A one-hundred-and-twenty-year-old tramcar has returned to its home in Derby.
Derby Corporation tramcar No. 1 resides in the National Tramway Museum (NTM) collection at the award-winning Crich Tramway Village in Derbyshire.
The tram was built in 1903, and originally ran in Derby. The NTM is to loan it for display at Derby's new centre for classic motor vehicle restoration, ‘Great Northern Classics'.
The centre is located at the former Victoria Ironworks foundry on Osmaston Road, in a building with a long history of industrial engineering use and which recently served as the Rolls-Royce Heritage Centre. At one point, the building was used by Derby Corporation as a depot to house trams and trolleybuses.
The ‘Great Northern Classics' project has re-purposed the building to accommodate new commercial units, workshops and showrooms for classic motor vehicles. It also runs an apprenticeship programme for engineering skills.
The workshop team at Crich workshop carried out some conservation work to improve Derby 1's condition, replacing rotten wooden floorboards on the upper deck, repairing seats and repainting some internal areas.
After several weeks on display in the depot, on Monday 21 August Scott's Heavy Haulage delivered the tram to Great Northern Classics. Derby 1 is now in place at Great Northern Classics, below what will become a glass-walled visitors' viewing gallery, which will open to the public in November.
The founders of Great Northern Classics say that they are keen to maintain the link with Derby's heritage of transport and engineering.
More information about the project can be found here.
Dr Mike Galer, General Manager at Crich Tramway Village said: “I am thrilled that after many months of work and negotiation, Derby 1 is returning to its once home and that doesn't happen very often. It will be able to be enjoyed by a brand-new audience who can appreciate Derby 1 in its original setting.
“We would like to thank Arts Council England and Museum Development East Midlands for the support for the Derby 1 tram loan project.”
Abigail Whitt, Sales & Marketing Lead at Great Northern Classics, said: “We're super excited for the tram to return to its original home, that will sit among a wonderful collection of vehicles in our storage facility. The tram will be on display overlooked by our mezzanine and café for all of Derby to see. We're really proud to have such an important piece of Derby's transport history here at Great Northern Classics.”
Kate Watts, Curator at Crich Tramway Village said: “Back in June 2021, Derby 1 was moved from Crich to the museum's off-site storage facility as part of an essential move around of trams. On 31st May this year, we were happy to bring Derby 1 back to Crich to prepare it for the move to its new temporary home in Derby – Great Northern Classics. Once this fantastic new venture opens, this will be a great opportunity for people to enjoy seeing this tram again, and in an original Derby tram depot.
“I'd like to thank all the workshop team members who have helped with the various stages of this project. Particular mention must go to the those who got it safely into position in Derby, as this was no mean feat! Challenges included limited door height clearance, followed by a tight turn through another door, and finally having to be moved across a large floor area. All achieved smoothly thanks to meticulous measuring and planning by those involved.”
