The comprehensive restoration of London County Council 1 – known as Bluebird – is coming to a conclusion with its return to full passenger service hoped to be within the next month or so. As part of its continued commissioning it was allowed out of the depot confines during museum opening hours for a test run on Saturday 17th August, which also happened to coincide with day one of the Crich Tramway Village’s Model Tramway Exhibition.
1’s restoration started over 10 years ago when it was moved into the Workshops at Crich on Saturday 14th June 2014 and since then it has enjoyed a major restoration which has only been possible thanks to funding from the London County Council Tramways Trust – a major supporter of London tram restoration at Crich. In that time it has changed from a static exhibit in the red London Transport livery and many features added when it ran in Leeds to how it would have looked when first built in 1932. There is no doubt the quality of the work is stunning and now we can all look forward to the tram entering service. A private launch is planned for Friday 13th September with it then due to enter service soon after, provided all goes well.
When 1 officially enters service it will be the first time it has run in service since withdrawal in Leeds in 1957.
- A video of the day is also available on YouTube from Steven Hughes – https://youtu.be/xpLD0f2EYjs
Bluebird is a Special Car, we knew that even without the blind telling us so! On a test run the tram is seen passing Victoria Park with a working back towards Town End.
1 heads back up the line.
And the tram returns to depot after the completion of its successful test runs.
Other trams were also out on this day! Glasgow 22 passing Victoria Park.
And we also see Blackpool 40 in the same location.
And the three tram service was completed by Blackpool 236. This photo shows the tram waiting at Town End terminus ahead of departure. (All Photographs by Steven Hughes, 17th August 2024)