Tramway News
15th May 2009
Sunderland tramcar No.16 has been lifted off its truck to enable various repairs to be undertaken, a thorough inspection to be carried out and the tyres to be re-profiled, these having worn flanges on account of this tram’s long fixed wheelbase. It will also be an opportunity to re-calibrate the springs and give the truck a deep clean. The wheelsets will be removed next week in readiness for turning, something that we have to contract out. The tram group are assisting with this work and are carrying out numerous extra jobs to fit No.16 for reliable future service. The body is resting on the jacks on Road 1, the depot lean-to.
The various movements have brought Sheffield 264 back into the limelight, seen here on Road 3 having given up its usual berth to 16’s body. 264 is kept in working order, though not in passenger operation. It has worked hard for Beamish and now requires a general mechanical overhaul and substantial restoration of its lower deck saloon. This is the original from 1907 and the joints have worn loose allowing be far to much movement in the structure. New methods of repairing such joints and body timbers are now available and I hope that much of the original would be retained. However, it still costs money!
Elsewhere in the workshops, John Stokoe and Bob Fielding were buried underneath one of our replica vans used on site, this being a Fleur-de-Lys product and very much showing its age now – bear in mind most of our replicas have worked far longer here than the original vehicles would ever have done!
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