Another season has now come to an end at the Crich Tramway Village with the museum now closed to the public until Saturday 14th March 2026. As the season concludes we look set to be saying goodbye to one tram from regular use, whilst work continues on returning other trams to service. It’s a very Blackpool dominated update, and it includes a surprise of what may be running in 2026…
It may surprise some of you to realise that it is now 30 years since Blackpool Brush Railcoach 630 underwent a major overhaul when still part of the regular tram fleet on the Fylde Coast. But it was 1995 when the tram returned to service with more modern features (one of three Brush Cars to undergo similar work) and now after 16 years of use in Blackpool and then a further 13 at Crich (plus a brief return on loan to Blackpool) it is time for it take more of a backward step and its likely to be a reserve tram in the operating fleet for 2026.
As one Brush Car is set to take it easier, another is continuing its road to a return with the major TSO funded restoration of 298 progressing in the Workshop. The first wheelset has now been fitted into one of its bogies whilst work has also commenced on constructing the dashboard in the driver’s cab.
Also in the workshop, is another Blackpool tram with excellent progress being made on the work to convert Centenary 645 into the new Access Tram. The roof has now been stripped down with side panels removed. Its planned that the tram will be completed in time to be used next year, providing a vital role at the museum which has been without an Access Tram for the last couple of years since Berlin 223 006-4 had to be withdrawn from use.
And that brings us to the surprise – and its another Blackpool tram on the road to return! Jubilee 762 has been out of service since 2019 when it suffered a failed motor but its now planned to return it to use in 2026, with it having been moved to the Workshop where the motor has been removed for repairs to start.
The reasons for the planned return of 762 are likely to be two-fold. Firstly, it is a popular tram with younger visitors to Crich thanks to its Pleasure Beach Nickeoloden Land advert (complete with characters such as Spongebob Squarepants) and its return will provide more interest for them and hopefully lead to lots of return visits. It will also enable the tram to be used for driver familiarisation ahead of 645’s entry into service, with the two trams sharing the same chopper control equipment.
With thanks to Peter Whiteley for information contained in this article.
The first of the wheelsets is now fitted to 298’s bogies.
Centenary 645 continues to take shape with much of the exterior panelling now stripped. As part of the work on the tram its planned that it will regain its original style roof ends and destination screens.
Blackpool x3! Centenary 645, Brush 298 and Jubilee 762 all seen in the Workshop, all at various stages of projects to return them to the rails.
Brush 630 took somewhat of a farewell trip on the line on the first day after the end of the season and is seen here at Glory Mine during that trip.
630 back at the depot waiting to head back into the main building. (All Photographs by Peter Whiteley, 10th and 12th November 2025)
Oh dear, my bete noire! Something not to look forward to. Jubilee 762 dammit!
With apologies to those who, for reasons which have totally evaded me, like the thing!!!
Reading your comment, I can tell your an older member.
I don’t understand the hate for 762. The hate seems to come from the advertising.
But that’s an important part of Blackpool advertising history, the all over ad.
I hope 645 gets the all over Kit Kat advert. Like Withnail says it’ll “liven all of you stiffs up a bit”
‘Bete Noire’ means dislike, not ‘hate.’ Moreover, why do you assume that it is the All Over Ad. that I, allegedly, ‘hate?’
Some folk have absolutely no sense of humour!!
I expect the assumption towards the advert was made as many people have taken to senselessly complain about it over the years.
As for the sense of humour, it tends to get missed when societies achieve something significant and people cant help but complain. Intended or not it has a habbit of disheartening hard working volunteers everywhere.
Like it or not it has a number of attributes that make it a worthy car to be in the running fleet.
Everyone that dislikes 762 always mention SpongeBob.
It’s save to assume you dislike the advert. Unless you just hate the Jubilee class, then you have my apologies for assuming.
Plus don’t threaten me with a dead fish!
I do not ‘hate’ 762, or the All Over Adverts, despite your assumptions.
There are simply other cars at Crich which I would prefer to see returned to operations.
As I wrote originally, ‘With apologies to those who, for reasons which have totally evaded me, like the thing!!!’
Is Blackpool Brush car 630 needful of heavy repairs ? Was the update carried out in the 1990’s a heavy, comprehensive overhaul ?
Yes, it was but that was 30 years ago so it needs another one! Also its worth noting that the underframe was only repaired at that time, so much of it is still the original from 1937, contrary to what some people seem to think.
Dam I always miss out on 630. I’ve always wanted to ride it at Crich.
The underframe is from 1937, in 1995 its was repaired to extend its life, 30 years later, it now need a similar level of work doing on it. It will be back for the launch of 298 and possibly for special events.
Thank you for the news about 630. Will 298 be fitted with the original controllers or EE version as fitted to the other Brush cars.
I’m happy 762 is coming back! I always managed to miss it during it’s truncated spell in service at Crich before the pandemic. I couldn’t care less about the advert – it’s authentic to how it left service in Blackpool in 2011. I remember seeing it on the prom during those final few weeks.
Hopefully 762’s underframe is in good enough condition to allow many more years of service!
It’s a shame about 630 as I have a bit of a soft spot for it. I’m glad there’s still a few opportunities left to take a ride, hopefully I’ll be there for 298’s relaunch. What a sight that will be.
Why are they fiddling with the roof of 645? wThey should either restore it to original condition or leave it as in ended it’s service days. Why make it a halfway house and put it into a condition it never was when it was in service?
I would like to stick up for 762 though. I worked this tram as a guard (Blackpool never called them conductors) in the mid 90s and always liked it. The driver could help take fares if necessary and there wasn’t a second guard to trip over as you dived up and down the staircases. It was quite lucrative too. I worked it on a Bank Holiday, which was also my day off. So a bonus for working a day off, bonus for a bank holiday and (weirdly) a bonus for collecting fares on an OMO car!!!! And after all that the union wanted us out on strike for more pay!
I just hope Crich give their guards either the correct mechanical TIM or Almex machines when 762 returns. Perhaps instead of the old tram riding certificates they could issue sticky travelcard wallets too?
645’s roof was leaking badly. The add-on bits were attached over the existing roof so they had to come off to do the repairs.
762 has Wayfarer ticket machines (for the Driver). It is intended to operate OPO.
Whilst I think 762 looks awful in the period setting, the other side of the bridge definitely gives the rural flavour of the Fleetwood end! Its a useful OP car as well if required.
Disappointing but not unexpected news about 630.
It was looking a little tired but I hope some day it can make a full return
Just to add, it is pleasing to know 762 will be coming back.
It’s not the prettiest, and if you’re after an old time tram ride, it won’t provide that, but is important to have a more modern representative in the fleet with 630 going on hiatus. I look forward to riding on it next year hopefully.
Thanks for this update. I enjoyed a ride on 630 at the Tram Weekend. Interesting to see the adverts inside for Joe Longthorne at the Winter Gardens, or whatever it was. Although 630’s condition doesn’t give visitors the ‘vintage’ ambience of most of the fleet, it fills a role in evoking the final years of the Blackpool system before 2011. 762 and 645 (allowing for the bits changed for its new role) also fulfil that role, of course.
I can understand why many people don’t find 762 very attractive, but it has historical significance as the final development of the British double-deck tram, so it would be good to have it in working order.