In this outing for “Picture in Time” we feature a photo from Croydon Tramlink with a tram still carrying the original red and white fleet livery.
The tram in this photo is 2544, another of the CR4000 trams built by Bombardier in Austria for the opening of the Croydon Tramlink system. 2544 was transported from mainland Europe to the purpose built depot at Therapia Lane (on the Wimbledon line), arriving on 8th March 1999. At this stage deliveries were coming once a week.
2544 is at Avenue Road here with it operating a service to West Croydon. At this time services from Beckenham Junction were only going into central Croydon, rather than the current route which goes through to Wimbledon. Avenue Road has platforms either side of the tracks but as with the majority of the Beckenham Junction route is single line either side of the stop itself.
Photograph by Gareth Prior, 12th March 2008