15 May 2006 00:00 Central Networks comes to the rescue to energise Crich Tramway Village ready for its summer opening

The trams at Crich Tramway Village in Derbyshire were in danger of reaching the end of the line until electricity distribution company Central Networks stepped in to save the day.

The trams at the popular Derbyshire attraction usually rely on two electricity supplies to keep them running but faulty equipment on one of the supplies left the trams running the risk that they could come to a sudden stop.

When engineers at Central Networks got the call from the team at Crich, they were happy to help and arranged for the kit to be repaired – but first Crich Tramway Village and Central Networks had to get the equipment, called a circuit breaker, out of its substation on site. And that proved to be no easy job.

Network Manager Andy Roberts said: “Due to the weight of the circuit breaker, it was extremely tricky to move. We first had to get it out of the substation, transport it along the tramway and then moved it to our workshop at Huthwaite on the back of a lorry.

“It was challenging stuff and I’m delighted that we were able to use our expertise to repair the circuit breaker and get the trams running in time for their busy summer period.

“It was a real team effort and our workshop staff Terry Giles and Clive Starr worked tirelessly together to ensure that the job was completed on time.”

Mike Gilkes from Crich Tramway Village said: “We’d like to thank Central Networks for their efforts and support, as finding someone to do the work was proving difficult.

“The circuit breaker is now back in service and both Central Networks engineers and ourselves are confident that the trams can carry on as normal and our visitors will be able to enjoy them.”


Ends

Notes to editors:
•Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.9 million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables – enough to go round the Earth almost four times – and via almost 97,000 substations;
•Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information and pictures contact:
Rebecca Middleton on 024 7642 5779
Out of hours, call 024 7642 4000 and ask for the duty press officer

Photo Caption [from left to right]:
Tram Picture 1: Andy Porter, Clive Starr and Terry Giles from Central Networks with Mike Gilks from Crich Tramway Village.
Tram Picture 2: Terry Giles, Andy Porter from Central Networks with Mike Gilks from Crich Tramway Village and Clive Starr also from Central Networks