As we have already reported on these pages, Crich Tramway Village – home of the National Tramway Museum – opened for the first time in 2025 on Saturday 16th March 2025. Since that date it has remained opened Saturday to Wednesday each week and more trams have slowly been introduced into service. Of course, the museum has also seen three new arrivals with the former MTPS trams arriving last month. This article takes a look at some of the operational trams as well as some of the static exhibits around the depots. Stuart Cooke paid a visit on 30th March 2025.
So far during 2025 a limited pool of trams have been commissioned for service which saw the first couple of weeks dominated by just three trams – Chesterfield 7, Glasgow 22 and Sheffield 74. They have since been joined by Leeds 399 and Blackpool 630 and then on 2nd April a sixth tram was used in service with the return to action of Blackpool 40.
At the very start of the season (about from the first day) works meant that a revised service was running with trams only able to run between Town End and the Bowes Lyon Bridge and from the Bandstand to Wakebridge. Fortunately, a through service could resume again after a couple of weeks. But at the time of writing the section from Wakebridge to Glory Mine remains to be closed for more work, although that should be open in time for Easter..
- Crich is currently in the Spring season which sees the museum open every Saturday to Wednesday. Weekends opening hours are 1000-1730 and weekdays its 1000-1630. It is also open on Thursdays and Fridays during school holidays (Thursdays 10th. 17th April and 29th May, Fridays 11th, 18th April and 30th May). This will remain the pattern until the end of May when Thursdays becomes a regular opening day again.
Taken from the access ramp leading to the new café we see Sheffield 74 heading up the line with a service. This visit to Crich coincided with a two tram service.
The second tram in service was Glasgow 22 as seen in this view.
Another view of 74, this time at the Entrance.
On board 74.
Commissioning work underway in the Workshop with Oporto 273 present.
Two of the three new arrivals are seen at the front of the depot. On the left is Liverpool 762 and next to it is Wallasey 78. Birkenhead 20 was not easily accessible for photos.
A view down the side of Liverpool 762.
Blackpool Centenary 645 was stabled outside the Workshop. Plans remain in place for this to be converted to be the new Access Tram.
Trial fitting of changes to the tram has started, including the apparent raising of the cab floor. (All Photographs by Stuart Cooke, 30th March 2025)
We are experimenting with 645 to see if we can offer driving experiences for less mobile people in wheel chairs.
cool
An excellent idea, good luck with the project.