Friday 13th September saw the latest tram to have had a major restoration at the Crich Tramway Village enter service with London County Council 1 (aka Bluebird) officially launched at a special event for supporters, members and other invited guests. The stunningly restored tram entered service after a short ceremony on the depot fan and then proceeded to run in service for the assembled guests.
The restoration of Bluebird has taken 10 years (originally entering the Workshop on Saturday 14th June 2014) and has cost in the region of £500,000. The restoration was made possible thanks to the generosity of supporters of the London County Council Tramways Trust who funded the restoration. Over the past 10 years the tram has been disassembled, parts restored or replaced and then put back together. The work has been made all the more complicated by the lack of plans of the tram meaning the team in the Crich workshops have also had to draw these up. With the tram having been sold on to Leeds after withdrawal in London, a number of changes to the original configuration were made and these have had to be undone during the work.
1 was built in 1932 and entered service for the first time in June 1932. It was a prototype and according to press reports of the time brought new levels of comfort to London’s tramways. But it was destined to be the only tram of its kind as not long after entering service the London Passenger Transport Board was formed and ultimately made the decision to abandon trams. Originally painted in the distinctive blue and white livery, 1 would become just another tram when receiving the familiar red and white London Transport livery.
After withdrawal (which came before the end of London’s tramways), 1 was sold to Leeds Corporation. It headed north in June 1951 and entered service the following December, numbered 301. It cost £500 to be purchased and then a further £300 was invested in its overhaul. Withdrawn in 1957 the tram then entered preservation – first moving to the British Transport Museum at Clapham and then in 1972 to Crich. It remained a static exhibit at Crich for next 40 years before attention was turned to its restoration and a decision was made to return it to its 1932/3 condition.
Now after 10 years of hard work the restoration has been concluded and the tram has been able to be launched into service.
The launch ceremony on the depot fan at Crich saw speeches from LCCTT Chairman Ian Ross, Leon Daniels OBE, former Managing Director Surface Transport at TfL and Jason Hardy, President of the Tramway Museum Society.
Once they were out the way, Bluebird embarked on its first journey from the depot fan for special “blue” ticket holders. After returning to Town End it then ran for the rest of the afternoon, turning heads wherever it went. The afternoon became a bit of a London tram event with London Couty Council 106 (returning to service for the first time since 2021, so not quite as long ago as Bluebird!) and London Passenger Transport Board 1622.
1 was then used on both days of the following Electric Tram Weekend with most of its journeys being full to capacity.
A quick count up of electric passenger trams which have now run at Crich suggests that 1 is at least the 51st to have done so. It’s the second London County Council car and the fifth tram from London. We’re happy to be corrected on any of the above as it has only been a very quick count!
- Further coverage from Electric Tram Weekend will follow on British Trams Online in due course!
Bluebird at Town End as passengers board and others wait to get the chance. London Couty Council 106 waits at Stephenson Place.
The tram back at Stephenson Place.
A look through the end top deck window of London Transport 1622 showing 1 at Wakebridge.
1622 passes 1 at Stephenson Place.
Another look at 1 as it heads under Bowes Lyon Bridge. (All Photographs by Stuart Cooke, 13th September 2024)