Operating fleet grows at Crich

With the main opening season now underway following the unwelcome snowfalls of last week, it is pleasing to report that Crich Tramway Village continue to operate more different trams with a total of eleven different cars having run in passenger service so far in 2012. Seven trams operated on Easter Sunday for the first of two annual 1940’s events – a high point for the year to date.

So far the following trams have run in 2012: Chesterfield 7, Glasgow 22, Blackpool 40, Southampton 45, Johannesburg 60, Sheffield 74, Leeds 180, Metropolitan 331, Leeds 399, Glasgow 812 and London Transport 1622. In addition, Blackpool Brush car 630 has also run on test along the mainline and should enter service following the completion of work on the airbrake gagues. No launch date has been set for this car, but hopefully this will be confirmed soon. This will then leave only two trams (excluding those receiving ongoing workshop attention) left to join the running fleet – these being the two toastrack cars, Blackpool & Fleetwood 2 and Blackpool 166. Of course there should be even more additions to the fleet later on in the year but understandably, the initial focus has been on commissioning the trams in need of least work in order to provide a good number of trams for visitors to enjoy.

One notable absentee has been the Museum’s ‘Access Tram’, Berlin 3006. As extensively reported on this website, this tram has been treated to a fairly extensive overhaul and repaint over the winter months, returning it to its original cream and black livery and its full number of 223 006-4. Although the finished tram has run under its own power, it has not yet been approved for service meaning that it did not operate over the Easter weekend. This is very disapointing as of course it is the only tram in the fleet that can carry passengers in wheelchairs, who have been admitted to the site for a reduced entry fee whilst it has been off the road. Hopefully 3006 will be back in service soon as its absence has a small impact on the Museum’s revenue and is not too good for PR either. It should be added that the tram looks excellent and should fit in much better with the period street scene at Crich than it did before in its vivid dark orange and white colour scheme.

The first ever look at Berlin 223 006-4 in its new guise on British Trams Online, with this photo of the freshly repainted tram standing outside the Crich workshop. (Photo by Niall Dorsett)

Blackpool 630 seen in the depot at Crich. Surrounded by green and cream trams, 630 must feel quite at home in its new surroundings! (Photo by Niall Dorsett)

This entry was posted in Crich Tramway Village. Bookmark the permalink.