The National Tramway Museum Tramway Village near Crich in Derbyshire has standard gauge track and full sized restored trams. 41 members travelled from (as usual) far and wide for 09.00. Amanda from the Tramway escorted and stayed with the group to make sure the visit went smoothly. At 09.30 participants boarded tram No180 of Leeds City Transport (1931), on Depot Road No8. This was duly traversed, followed by the connection onto the northbound main running line. After reversal (including reversing the reversible seats - that is not tautology; some were irreversible!) it crossed over and reached the Town End Terminus, as far as the overhead allowed. Re-reversing (participants became used to seat reversing!) it took the Town End crossover, to the northbound line opposite the Red Lion, which pub some would 'red line' later.

'Sheffield's Last Tram', 510 'Roberts Car' built 1950 and withdrawn in 1960! Some familiar BLS faces await departure!

Tram 180 built in 1931 for Leeds, known as 'Showboat Cars' due to the high levels of lighting! Seen here after leaving the depot with the BLS party and some members of the public for a 'normal' run.

View backwards from the top deck of 510 leaving Crich tram depot. The normal public running line is far left, the other side of the railings.

Members de-trammed and returned to the depot area, where Sheffield Transport 510 (1950) was waiting in the bright morning sunshine on Road 7. This was duly traversed, repeating the previous manoeuvre back to the Red Lion. London County Council Tramways 1622 (1912) was the third and final tram, from Depot Road 10. All of the trams seen and travelled on were immaculate and beautifully restored. One member was especially pleased to travel on 1622, remembering the type in service in London as a boy and having seen 1622 some years before when it was stored in two halves! After covering Road 10, the other line at Town End Terminus, known as 'the (access) siding', was traversed, kindly arranged by special request, to the 'end of wire' with further reversals and seat shuffling. Although appearing to be a terminal stop it is not used as such now.

1622 at Town End Terminus.

The moves were a great effort by the tram crews and operations team, as they had to finish for normal running (3-tram service) at 10.30 and the public were arriving. Participants did not feel rushed either. The conductors, drivers and depot staff were all in immaculate period uniforms, very friendly, helpful and professional.

With the 'rare track' complete, participants could explore the Tramway Village and enjoy unlimited all day service tram rides. The excellent museum was explored and some attended a guided museum and depot tour, a regular feature at Crich. The first service tram was full, unsurprisingly, and most of the group covered the line to Glory Mine and back. At that terminus the driver indulged us by running as far up the head shunt as possible, leaving his cab several times to check that the pole was not about to detach! On the way a memorial to The Sherwood Foresters Regiment was seen, high on the hill above, a clue to our next destination later in the day.

Our warm thanks go to Amanda and all of the Crich team who went out of their way to make us so welcome and our visit so successful and enjoyable.