Recent work on London County Council 106 has seen the handbrake columns being refitted on 2nd August, with some enthusiastic newcomers to the workshop helping with this task. To enable some mechanical work to progress the tram was positioned at the top of road 2 in the workshop, but the following day it was moved back into the wash bay where it is currently housed. Body work is approaching completion with the first of the staircases now re-fitted, and the overhauled trolley base also awaits fitting. The upper deck seating appears to have been smarted up and last but by no means last, the exterior repaint is now at an advanced stage with the familiar maroon and cream livery being re-applied. At the moment the tram is devoid of any lining out or lettering but this should be added before too long. It is hoped that 106 may be operational again next month so that it can participate in the ‘Electric 50’ event, although a number of jobs remain to be finished if this is to happen.
Meanwhile, an even more exciting project is beginning in the shape of the major restoration of London Transport 1, which will see the car returned to its original guise as London County Council 1 and being outshopped in its famous blue and white livery which has never been seen before in preservation. The workshop team have now been briefed on the plans for dismantling the car, and some parts have been labelled to ensure that they can be easily identified once removed from the tram. One end has already shed its lifeguards and the driver’s windscreen although understandably, not much progress has been made as the current priority is to ensure that a large number of trams are available for service at the ‘Electric 50’ event. More visible progress is expected once this event has passed, and we look forward to following the reconstruction of this tram over the years ahead.
The sun shines on LCC 106's fresh paintwork as it stands at the front of the Crich workshop on 3rd August, before being moved back to the wash bay for further attention.
London Transport 1, with a missing windscreen at the end pictured, is viewed from the workshop gallery the same day. (Photos by Andrew Waddington)