, reversed staircases