Band Stand Project

Work continues on the band stand project which is nearing completion. A start has been made on laying the grass turf.

London 159

Here are the first pictures of London 159 moving under traction power. London 159 has been an ongoing restoration project since 2005 and is hoped to be completed later this year.

The engineering team on the depot fan with London 159 and Cardiff 131 which has recently returned from Blackpool.

The interior of London 159 lit with traction power for the first time

Blackpool 'Boat' 607/236.

The refurbishment of Blackpool 'boat' 607/236 continues to make progress in the Paint Shop at Blackpool Transport Services, Rigby Road Works as the car is now receiving its first coats of cream paint.

Photo courtesy of Mike Crabtree with the kind permission of Blackpool Transport Services.

The Wanderer Returns!

Early on Saturday Morning 24th March 2012, on a typically Crich misty morning, Cardiff 131 arrived back at the Museum from its outing to Blackpool.

It was unloaded by the combined efforts of workshop personnel and the Scotts Haulage team.

After the car had been unloaded it was quickly re commissioned and driven to the workshop for a full technical inspection, a thorough clean and servicing. The car will then shortly rejoin the operational tram fleet at the Museum.

 

All photos courtesy of Mike Crabtree.

Cardiff 131 in Blackpool

Pictures of Cardiff 131 in Blackpool taken Friday 23rd March.

Cardiff 131 pictured at the new 'Tower' tram stop

Cardiff 131 then took to the streets and went along Lytham Road to Rigby Road Depot to be loaded on Scott's low loader, ready for its trip back to Crich. A rare opportunity for one of the Museum's trams to be seen operating along a British Street.

 

All photos courtesy of Mike Crabtree with the kind permission of Blackpool Transport Services.



Working Weekend

Here is a team of our volunteering painting fences and the events admission shed ready for Easter 1940s Weekend on 8th and 9th April

Blackpool Boat 236

Blackpool 607 in the final stages of its overhaul by Blackpool Transport Services. Here is a selection of photographs of the tram in the paint shop.

The tram will be arriving at Crich in April for our visitors to enjoy an open top ride in the warmer weather.

Photos courtesy Mike Crabtree with kind permission of Blackpool Transport Services.

Saturday 10th March

On Saturday 10th March 223 006 the AccessTram ran under its own power for the first time since its overhaul. Here it is emerging from the Workshop and enjoying some fresh air on the depot fan.

223 006 was built in the Berlin workshops of the East German State Railways (Deutsche Reichsbahn) in 1969 and now carries the traditional Berlin livery of ivory and black.

 

The former Leicester City Transport AEC bus brought about 40 representatives from the National Association of Road Transport Museums to Crich for their half-yearly meeting. They had presentations on the development of the National Tramway Museum and visited the Library and Archive as well as the Conservation Workshop.

Photograph supplied by Colin Heaton.

First Trip to Glory Mine

Blackpool rail coach 630 on its first trial trip to Glory Mine. The alignment of the overhead wires being closely monitored from Johannesburg 60.

The Workshop, track work and overhead inspection team with Blackpool 630 at Glory Mine

London 159

Here is a photograph of 159 taken on the depot fan. London 159 is nearing completion and we hope to officially launch the newly restored tram car this year.

London 159 stands along side a modern vehicle from Croydon Tram Link, an example of 1st and 2nd generation tram cars side by side.

Photograph supplied by Dan Heeley.

Blackpool 630 Outing

Here is Blackpool 630 out being tested on Friday 2nd March 2012

What a difference a day makes...

Making good use of the extra day of the year gave the Workshop team a chance to leap ahead: 3006 made its first brief appearance outside on the depot fan before being placed in Road 1 for the pantograph to be fitted.

Meanwhile progress was made on reassembling Leeds 345's truck.

 

Photos courtesy M C Crabtree