It looks set to be a busy couple of days for the movement of Manchester Metrolink’s T68s with 1014 having already left for Rotherham and 1016 due to depart in the early hours of Thursday 21st August for Long Marston.
1014 has become the twelfth T68/T68A to leave Trafford Depot for scrapping and follows swiftly in the footsteps of 1010 which had left only six days previously. The LRV was loaded onto the now familiar sight of a low loader from Allelys and departed Trafford at approximately 0945 on Wednesday 20th August.
1014 was delivered new to Manchester on 30th January 1992 before entering service on 30th December 1992 – the last of the original T68s to do so as it had been used as a source of spare parts during the initial commissioning process. Its other main claim to fame is that it had carried more names than any of its other class mates with seven during its career. The LRV was officially withdrawn on 11th June 2013 (number 17 to be taken out of service) and after a period of storage at Queens Road it was moved across to Trafford where further storage followed ahead of a move into the workshops for final preparation works to take place. With this work completed the vehicle left Manchester just over 22 and a half years after arriving for scrapping.
The low loader is due to have returned directly from Booths in Rotherham to Trafford Depot where the next departure is to be loaded. This will be 1016 which is the final, of four, LRVs to have been acquired by the UK Tram test fleet and will be transported to Long Marston to join 1022, 1024 and 1026 (as well as Midland Metro T69 14). It is expected that 1016 will leave Trafford in the very early hours of Thursday 21st August (around about 0500 is likely).
1016 arrived in Manchester on 13th February 1992, entered service on 6th April 1992 (the highest numbered LRV to be in service on the first day) and was withdrawn on 10th February 2014 (the 28th of the fleet to run its last). Although for most of its career it just went about its daily business without any major claims to fame 1016 was one of the last two of the class to carry passengers when it operated on the farewell charity tour in May 2014, gaining the name “Farewell T68” for the occasion.
The next T68 likely to leave Manchester for scrapping – the unlucky 13th! – looks set to be 1013 which has been moved into the workshops for final preparation works.
On the M5000 front 3086 has now made the move across the city to Trafford where it is undergoing final preparations ahead of an entry into service, which is expected to take place over the coming days.
1014 leaves Manchester for the very last time on 20th August 2014. (All Photos: Steve Kemp)
Another claim to fame for 1016. It was the most unfortunate T68 in service.
It suffered 2 collisions – both at the junction of Mosley St and Nicholas St and both with taxis.