Well, over a year after it arrived, the Blackpool Balloon tram ex No.703 and now known as Sunderland 101 has entered passenger service at Beamish. Thanks to the sterling efforts of the four members of the Beamish Tramway Group and latterly our own mechanical engineer and assistant, the work to bring 101 to operational standard has been completed. There are still cosmetic jobs to complete and some investigation of aspects of the bodywork, but the certificate of conformity (issued under our own Safety Management System for new/visiting passenger carrying/interoperating rolling stock) was completed this morning and 101 was taken off the depot by a crew of three (driver, conductor and a driver/conductor undergoing familiarity training).

It is worth reflecting on the work carried out. 101 has had several spring hangers removed and rebuilt, a replacement spring, work to repair a cracked spring carrier, brake inspection (including fitting of replacement blocks where appropriate), air systems inspection and fitting of new compressor switch, a full electrical survey and inspection of the controllers, adjustments to the electrical system as required, fitting of an overhauled trolleybase onto a new carrier frame atop the reinforced roof structure, fitting of trolley pole, head and fuse, work on all of the windows (which now drop as originally intended), some structural work, work to floors, handrails and interior panels, removal of graffiti, sealing of the roof itself, attention to the paintwork and repairs to some damaged panels, fitting of Beamish pattern dewirement buzzers and numerous other jobs besides. The owners, the Lancastrian Transport Trust, and former owners, Blackpool Transport Services, have both assisted with components and some drawings. However, the commissioning is a great moment for the BTG and reflects the amount of work they have put into this project. 101 is an elderly vehicle and shows it in places, however it has life left in it and hopefully our visitors will be able to enjoy its high capacity and weather resistance (especially today with wind and rain squalls). As has been explained here before, 101 will not be a regular traffic tram, emphasis being on using it at peak periods. However, at the moment while we have Gateshead 10 out of traffic for motor repairs and 196 pending a winter rebuild, 101 is very welcome!

One winter task will be to produce some replica Sunderland Corporation crests (in a diamond) to apply to 101, which should finish off the livery nicely.

Below: Here are a selection of views showing 101 in regular service. The sanders are much in use, this being leaf fall season… Sunderland 16 is the second car in service today.

Below: Amongst the first passengers – seen after boarding in the Town street. All trams are running anti-clockwise whilst the work at Pockerley takes place, the timescale for track lifting and renewal having been brought forwards with an aim to complete the first phase of the project (to install a new depot road) this week.