It may have been delayed by several weeks but trams have now started running at the Crich Tramway Village again with the first passengers carried on Saturday 30th March after the completion of repairs which had caused the delay.
The issue had been with the electrical supply which was only identified during the start of year commissioning checks which only took place shortly ahead of the planned start of the season. With safety in mind this led to the decision to delay the operation of trams although the museum site was still opened with reduced price admission.
But all repairs were completed in late March and it was announced on Good Friday that as from Easter Saturday (30th March) trams would once again be running – the first time since the start of November last year when the previous season ended.
To start things off the standard three tram service saw Glasgow 22 (the first Glasgow tram to run on any tramway in 2024!), Sheffield 74 and Blackpool 236 (the first Blackpool Boat to run on any tramway in 2024) in service.
The second day on Sunday 31st March initially saw 22 and 236 in service again with Sheffield 510 alongside them before Blackpool 40 joined in later in the day. The use of 510 and 40 were the second Sheffield Roberts Car and second Blackpool Standard Car to be used in service in the UK in 2024 (East Anglia Transport Museum having already used 513 and 159 before this date).
Then on both Easter Monday 1st April and Tuesday 2nd April the three trams chosen for service were Glasgow 22, Blackpool 40 and Sheffield 510. Wednesday 3rd April saw the first two tram day with 40 and 510 in action.
This brings a total of five trams used in passenger service so far this year with several more to join in as the year progresses.