The annual Tram Weekend at the Crich Tramway Village took place on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September and once again the team at the home of the National Tramway Museum managed to put an excellent show with trams in service and the famous photo line-ups on the depot fan combining for an entertaining two days showcasing tram preservation in the UK.
Trams in service
Over the two days of the weekend, 16 different passenger trams ran in service – nine on the first day and ten on Sunday 14th September.
One of the highlights of the trams in service was the return to service of Blackpool & Fleetwood 40, rather apt as one of the celebrations during the weekend was the 140th anniversary of the opening of the Blackpool Tramway in 1885, for the first time since 2022.
40 missed the entirety of the 2023 and 2024 seasons but recent work on the tram has meant it is now operational again and it made its first appearance in passenger service on day one of the event, Saturday 13th September 2025.
40 was one of just three trams to be used on both days with London County Council 1 (itself only returning to service last year after its major restoration) and London County Council 106 the others.
In addition to the passenger trams two works cars were seen out on the mainline, offering rides to a lucky few passengers on trips up to Glory Mine. Cardiff 131 was used on both days whilst the Blackpool Electric Locomotive was out on just Saturday 13th with it being displayed on the depot fan on Sunday 14th.
London County Council 1 both started and ended the weekends passenger rides with it forming (along with fellow LCC car, 106) a 1030 departure on Saturday 13th with it then running a 1700 service on Sunday 14th. Sadly the weather on the Sunday afternoon had meant that by this time there weren’t too many visitors left on site with heavy downpours leading to many deciding to leave early. This had also seen Blackpool 236, LCC 106, Newcastle 102, Chesterfield 7 and Sheffield 510 all head back to depot earlier than they might have.
Saturday 13th September: London County Council 1, Glasgow 22, Blackpool & Fleetwood 40, Sheffield 74, London County Council 106, Oporto 273, Leeds 345, Leeds 399, London Transport 1622 plus works cars Cardiff 131, Blackpool Electric Locomotive
Sunday 14TH September: London County Council 1, Chesterfield 7, Blackpool 40, Blackpool & Fleetwood 40, Newcastle 102, London County Council 106, Blackpool 167, Blackpool 236, Sheffield 510, Blackpool 630 plus works car Cardiff 131
Depot Fan line-ups
The depot fan is where it all happens over the course of a Tram Weekend with various themes of line-ups and the chance to see some trams which are usually displayed in the Exhibition Hall or stored in the depots outside, and 2025 was no different!
Saturday 13th saw two main themes on the depot fan with the first chance taken to show-off the newest acquisitions at Crich – the three trams donated to the TMS by the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society. Wallasey 78, Liverpool 762 and Birkenhead 20 (none of which are currently operational) were dragged out of their homes in the depots and put in a line in front of the Traverser (with 20 on the Traverser itself). They were joined by another tram from Merseyside with long-time Crich resident Liverpool 869 (which is also not operational in 2025).
Meanwhile, over the other side of the fan it was London that was the theme with currently out of service Metropolitan Electric Tramways 331 pulled out from the back of the depot to go on display. Then as lunch came it was joined by three other London trams – all of which were running in service – as London County Council pair 1 and 106 as well as London Transport 1622 came back for a break. The Croydon Tramlink KLV 058 and its trailer 061 were also on the centre stub track.
A further line-up was also former in front of the depot with the three Leeds double deckers on display. 180 (another out of service for 2025 tram) was joined by 345 and 399 which were in service on the first day.
Then on Sunday 14th it was the time for Blackpool to take centre stage as Crich helped the tramway to celebrate its 140th anniversary with no fewer than 11 trams from the Fylde Coast being lined-up at various times during the day.
This included five trams which are not part of the current operational fleet: Rack 2, Conduit 4 (although this has to be shunted back into the depot when the rains came), Standard 49, Toastrack 166 and Jubilee 762. The Electric Locomotive was also stabled on the fan for much of the day and at various times during the day as tram crews were taking breaks Box 40, Standard 40, Pantograph 167, Boat 236 (which because of the weather didn’t return to service after coming for display) and Brush 630 all came and were lined-up with other trams from Blackpool. Amongst the highlights of the line-ups was the chance to see Conduit 4 and Jubilee 762 side-by-side – the complete evolution of the Blackpool double decker!
