Mid-August 2026 saw an open day take place at the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Training and Safety Centre allowing members of the public the chance to see behind the scenes. What you may ask has this got to do with trams? The connection is the fact that it is home to one of the few surviving Manchester Metrolink T68s – with 1003 calling it home.
As is often the case across the UK, fire and rescue services secure redundant railway rolling stock to help them in the training of their crews. Whilst for most this will just be an old railway carriage – and for Tyne and Wear it is Metrocar 4019 – in Greater Manchester they took the chance to acquire one of the withdrawn T68s when they were taken out of service in the 2010s.
1003 was the chosen tram and it was actually driven under its own power to the boundary between Manchester Metrolink and the East Lancashire Railway on 11th April 2015. In doing so it became the very last T68 to run under its own power on the network. It was stored for a short-period at the East Lancashire Railway and then moved to the training centre.
The open day provided the opportunity for the tram to be seen again – albeit at a distance – which shows that 1003 retains the remnants of an advertising livery it carried at the time of its withdrawal (which happened to be based on the more modern yellow and silver fleet livery). It also has graffiti covering much of the exterior.
1003 is seen here in its new role at the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Training Centre.
A view of the other side which shows how 1003 stands at a mock platform to make sure any simulations can be as true to possible live situations as possible. (Both Photographs by David Lloyd, 16th August 2026)