There are now just three Manchester Metrolink T68s available for passenger service following the official withdrawal today of 1017 and 1023. This leaves just 1007, 1016 and 1022 in the serviceable fleet alongside the two remaining T68As – 2001 and 2003 – to give a bit of variety to the now ubiquitous M5000 LRVs.
As reported previously on British Trams Online 1017 was involved in a collision with a car on the Eccles line on 10th January and at the time we speculated that it may have been withdrawn at that juncture but surprisingly repairs were made although it is not believed to have been used in service since the accident. 1017 was discovered in Queens Road yard on 20th January with a dropped pantograph which was found to be down to a failed compressor and so the decision was made to officially withdrawn the LRV. 1017 was scheduled for withdrawal in the next few weeks anyway so its end was just slightly accelerated by the dreaded compressor failure (which has been the cause of the end of several T68s recently).
The second withdrawal is 1023 which was last used as part of a double unit with 1022 on 20th January. 1023 remains serviceable but is currently sat on bogies with tyres which are very close to scrapping size and it was due to be the next to be withdrawn anyway. It is to take on the ice-breaker duties from 1021 as the latter vehicle has been suffering from reliability problems recently and the ice-breaker pantograph has now been transferred to 1023 so it can take up its new role. 1021 is now not considered serviceable although there is a chance it will sacrifice its bogies shortly for use under one of the remaining T68s. 1023 has one claim to fame and that is that it is the only one of the 32 T68 and T68 fleets that has never carried a name!
Meanwhile there has been a little bit of movement with the M5000 fleet in recent weeks with 3059 becoming the latest example to enter service, on Friday 17th January, with ATS and VRS equipment fitted. Transport for Greater Manchester have also announced, via a press release, that further M5000s are due to enter service from Monday 27th January including the first of those fitted with eight extra seats and grab handles following “passenger feedback”. The first of the M5000s to be fitted with these is 3075 and this LRV is expected to enter service alongside 3076 and 3077 and also 3071 shortly.
1017 approaches Cornbrook on 17th November 2013.
1023 at the head of a double unit pulls into Queens Road stop on 21st December 2013. (Both photos: Steve Kemp)
3059 was in service on the Rochdale line on Friday, seen at Newhey at lunchtime.
Not a Full List, But heres Just some of the Old Names Carried by T.68/68As
1001 SYSTEM ONE (Childrens Hospital Appeal I)
1002 (VIRGIN MEGASTORES/ Manchester Champion/ Manchester Arndale Voyager/ The Mary Sumner)
1003 (Childrens Hospital Appeal II)
1004 THE ROBERT OWEN
1005 THE RAILWAY MISSION (The Greater Altrincham Enterprise)
1006
1007 (SONY CENTRE ARNDALE/ The Guinness Record Breaker)
1008 (The Manchester Airport/ Steve Ryder/ Steve Hyde/ Erotica GMEX 2004)
1009 VIRGIN MEGASTORES (The Co-operative Insurance)
1010 (Golden Jubilee 2002/ Manchester Champion)
1011 (SUPERB/ Sponsored by TESCO/ Virgin Megastores)
1012 (VIRGIN MEGASTORES/ KERRY/ Catherine Hallett)
1013 THE GRENADIER GUARDSMAN (The Fusilier)
1014 THE GREATER MANCHESTER RUNNER (The City of Drama/ CHRISTIES)
1015 BURMER STAR (SPARKY/ SKULL CITY)
1016 (VIRGIN MEGASTORES)
1017 BURY HOSPICE (ROSIE)
1018 (Electra/ The Hire Flyer/ Sir Matt Busby)
1019 (The Eric Black)
1020 Mary Poppins (THE LANCASHIRE FUSILIER/ The Dave Graham C.B.E)
1021 (STARLIGHT EXPRESS/ The Greater Manchester Radio/ SONY CENTRE ARNDALE)
1022 THE POPPY APPEAL(The Manchester Evening News)
1023
1024 (THE JOHN GREENWOOD)
1025 (The Christie Metro Challenger/ Fred – G -Fitter)
1026 (THE POWER)
2001 THE JOE CLARKE OBE
2002 (SONY CENTRE ARNDALE)
2003 TRAVELLER 2000
2004 SALFORD LADS CLUB
2005 W H SMITH WEST ONE
2006 (SONY CENTRE ARNDALE)
“The dreaded compressor failure”
A close friend in the engineering department told me that when they ordered the new compessors,they were told by the manufacturer that they were the bees knees and you wouldn’t have to touch them,they were so reliable.Every vehicle in the fleet has had its compressor changed at least once.The manufacturer tried no end of mods to try and get them to work properly.The original compressors made a lot more air.Some days when availability was down due to a compressor fault,they would send it out as a double unit and the good tram would make enough air to keep both trams going.But with the new compressors,one doesn’t make enough air to keep a double unit in service.Thats progress for you.
The rumour I have heard is that they will use the remaining T68A’s on the bury-Abraham moss shuttle when the single line working starts in a few weeks time.
The compressor was seen as a significant weakness in the PCC car. Hence the move to all-electric operation with extended dynamic braking. A lesson from history perhaps?
The T68s were in at the start of the light rail revolution in the UK. I hope that some will see their way into preservation given the significance that light rail now enjoys rather belatedly in the UK with Manchester in the lead.
Just an update:
A decision has been taken to withdraw the last 3 T68s. As far as I know they have already run their last, no special “Farewell” tour has yet been organised. One is supposedly earmarked for preservation, though the group behind this has not yet been named.