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Historic Tramways in London

I did read an information that the historic Tramway Bluebird 1 is restored and running, again. Searched for days this month to buy tickets for a operating historic Tramway Tour (Bluebird 1 or another historic Tramway) No luck. Please, can you confirm my search/result or did I search wrong?

Posted by
8005 posts

The Bluebird 1 is an old London Tramcar.

But she is now at the wonderful Crich Tramway Village in Derbyshire- https://www.tramway.co.uk/

Unlike the San Francisco Muni Line F Crich is not a normal passenger revenue service (part of the city transit system), but in every other possible respect it is a system operating as it did in the heyday of trams in the UK.

She is now part of the operating fleet, who run daily tram trips on the site. The place is a veritable cornucopia of historic trams.

You would need to contact Crich to find out is she was restored to run on any particular day. In some ways it doesn't matter as you will get a superb selection of other trams in the fleet.

Blackpool also has historic trams on the tramway on many summer days- run by a Preservation Group, not Blackpool Transport.
https://blackpoolheritage.com/
During Illuminations season in the autumn/fall and winter those services include the legendary illuminated trams. For a tram enthusiast something not to be missed.
This week the illuminated trams have even run on the brand new track section up to Blackpool North Railway Station

Posted by
8005 posts

By the way, back in London, there are infrequent tours of the former Kingsway Tram Tunnel, run by the London Transport Museum.

Contact the Museum to find out the next dates- none seem to be currently scheduled- https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/hidden-london/kingsway-tram-tunnel-linking-london#s-map

But you can see the outside of the tunnel at any time if you go down to Holborn/Aldwych.

Anyone interested in trams, and if in London, really should ride the modern London trams, down at Croydon and Wimbledon. They are a good example of what modern trams/light rail/streetcar (whatever name you wish to use) can do.

If you do go up to Crich I also suggest visiting the modern Sheffield Supertram system, and maybe also the Nottingham Express Transit tram system on your way to or from London. Two systems which are totally different from each other.

Posted by
239 posts

Yes, Bluebird is at Crich in Derbyshire. They don't provide details in advance of what trams are running on what day, but if you spend a few days in the area, they announce what is running every morning on their X/Twitter account. It's a nice part of the country apart from the tramway museum.

The best way to get to Crich if you aren't driving is to get a bus from Matlock (no service on Sundays). The nearest railway station is Whatstandwell but you will need to walk over a mile up a very (very) steep hill.

If you are in London, you can see old trams (not moving) at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, or at the "Depot" in Acton, which is open a few weekends per year.

Posted by
33898 posts

plus one for Crich

a very scenic part of the world, a wonderful experience at the museum... They will even tell you how the trams were part of the postal network

Posted by
51 posts

Thank you for all the information. Unfortunately, I have already booked a lot of programme items. Tickets for shows etc. Not enough time to travel to Crich. So we will visit the London Transport Museum and take this wish into account earlier on our next visit to England and then plan for it.

Posted by
8005 posts

Another good place near London for Historic Tramcar running is the East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville, near Lowestoft.

They have old buses, trolleybuses, a narrow gauge light railway and of course tramcars (including one from London), all of which run in service. From another thread it looks as if you are visiting between now and Christmas. They are closed in November, but then open on the 3 weekends before Christmas with night running-https://www.eatransportmuseum.co.uk/times-prices

Lowestoft has regular direct Greater Anglia trains from Liverpool Street then it is a short bus ride.

I've never got there personally, but have heard very good things about it.

Posted by
8005 posts

BTW I don't know where in the States you are from, but I found out last night (by the most unlikely process possible) that there is an old (1928) double deck tramcar from Blackpool, England at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum at the Powerland Heritage Park at Brooks, OR- still operational- apparently exported to the Williamette Shore Trolley Line in Portland in 1964, and used there for 40 years.
That sounds like a great day out with tram cars from around the world.

Posted by
4864 posts

the British vlogger Jago Hazzard might be of interest here