Following a review of the tramcar collection within their care, the Crich Tramway Village (home of the National Tramway Museum) have announced they are seeking new homes for two of their trams. Both trams being offered are currently stored at the off-site Clay Cross store and are Halle 902 and Blackpool Railgrinder 2.
The museum has made the decision as part of a thorough review and are hoping by offering them to other interested groups that they will have a positive future in preservation.
Andrew Pendleton, Museum Chairman, said: “Removing trams from our collection is a difficult decision, but we have considered all options and believe this is the right thing to do to give the vehicles a chance to be appreciated by the public under someone else’s ownership”.
The Museum’s aim is that both trams will remain in the public sector if possible, and are seeking expressions of interest from organisations who would be interested in acquired either vehicle. They are being offered free of charge, although all removal and transport costs would be the responsibility of the acquiring organisation.
Halle 902, built in 1969 by iconic manufacturer CKD Tatra and was rebuilt in 1984 as a double ended tram, becoming one of only two double-ended Tatras of this type to ever operate anywhere in the world. With its use reducing it became available and was imported to the UK from Germany in 2005 with the aim being that it could be converted into a new Access Tram. However, a variety of factors prevented this and it saw very limited use as a conventional tram. May 2018 saw it moved from Crich to Blackpool for storage and when it needed to move again it was transferred in April 2022 to Clay Cross rather than Crich, which is where it has remained ever since.
Blackpool Railgrinder 2 is a tram which has been off public service for much longer than 902, with it having been at Clay Cross for 50 years now with it move there taking place in 1975. Built in 1935 it was operated in Blackpool until withdrawal in 1965 with it then moving to Crich in December 1965. Initially used as a works car, it was also a mobile generator for a time and appeared as an illuminated tramcar during the Extravaganza. But its use at Crich was only for a short period of time and after 10 years it was off for storage. The vehicle does not have a truck or any electrical equipment.
Anyone interested in having any further information on the trams, including photos and a full and detailed description of their history and condition is asked to contact Kate Watts, Curator, at kate.watts@tramway.co.uk.
An image of Blackpool Railgrinder 2 in its current condition at Clay Cross. It has been painted grey and at this photo shows would be a big job if anyone wished to restore it. (Photograph courtesy of Crich Tramway Village)
Halle 902 is seen in operation at Crich during 2006. Its has just come under the Bowes Lyon Bridge on 11th June 2006 during a special enthusiasts event. (Photograph by Gareth Prior)
Any mileage in Grinder 2 going to Heaton Park to join no 1 and making one good tram out of the two?? Otherwise should cosmetically restore for display at tramtown.
The main issues with 1 (752) are electrical, 2 was heavily stripped of electrical components so doesn’t anything to provide.
Don’t you think Tramtown have bigger priorities than this?
First of all, I want to applaud Crich for making this tough decision. Space is not infinite, and clearly neither of these trams is likely to be a serious candidate for restoration at Crich, nor do they add much to a collection telling the story of the evolution of British trams.
That said, I really can’t see either of them being exactly in demand; not only are most other heritage tramways and museums already full up, but with recent developments, particularly at Birkenhead and Blackpool, it would seem wise to keep any free depot space for any more useful and valuable trams that may become available in the next few years. I don’t like seeing historic trams scrapped, but I feel that in this case that might be the most sensible option. That said, who knows – maybe we could see 902 become a diner or a play tram if no museum wants it, or it could even return to Germany!? Stranger things have happened!
I thought several German museums were interested in 902?!
Why has grinder 2 lost it’s truck? It obviously had one because it operated at Crich, so at some point the museum must have pinched it. As part of a national collection of tramway vehicles and infrastructure, why is grinder 2 not restored (at least cosmetically) and on display?
Also, who paid for 902 to go to Crich in the first place? They have a useless PCC car (which was a pet project of Winstan Bond, the TMS treasurer at the time) that’s never turned a wheel. Surely it would be better to get rid of that and keep 902, which could easily be returned to service.
There are very strict rules that have to be followed when a museum de-accessions any items, and I’ll be watching what happens here carefully.
I’m not sure what happened to Railgrinder 2’s truck either, presumably it was used for another project or as an accomdotion truck. I hardly think that the TMS ‘pinched’ it though – they own it after all!
As for why it isn’t restored and on display – probably because there isn’t enough space at Crich to house the entire collection, and nobody has ever expressed a desire to do anything with the car or offered to fund it. Also the fact that they have other works cars which fulfill a similar role in the collection, and the fact that Heaton Park now own its more complete sister car. I really can’t see any valid argument at all for restoring car 2 and I suspect you’ll be pretty much on your own with your views on it.
As for Halle 902, I do think in hindsight that acquiring it and subsequently moving it to Blackpool and then Clay Cross was a terrible waste of money, however that isn’t enough justification for it to continue taking up precious depot space, particularly if plans to do away with the Clay Cross store come to fruition. I believe it is not considered part of the core national collection as it was purchased as an access tram rather than for historical reasons, and so its disposal should be less restricted by the usual museum rules. Hopefully someone can correct me if I’m wrong but I’m pretty certain this is the case. For what its worth, I’d happily see both 902 and the single-ended PCC car both kicked out, but I’m sure not everyone would agree with me there!
Finally, it isn’t uncommon for museums to dispose of some items to free up space for new acquisitions that may not have been available in the past, in doing so Crich is showing that it is a forward-thinking museum that tries to fill gaps in its collection and preserve a good variety of trams from different time periods. I would certainly rather have Wallasey 78, Bournemouth 85 and the Blackpool Boat car, for example, than Grinder 2 or Halle 902.
Neither 902 or the rail grinder are accessioned vehicles. The museum is following the recognised guidance from the Charities Commission.
With the Blackpool Railgrinder the original truck a very unique Brush felxible axle truck which originally came from a Marton Box car and was under the tram at Blackpool and came to Crich with the tram is currently under Nottingham 166. At Crich when it was the generator and illuminated car it had P22 truck which I think went under Chesterfield 7. The B18 controllers were used on other trams.
The body was heavily modified at Crich and is in poor condition.
Hopefully 902 can find a home again in Germany for it to run again.
For the Blackpool Railgrinder, it’s a pity to see it not being likely to return to service, but given that Crich already have 2 (Sheffield 330 and Cardiff 131) it was hardly likely to return to service. Hopefully it can find a home at another museum soon.
Alternatively, if I win the Euromillions next week, I’ll take both.