This is a news story you probably weren’t expecting just yet – London County Council 1 has returned to service at the Crich Tramway Village! The tram, which only returned to service in 2024 after a 10 year restoration, had been withdrawn from service during commissioning earlier this year and it had been feared it would need to lifted to investigate further but that has now proven to be the case which has enabled it to come back into use after all!
Bluebird, as its affectionally known amongst enthusiasts, returned to action on Wednesday 25th June 2025 (a 6 month early Christmas present!) with no big fanfare just a note on Crich’s social media to say it was back. The tram hadn’t been used since the end of season A Journey Through Time and Light in November 2024, and whilst this seven-odd months isn’t anywhere near the 67 years between use last time its return is welcome nonetheless.
As revealed by Crich back in April 2025, during commissioning for service this year unusual electrical readings from the motors were recorded. In order to investigate further it was decided to stop the commissioning process and it was thought that it would include the removal of its motors to allow testing by external contractors. As this would need Workshop space no timeline was given for this to happen.
But fortunately after further investigations by the Workshop team it has been decided that isn’t required and they have found a way to manage it, allowing it to return to service after all!
With Bluebird now back in service, 12 passenger trams have now run in service during 2025 at Crich. In addition to LCC 1 these are Chesterfield 7, Glasgow 22, Blackpool 40, Sheffield 74, Newcastle 102, Blackpool 166, Blackpool 236, Leeds 345, Leeds 399, Blackpool 630 and London Transport 1622. Further trams should follow later in the year after work to install new controller arc chutes is completed.
Bluebird back in service and standing at Town End once more.
A second image of the tram. This time its at Glory Mine in what is our first look at the reopened terminus following work over the winter/spring period which includes a new shelter seen just to the right of the tram. (Both Photographs by Peter Whiteley, 25th June 2025)
That’s where that Shelter went. I saw it dumped near the old quarry and wondered if the were putting a stop there.
I can still see the fence is up, stopping you walking up the quarry face
There has been a stop there for over a decade, just no shelter!
The nickname ‘Bluebird’ is not only for enthusiasts, it dates back to the early life of the tram. Stan Collins (The Wheels Used to Talk to Us) also talks of ‘the Bluebird’ as ‘his baby’ in the post-war years and, by that time it was in red livery. A thoroughly recommended bok for anyone who can obtain a copy!
Can you get off at Glory Mine again?
You can get off at Glory Mine, and there is a gate in the fence that is opened to allow people onto the adjoining public footpath
Is there a danger of people coming into the site from the public footpath without paying?
Crew procedures include the checking of tickets of passengers boarding at Glory Mine. It is not feasible to walk the track South from there when trams are running.
Well its been fine for about 12 years now! You need your ticket or coin on the Tram so would get quickly found out. I’m sure they check if you get on there (they certainly used to).
Great stuff that the issue was not a s serious as first thought.
Agreed, excellent news to have this very special tram back in operation