Unlucky for some 1013 has become the thirteenth of the combined T68/T68A fleet to depart Manchester for scrapping in South Yorkshire with the very familiar sight of an Allely’s low loader taking the LRV to meet its end in the first week of September. 1013 had been prepared in the workshops at Trafford Depot for its final one-way journey with all reusable major parts removed before it headed to Booths in Rotherham for its final fate.
1013 was delivered to Manchester on 30th January 1992, entering service on 6th April 1992 and provided sterling service until it was officially withdrawn on 2nd December 2013. It became the first LRV to suffer a derailment on the network with this happening near to Victoria in 1992 before Metrolink had even opened! 1013 was in fact one of the few vehicles which remained intact before being moved into the workshops and was able to operate under its own power and had been used for shunting around the depot on a few occasions.
A further three T68s are now in the Trafford Depot workshops where final component removal and preparation work for their departure to Booths is taking place. These are 1002, 1009 and 1025 and it appears that the middle of the trio could be the first to go judging by its position in the workshop.
There are now just 10 T68s remaining in Manchester and of these one will be entering preservation (1007) and one is to be used by the Greater Manchester Fire Service (1003) so that means there are just eight more due to go to Booths. On top of these five of the T68As also remain in Manchester. Of these 15 vehicles all but 1003 are stored at Trafford Depot and as mentioned above three are in the workshops being prepared for their final sad and lonely journeys to meet their makers.
Farewell 1013! In happier times the LRV is seen approaching the Deansgate viaduct with an Eccles service on 19th July 2013. (Photo: Gareth Prior)
so 1025 finally bid fairwell