The gorgeous Newcastle 114 arrived at Crich Tramway Village on the sunny afternoon of Monday 8th September aboard a low loader supplied by Scott’s Heavy Haulage, and was unloaded in the period street at the museum. This tram is, of course, visiting from Beamish Museum to help celebrate fifty years of electric tram operation at Crich, and is expected to be one of the star attractions at the highly anticipated ‘Electric 50’ event taking place on 13th and 14th September.
Although the National Tramway Museum is home to Newcastle 102 that tram has not operated since 2000 due to various defects including a broken axle, meaning that 114 will be the first representative of the North East city to run at Crich for more than a decade. The tram also becomes the first from another museum to visit Crich for a short-term operating loan, further cementing the excellent relationship with Beamish which has seen a number of trams from the national collection run there. Having Newcastle 114 at Crich will create some unique photographic opportunities, and it should provide an interesting contrast with the other open-top trams there, as well as Sheffield 74 which is also an uncanopied tramcar much like 114, only with a top cover fitted. By strange coincidence one of the other stars of the show, Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40, once carried the fleet number 114 after transferring into the Blackpool Corporation fleet – so it will not only be one of two number 40s in service at the weekend, but also one of two 114s – very confusing!
As a further surprise, the boards on 114′s decency panels have been updated specially for its visit to Crich. Having promoted the 40th anniversary of the Beamish museum tramway in 2013, the boards have now been amended to proudly proclaim ‘Fifty years of service’, in recognition of the milestone achievement being celebrated at Crich this year. This will add further novelty value to its appearance and the car looks set to be a real head turner during the ‘Electric 50’ weekend. Once the car has been re-commissioned for use, all of the 25 passenger cars due to operate at this event will be in place and ready for what should be a truly sensational two days at the museum!
The arrival of Newcastle 114 at Crich Tramway Village on September 8th following its long journey south from Beamish. Note the special advert boards which were adapted for its appearance at the 'Electric 50' event. (Photo courtesy of Crich Tramway Village)
Tram narrived at 4:15pm and by 5:45pm was in the workshop being worked on. Lifeguards, top deck lights, trolley mast and trolley pole fitted but not trolley head
Congratulations to Beamish and the TMS on making this loan happen.
Great to see Crich finally fully involved in the various loans which have been going on for the last few years. Whilst cars from Crich often go elsewhere it is a rare treat to have 3 non residents for this event at Crich. I hope this signals a new era for this museum. Well done all.
What a weekend 13th and 14th of September promises to be the weather forecast looks good so let’s hope there is a massive turn out at Crich to witness this one off .event
For those who can make it on Friday, 12 September, there will be a chance to ride all three visitors, weather and availability of tramcars permitting: http://www.tramway.co.uk/events/electric-friday