Merseyside wasn’t forgotten either with Wallasey 78, Liverpool 762 and Liverpool 869 all out again, and in different positions from the previous day. This also allowed the two 762s to be displayed together during the day.
Saturday 13th September line-ups:
Merseyside: Birkenhead 20, Wallasey 78, Liverpool 762, Liverpool 869
London: London County Council 1, London County Council 106, Metropolitan Electric Tramways 331, London Transport 1622, Croydon Tramlink 058+061
Leeds: 180, 345, 399
Sunday 14th September line-ups:
Merseyside: Wallasey 78, Liverpool 762, Liverpool 869
Blackpool: 2, 4, Box 40, Standard 40, 49, 166, 167, 236, 630, 762, Electric Locomotive
Curtain Raisers
Both days also saw Curtain Raiser photo opportunities in the museum street. Saturday 13th saw a London theme as London County Council 1 and 106 were displayed at Stephenson Place before running the first trip of the day.
Sunday 14th was due to see a Blackpool tram theme but as public transport on a Sunday doesn’t allow you to get to Crich at museum opening time what trams they were is unknown. If anyone out there can update us. please do so in the comments below!
Saturday 13th Curtain Raiser: London County Council 1 and London County Council 106
Other Shunting
In order for some of the rarer trams to be displayed during the event it meant that some others had to be shunted out of the way.
This included Southampton 45 – the tram which started the TMS when purchased back in 1948 – which was moved from the Exhibition Hall on the Saturday into the depot and then put back to the Exhibition Hall on the Sunday.
Johannesburg 60 was also seen having been moved into the Workshop on Sunday 14th.
Other attractions
Both days also saw behind the scenes tours of the Workshop where progress could be seen on two major projects – the conversion of Blackpool Centenary 645 to a new Access Tram and the major restoration of Blackpool Brush 298.
It wasn’t all just about the trams either! Both days saw a spectacular fly-past. Saturday 13th saw a Lancaster Bomber fly over the museum whilst the morning of Sunday 14th (before the rain came!) saw a Spitfire also fly overhead at the museum.
Saturday also saw music on the Bandstand but sadly the weather put paid to a repeat on the Sunday.
All in all it was another hugely enjoyable Tram Weekend at Crich. Plenty of trams to ride on and even more trams to take photos of with the photo line-ups being unrepeatable anywhere else within the UK. Don’t forget events like this are only made possible thanks to the volunteers who give up their spare time – like most heritage organisations Crich are always on the lookout for more volunteers, find out more online at https://www.tramway.co.uk/contact/volunteering/.
Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40 made a welcome return to service on Saturday 13th September and is seen here preparing to depart from Town End with Cardiff 131 next to it and the Blackpool Electric Locomotive behind.
A stunning shot through the front door of 40 as it arrives at Wakebridge where Glasgow 22, Oporto 273 and Cardiff 131 are waiting.
Depot fan on Saturday 13th with a quarter of London trams. From right to left we have LCC 1, LCC 106, LT 1622 and MET 331.
Birkenhead 20 was displayed on the Traverser on Saturday 13th and this image shows its posing for photos.
Another of Merseyside trams is Liverpool 762 which is also seen on display on Saturday 13th.
The trio of new arrivals is completed by Wallasey 78 which is seen taking a ride on the Traverser on Sunday 14th.
The complete evolution of the Blackpool double-decker? Whilst the rebuilt flat fronted Balloon Cars (Millennium Cars) could lay a claim to being the end of the double decker, the design of the Jubilee introducing driver only operational is probably more significant and 762 is seen here alongside Conduit 4. The initial build of these two trams is actually less than 50 years (with 762 originally being a Balloon of course) but the huge size difference is clear to be seen!
Spitfire flypast with the plane caught coming over the Museum in between Liverpool 869 and Blackpool 49.
This is less than half of the Blackpool trams which featured during line-ups on the fan. Box 40, Rack 2, Toastrack 166, Standard 40 and Standard 49.
Inside the Workshop and excellent progress is already being made on stripping Centenary 645 ahead of its conversation to the new Access Tram. (All Photographs by Steven Hughes)
- There will plenty more coverage to come from Tram Weekend on British Trams Online in due course.