For the next five weeks “Picture in Time” will be featuring images taken on the Manchester Metrolink system in the summer of 1994 by Donald Brooks.
This first photo shows T68 1019 crossing Windmill Street as it leaves the tram and bus reservation alongside Lower Mosley Street. On the left is the corner of the Midland Hotel and beyond it can be seen the Lutyens-designed Cenotaph, moved in 2014 to create space for the expansion of the St Peter’s Square tram stop. The right hand side is where a lot of difference can be seen as well with the block now containing the Premier Inn yet to be constructed, although there are boards up talking about the development of the area with new offices planned.
The tram is named “The Eric Black”. Eric Black was involved with Metrolink management at a very senior level and was apparently responsible in the planning days for ensuring that the word ‘tram’, with all its supposed pejorative implications from first generation systems, was never used in association with the project.
1019 would be withdrawn from service on 27th September 2012 and would then leave Manchester for scrapping on 21st May 2014.
Photograph by Donald Brooks, Summer 1994