At Crich Tramway Village, the ongoing major overhaul of London County Council 106 is now at a well advanced stage. The tram – which last operated on a restricted basis in summer 2010 – has been partially rebuilt with replacement corner pillars and new body panels being fitted, whilst the truck of the car has also been extensively refurbished due to a very high standard.
106 is now being treated to a full repaint, with its original maroon and cream livery being re-applied. Work on reassembling the truck is now complete following the delivery of its brand new wheels and gears, and the refurbished wheelsets, and this awaits being refitted beneath the body of the tram.
It has not yet been announced when LCC 106 is likely to be completed; although it is hoped that the tram will be ready in time to participate in the much-hyped ‘Electric 50’ event in September, this is by no means a certainty just yet. As soon as 106 vacates the workshop, its place will be taken by London Transport 1 so that a start can be made on stripping this car ahead of a major restoration funded by the London County Council Tramways Trust, which will ultimately see the tram returned to its original blue livery and operate at Crich for the first time ever. A lot of work will need to be carried out on this tram however, which is in a very poor condition, and to further complicate matters it is anticipated that some of the materials which are not able to be retained in the restore vehicle will be retained and conserved due to the perceived historical significance of this unique tram. Therefore, whilst the tram is taken apart and then reconstructed, it will occupy a large amount of space, indeed the museum will need to find room for virtually an entire tramcar interior!
Another former London tramcar which has occupied the Crich workshop is the derelict horse car, North Metropolitan 184, which moved to the musuem site to be deconstructed at the end of last year. The tram is now a kit of parts, which will shortly be returned to the Clay Cross store within specially made packing cases, after being treated to preserve them. Other parts which were too far gone have been disposed of, but not before the London Transport Museum were kept informed of any discoveries. Their Curator has also helped the TMS to ascertain some details about the car’s past, but have now indicated that their interest in it has ceased.
A recent view of LCC 106, now largely complete again and part way through being repainted. Visiting Blackpool Balloon car 711 can be seen in the background. (Photo by Martin Bryan)
Good news! No doubt we will have some killjoys moaning about the fact these trams are all from the capital when they have no knowledge about how the funding works for these projects.
When you see posts like that no wonder people fed up and feel. Bruising for a fight. Almost willing people to comment. Reality is your doing the society your claim to love no favours at all.
This is a positive for London preservation supporters and no doubt will be useful car in Crich operational fleet.
Daniels comments are his own, not necessarily the museums. So are mine for that matter.
Personally, I’m delighted that the hard working workshop team are getting the attention they deserve. It’s things like this that make it worthwhile.
Now, lets give peace a chance eh?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkZC7sqImaM
I don’t work with TMS and have no affiliation with them. I am just sick and tired of people unjustifiably moaning about them.
Unfortunately Daniel, while I agree with your sentiment, the tone of your posting is counter-productive: as Chris says, it comes across as highly provocative. In your case I suspect it is naivety rather than being deliberately inflammatory, but it is unnecessarily defensive comments like this and the ‘them and us’ attitude of some commentators that causes the upset and negative publicity for the organisation they claim to support.
I fully endorse Phil’s comments about the hard work put in by the workshop team and that that part of the operation deserves so much more positive publicity, so understand his wanting to distance himself and Crich from your comments.
To Phil and Co in the Workshops – rise above the politics of the TMS board and the misguided comments of armchair ‘supporters’, and keep doing what you do so well!
That’s true, I should have phrased it better and changed the tone and I apologise for that. It is naivety, you are right.
I am sorry for my badly worded comments and retract them. I hope no damage has been done by this.
To clarify I don’t retract defending the TMS but the manner in which I did. It was uncalled for but I will continue to stick up for them when unjust criticism is thrown their way as I feel is the fashion at the moment.
As a TMS member, and one of the hard-working volunteers (not a board member I might add), thank you.
I’ve just heard that LCC 106 has been retrucked this afternoon, and LCC 1 has finally entered the workshops! Frustratingly, I’m ill so couldn’t make it up today, of all days.
That’s superb news!
Don’t forget that 159 also returned to service a few days ago!