Three T68s depart Metrolink

A further three T68s have left Manchester Metrolink in the space of a few days, although only one has gone to Booth’s in Rotherham for scrapping. 1015 was the LRV which headed off on the back of the low loader to Rotherham on Thursday 24th July with the two mystery departures being 1026 and 1024.

1015 becomes the tenth T68/T68A to be sent for scrapping and is a LRV which has had quite a few key moments in its all too brief history. It was actually the penultimate vehicle to enter service in 1992 as it was initially used as a source of spare parts to keep the other T68s on the road and was the second T68 chosen to be modified for use on the Eccles line in 1999 becoming one of the small fleet of T68Ms. It is also became the first T68 to carry a non-standard livery when it received advertising vinyls for GMPTE’s “Get our Metrolink Back on Track” campaign in September 2004.

But probably its biggest claim to fame came in November 2010 when it received a vinyl wrap of the new Metrolink colours of Yellow and Silver (the first T68 to receive the colours however briefly) and became Politanlink 1030 for a starring role in ITV’s long running soap opera Coronation Street. This was for the infamous tram crash episode with some scenes being filmed around Queen’s Road Depot and also overnight near to Pomona before a specially constructed mock-up was constructed for further filming.

1015 arrived in Manchester on 27th March 1992, entered service on 2nd July 1992 and was withdrawn on 20th September 2012 (the ninth of the class to be taken out of service). After almost two years of storage the LRV finally left Trafford Depot on Thursday 24th July to be scrapped.

However that is not the fate which awaits the other two recent departures –1026 and 1024 – which have left Manchester for continued storage elsewhere. It is believed that the two LRVs have been moved to Long Marston for further storage and it is thought they will eventually be used as part of the UK Tram led test project. This project has been set up to help the future development of tramways in the UK and has already seen Midland Metro’s T69 14 and Blackpool Brush Car 636 moved to Long Marston with a further T69 also expected to make the trip. In the official announcement about the project Centro had also revealed that two Metrolink LRVs were due to join this project – although it was thought they would be moved to Old Dalby – and it is thought that this is the reason for the movement of these two T68s. 1026 was the first of the pair to depart on Friday 25th July and was followed by 1024 on Wednesday 30th July. Both vehicles spent only a limited amount of time in the workshops at Trafford before movement and although 1024 was essentially complete and had moved under its own power when moved across Manchester (a year ago) but 1026 required a compressor change before it can operate again.

For the record 1026 was delivered to Manchester on 9th April 1992 and entered service on 26th May 1992. It was the first LRV to run a test run through the city centre after a major track relay on 30th October 2009 and was also used for testing on the South Manchester Line (as far as St Werburgh’s Road) on 23rd January 2011 with 1018 for company. It was the 22nd vehicle withdrawn when it was officially removed from service on 2nd December 2013.

As for 1024 this arrived in Manchester on 2nd April 1992, entered service on 22nd May 1992 and became the 18th to be taken out of service on 10th August 2013.

1010 remains in the workshops at Trafford Depot and continues to undergo component removal and it is expected that this will become the 11th of the T68s to head for scrapping.

On the M5000 front, 3085 was moved across to Trafford Depot on 28th July but still awaits entry into service. 3086 is still at Queen’s Road Depot where it is undergoing commissioning and mileage accumulation.

1015 leaves Manchester Metrolink property for the last time, heading across the Pennines to Rotherham and an appointment with the scrapman. (Photos: Chris Davies)