1001 has become the second T68, and third T68/T68A combined, to depart Manchester for scrapping with it making its last journey on the back of a low loader on Tuesday 15th April having spent the previous couple of weeks in the workshops at Trafford Depot being stripped of any useful components.
1001 quite rightly has a major place in UK tram and light rail history being the first of the new generation of on-street light rail vehicles to arrive in the UK when it was delivered to Manchester on 29th August 1991. Over the next 21 years the LRV went about its business on the ever expanding Manchester Metrolink network before it was withdrawn from service on 7th August 2012, becoming the fifth of the class to run its last passenger journeys. Like all of the class 1001 was suffering from a corroded solebar and the costs involved in rectifying this problem were deemed prohibitive especially in light of the deteriorating reliability the vehicles were suffering from.
After initial component removal took place at Queens Road Depot 1001 made its last fateful trip across Manchester in late 2012 where it was positioned on the scrap lines at Trafford Depot, a position it remained in until early April 2014. It was then moved into the workshops where any remaining useful components were removed in preparation for a one way trip to C F Booth of Rotherham, where it is to be scrapped (indeed by the time you read this it may already be history).
Thanks 1001 for your years of service and for starting the light rail “revolution” in the UK. It is probably fair to say that without the T68s – despite their faults and dated design – we would not be enjoying light rail in Birmingham, Blackpool, Croydon, Nottingham, Sheffield and soon in Edinburgh.
It is expected that 1004 will be the next T68 to head across to the other side of the Pennines with this vehicle having also been in the workshops for final component recovery.
It hasn’t been all bad news from Metrolink this week as the latest M5000, 3082, arrived at Queens Road Depot on 12th April and is now undergoing initial commissioning work whilst 3081 has moved to Trafford Depot for preparations to be made for it to enter service.
1001 departs Manchester for the last time. (Photo: Reece Hughes)
1001 nears the end of its journey as it is caught on camera at Wooley Edge services near Rotherham.
Another view of 1001 at the service. (Photos x2 Bob Hodges)
A valuable piece of Britain’s transport history being destroyed. Shame on Metrolink for not offering it to preservation. Surely there are plans to preserve at least one? First 1011, then 2004, and now 1001. Something needs to be done before the T68s fade in to the history books.
Who says that Metrolink didn’t offer it for preservation? It has been well known for a long time that the T68s were doomed and had anyone shown any interest in acquiring 1001 (or any other tram for that matter), I’m sure they would have been interested. The fact that this operator has been so supportive of the Heaton Park Tramway, recently contributing financially towards the overhaul of Manchester 765, shows that they are very much pro-preservation and I’m sure would have been keen to assist with saving 1001. In this case sadly I think it’s more a case of nobody being prepared to do anything to make sure it survived!
Fair enough. I’m surprised Heaton Park have not offered to take one; even if not operational it could always be put on static display on separate piece of track.
Now children – 1001 was NOT the first T68 to run in Manchester so its only claim to fame is that it was titularly the first numerically.
Now wait and see what Santa may bring you!
It was the first to be delivered and the first to run on the city centre rails, pulled by the 1027!
Agree, this is sad that no-one seems to be trying to preserve one of these trams no matter how troublesome they are, static display would suffice, where is the national tramway museum ???
The flip answer to your question is: “At Crich, in Derbyshire”.
Seriously, though there are insurmountable barriers (and this applies to Heaton Park as well – another comment suggested that they should have done something) which can be summed up in three words: Space, Time – and Money!
I’m a little surprised that these relatively modern vehicles are being scrapped. Vehicles retired from the German networks often seem to be snapped up by systems in eastern Europe, and i wonder if any attempt has been made to find a market for them there?
They might have been suitable for the proposed conversion to light rail of the Watford – St. Albans Abbey line, but that scheme seems to have foundered for the present.
To be honest the T68s have not aged particularly well and are said to be in a poor condition now. Also the fact that they are not low floor vehicles is off-putting to many operators who might otherwise have considered buying a few.
A T68 is a big old lump to find space for,but its a shame that the vehicle which started the ball rolling for the second generation tram system in this country has been scrapped.
Another Manchester vehicle numbered 1001 that was saved from the scrapmen spings to mind.The vehicle I am referring to is the Leyland atlantean mancunium,which at the time was another Manchester innovation in high capacity double deckers.In years to come will the question be asked why wasn’t a T68 saved.
As a small “aside” comment, concerning Mancunian 1001, this too was nearly scrapped. Just before it was due to be withdrawn, it had a nasty accident with much of the front being damaged beyond normal financial repair. Luckily at that time, Greater Mancheter PTE decided that it was too important a vehicle to lose, and therefore it was repaired, and later restored back to its original condition.
Simple fact is these heaps are in such shocking condition, they should have been withdrawn and scrapped 5+ years ago! and 1001 is one of the worse…
Don’t blame Metrolink for not preserving 1001 – they have offered them to preservation groups and made it clear that anyone else who wants one can have it for scrap price. I believe there are still negotiations in the background that could yet still see two or three survive but for obvious reasons they have not yet been made public. While it is a shame that the numeric first car won’t be one of them, it is understandable that others in less bad condition would be preferred.
Personally I’d back 1012 as a good candidate, being of equal historical significance as the first to carry passengers in service and being in less poor condition…
Technically you could say that the ‘first’ T68 is preserved; the demonstration vehicle that was provided in advance of the production vehicles and now resides at the transport museum at Boyle Street in Manchester. Admittedly only half a tram (with mirrors fitted to give the impression of a complete one), and not fitted out to be operational but at least a space was found for it, and presumably any T68 would be preserved as a static exhibit anyway.
I heard from a Metrolink employee that they were trying to find someone who may be interested in preserving 1007, even possibly the Manchester Museum of Transport although space is at a premium. This was the unique T68 in the fleet having a different type of seating.
Other than a static exhibition I think anybody trying to take on such big project as a T68,would certainly have their work cut out.Correct me if I am wrong,but most preserved tramways are made up of first generation vehicles which are pretty basic compaired to a T68.Firstly the bogies are virually heavy rail bogies.Then there are the five different braking systems,which along with the traction side are controlled by an array of electronics.Metrolink were even finding it hard to source some parts.Good luck to anyone brave enough to take one on.
I went to Old Trafford depot the day i was lead to believe 1001 was going for scrap. However after taking some photographs from the south side of the depot. I saw 1001 outside the north entrance onit’s own. I mistakenly thought that many of the trams parked on the south side had gone for scrap!! but it looks as though 1001 was obscuring the view of them. Last Sunday I came back from Lincoln VVS open day via Rotherham and stopped off at Booth’s to see if 1001 was there. All that looked to be there were 3 sets of LUL surface stock but with the above in mind I could be wrong. Pity I missed 1001 when it moved.
There is definitely an ex Manchester tram at Booths today, 19 Nov 2014.Can see it from my office window, but cant see any fleet numbers.