In what has been a busy week for tramways around the country, one city has stood out as the focus for many of the developments which have occurred recently. Manchester has been the centre of news, with both its modern system and heritage tramway being thrust into the limelight. We have seen a large number of new M5000 trams commissioned for use on Metrolink whilst in Heaton Park, progress on the new depot continues at a relentless pace and Leeds 6 enjoyed a welcome, if temporary, return to active duties. However, by far the most significant development, albeit not a particularly welcome one, was the departure from the city of the first T68 to be sent to the scrap yard, beginning a process which will ultimately eliminate this class of tram from the streets of Manchester. This has not only local implications but also national ones as the victim, 1011, becomes the very first second generation tram in Britain to be dismantled. Now the process has begun other redundant T68’s will no doubt follow although it is still hoped that at least one representative of the country’s first truly modern light rail vehicle will be saved for posterity to celebrate the achievement of bringing back trams to the streets of a British city and starting the rebirth of tramway systems. To commemorate the loss of 1011 this week’s cover pictures have been given a T68 theme, with the banner photo showing 1001, the very first modern tram to arrive in Britain. This historically significant vehicle is pictured in its current resting place, lying amongst rows of withdrawn trams on the sidings at Old Trafford depot. In contrast, the profile picture features 1007, one of the dwindling number of trams of this type still available for passenger service. The tram is seen negotiating the city centre whilst operating a service to Eccles, still a regular haunt of the older trams in the Metrolink fleet. Looking ahead to the week to come and the next major event at a museum tramway is drawing closer, with the annual Bus and Tram show due to be held at Birkenhead on October 6th A four car service will be provided throughout the day, with a quartet of vintage trams serving the event, which also features trade stands and vintage buses. As ever, full coverage of the day will be provided on Trams Today, along with all the other news that occurs over the week ahead. Our two regular features will also continue unchanged over the course of the week, with a further look at events in Blackpool in our featured year of 1993 whilst more trams from the national collection will also be profiled as part of the ‘Trams of Crich’. As ever a warm welcome is extended to all those who have joined the site in the past week as our number of followers continues to grow relentlessly. Hopefully the usual mix of news and features will provide plenty of interest in the week ahead.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 22:20:08 +0000
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