For those of you who are still reeling from the withdrawal of the last of the once 26 strong T68 fleet on Manchester Metrolink at the start of February you will be interested to learn that a new book charting the rise and fall of the light rail vehicles has now been published. Written by Metrolink RATP Dev Ltd Controller Andy Coward and retired local transport enthusiast John E Henderson the book tells the story about the vehicles from their delivery, through to their withdrawal, and is illustrated by a large number of high quality photographs, including a number of behind the scenes images.
The book is titled SUPERB, a name which has a connection to the T68 fleet. Co-author John E Henderson has closely followed the fortunes of Metrolink and its LRV fleet since the system was opened in 1992 and for Metrolink’s 10th anniversary in 2002 he was invited to name one of the LRV fleet and come up with a name which he though typified Metrolink. He instantly thought of the name SUPERB and asked if the name could be applied to LRV 1011, which had been the first member of the fleet he travelled in ten years earlier. Ironically, ten years later 1011 became the first T68 LRV to be withdrawn from service in April 2012.
The T68s have played a major role in re-establishing light rail onto the UK’s streets and over the ensuing years Metrolink has experienced unprecedented growth, along with providing the blueprint for several other cities that have followed Manchester’s lead by introducing tramways onto their streets. However, the introduction of a new fleet of Bombardier/Vossloh M5000 LRVs from 2009 saw the newer vehicles gaining much improved levels of reliability against the older vehicles. This lead to Transport for Greater Manchester deciding to take the T68 LRVs and the six T68A LRVs (which were built in 1999 for use on the Phase Two extension of Metrolink from Cornbrook to Eccles) out of service, with a phased rundown of the fleet starting in April 2012.
Throughout their working life, the T68 and T68A fleets have both proved to be challenging, in terms of operation and reliability, for the various operators of Metrolink, but each of the T68 vehicles has amassed around 1 ½ Million miles running throughout their careers. They have also been a symbol of the pioneering spirit of the Manchester transport planners who first suggested returning trams to Manchester’s streets in the early 1980s and there is an appreciation of the historical significance of the vehicles.
SUPERB contains 200 pages and is an A4 format, produced perfect bound in softback and printed in full colour. It is priced at £18 per copy and copies can be purchased from various transport book retailers or directly from the website www.buryrossendalerails.com. The book has been produced on a voluntary basis and all profits generated from the sale of the books will be donated to Bury Hospice – who themselves have a connection to Metrolink as T68 1017 was named BURY HOSPICE for a number of years – in support of the vital work done by the organisation in providing vital end of life care to local people.
Sounds like a really good book.Such was the speed of the final withdrawal of the T68 in February and no formal announcement,that there is even staff at metrolink who still don’t realise that the last T68’s have gone.
Well done! Can’t wait to obtain a copy for my son and myself.
Seems incredible that the vehicles have each clocked up 1 1/2 million miles in little over 20 years. Many railway locos did less than that over a much larger network and in many cases over a greater number of years. It shows how intensively the T68s have been operated.
1.5m miles in 20 years = 75,000 miles a year.
Assume each tram was used 250 days a year (5 days a week) thats an average 300 miles a day.
Bury – Altringham is about 17 miles, so thats 8 or 9 return trips a day.
Just received my SUPERB book, it says a lot about the UK’s first modern tram back on our street, excellent work Andy & John.
It brings back memories of many years helping to operate the tramway.
An excellent book and good cause for the donation any profits.
It would be appropriate if MOSI could find room for one of the T68’s
Bought my copy 200 pages and many excellent photographs, excellent value.
Excellent book in support of a very worthy cause as well. Loads of good photographs and what a host of detailed research has gone into it.
Excellent book.Just the right balance of technical knowledge and laymans terms.Each vehicle has its own dedicated history page.Top marks to Andrew and John.You will not find another book of this quality at this price,so don’t hang about,order your copy now.