Manchester Metrolink 1007

1007 with 1016 on the T68 Farewell tour (Photo by Chris Bray)

1007 was one of a batch of 26 trams originally constructed for the Manchester Metrolink in 1991. Known as T68’s these were the first, second generation trams for the UK and entered service when Metrolink opened on April 6th 1992. Less than a month later on April 27, 1007 made history when it became the first tram to carry passengers through the streets of Manchester since 1949, chosen as the last tram in 1949 was number 1007. In June of the same year it was displayed at Bury Bolton Street station on the East Lancashire Railway.

In December 2002 it became the first T68 to recieve aquamarine doors and in March 2003 the interior was refitted with a different style of seats that had previously been fitted to 1022. October of the same year saw 1007 become the first T68 to be fitted with automatic passenger announcements and a year later became the first to be fitted with internal CCTV.

following a collision 1007 was sent to Crewe works for repairs, arriving there in January 2005 and returning to Metrolink in March.

March 2008 saw 1007 leave Metrolink again, this time for Wolverton works for refurbishment works that saw the vehicles floor replaced throughout. Returning in August it then underwent “T68X” conversion, allowing it to be used on the street running Eccles Line. 1007 finally returned to service in Late December of 2008.

May 2009 saw 1007 named “East Lancashire Railway” by Pete Waterman at Bury Interchange and 6 months later its destination roller blinds were replaced with LED dot matrix displays.

In March 2010 1007 became the first tram to be tested on the new MediaCityUK spur.

February 4th 2014 saw 1007, along with 1016 used for the T68 Farewell Tour, the last time T68s would carry passengers after 22 years service. The tour visited the T68’s regular routes, Piccadilly, Altrincham, Bury and Eccles before returning to Queens Road Depot. A short pause at Heaton Park saw 1007’s key ceremoniously handed to representatives of the Heaton Park Tramway, becoming the first second generation tram to be preserved in the UK.

Shortly after the tour 1007 was transferred to Trafford depot where it currently remains in undercover storage, awaiting funds to extend Lakeside depot, allowing it to transfer to Heaton Park.

Today 1007 remains as one of 5 surviving, and 2 preserved T68’s.

1003 remains at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services Training facility in Bury, used for training operational fire crews.

1022 and 1026 were purchased by UK Tram, a not-for-profit body representing the tramway systems accross the country. 1007s counter part in the farewell tour, 1016, and 1024 were purchased at the same time however 1016 was scrapped at CF Booths, Rotherham in June 2021 while 1024 was scrapped at a Local Ilkeston scrapyard in August 2022.

1023 remains the property of Transport for Greater Manchester and moved for display at Crewe Heritage Centre in March 2021 where it remains on display and seeing occasional work from the Heaton Park volunteers.

1007 opening the City centre route in 1992