Another popular tram from the national collection has returned to service at the Crich Tramway Village with Metropolitan Electric Tramways 331 being used for the first time for a little over a year on Wednesday 30th July. 331 had recently received workshop attention following a derailment in July 2013 and became the 22nd passenger tram to run in service at Crich in 2014 (although this has since increased to 23).
You may remember that 331 suffered a derailment during “A Capital Event” in early July 2013 and was withdrawn from service at that time waiting for space in the workshop schedule to allow a full investigation to take place and for any repairs to be affected. It was duly admitted to the Workshop in late June this year where it was lifted and after investigations showed that the damage was not as bad as feared repairs undertaken. After initial release from the workshop the tram was consigned to the depots again awaiting further attention to tidy up the paint work which had been slightly damaged during the repairs.
With this attention completed 331 was quietly added back to the operational roster and was selected for service for the first time on Wednesday 30th July where it operated alongside Blackpool 166 and London Transport 1622.
Great to see 331 up and about again. Spent a great deal of its life as Sunderland 100 .How about a repaint in Sunderland livery.