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©1999-2007
S.J. Parascandolo



First Powered Run(East Croydon - Sandilands) Clearance Testing (East Croydon) First Powered Gauging Run (Sandilands - Oaks Road)
Thursday 29th July 1999 (0630 - 1300)
See photos below text: - At 0630, Tram 2535 arrived in George Street and was met by a growing group of officials and the HMRI. To enthusiasts surprise 2530 then appeared too. I believe this is the first time 2 trams were in the central area together. We initially thought that this was as a backup but to everyone's surprise, it too moved into East Croydon Tramstop. It was then used to check clearances between the trams on the approach to the stop. Once happy, 2530 went round the town until 1015, whilst 2535 went forward into Addiscombe Road. This was the second time it had done this but the first under power and in daylight. Once arrived at Lebanon Rd, a 198 bus was hijacked and told to pull into the stop. It's position was marked. Then a following Metrobus was borrowed and this too parked at the stop. The tram was then reversed alongside and the mirror - mirror distance measured. The test then progressed to Chepstow Road where chaos was caused as the police blocked the road for the tram at the height of the rush hour. Queues backed up to Shirley! It hit a road cone and then stopped once clear of the road. The tram then returned to East Croydon and ran back again - much faster this time. Again it stopped in front of the flats at Sandilands. The power was then lost and the inspector went to the CJV house at Woodbury Close for breakfast. The problem was a report of dangling wires - They turned out to be Earthing Straps the Addington side of the isolators by Oaks Road. They were supposed to be there! A pile of wood bark was also moved as it was foul of the line. The inspector then returned and the test continued into Sandilands. After measurements, it proceeded slowly down to the junction and curved sharply onto the Addington Route, joining the old alignment of the Woodside and South Croydon Railway closed in 1983. There was a moment of worry when the retaining wall looked very close but I think it was OK. We all drove round the other side of the tunnels and waited for the very slow tram to emerge from the darkness. Eventually, it came and stopped for clearance checks with most OHLE poles. It went very slowly round the tight curve at Larcombe Close and stopped for a pile of sand at Lloyd Park Avenue LC. After removal, it proceeded into the Stop at Lloyd Park and then on to the Isolator just the Croydon side of Oaks Road LC. It returned to the Crossover and then ran wrong line to the same point on the Croydon bound track. As it returned, myself and a couple of others were on Geoffrey Harris Access LC which has "Give Way" Markings. A Tramlink official with an Orange Jacket stood in the roadway with his arm out in case a car came. As the tram approached, one did - It hooted at him to get out of the way before stopping and the tram braked sharply as a result. The angry woman at the wheel argued "I've got a disabled child in the back who has an appointment". I'm sorry madam but that doesn't give you reason to ignore road markings and if you drive into the path of trams, you'll be disabled soon yourself! She then bleated about "you have to give 2 weeks notice before you run a tram" - Rubbish! The tram then returned slowly back to the Depot.

Photos

	2535 - The first tram at Lloyd Park By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 748
	2535 - The first powered tram leaves East Croydon By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 563
	2530 and 2535 with a HMRI inspection at East Croydon By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 558
	2535 tests in the centre platform at East Croydon By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 556
	2535 - The first powered tram into Croydon at Cherry Orchard Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 555
	2530 - The first powered tram enters East Croydon By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 550
	2535 - The first powered run along Addiscombe Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 549
	2535 - The first tram to Oaks Road (Running wrong line) By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 810
	2535 - The first tram at Geoffrey Harris House By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 754
	2535 - The first tram at Lloyd Park By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 715
	2535 - The first tram to Croydon at Lloyd Park Car Park Access LC By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 751
	2530 and 2535 - the first powered trams at East Croydon By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 574
	2535 - The first tram at Larcombe Close curve By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 747
	2535 - The first tram at Lloyd Park crossover By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 746
	2535 - The first tram at Lloyd Park Avenue LC (Move that rubble!) By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 744
	2535 - The first tram at Larcombe Close By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 741
	2535 - The first tram to Croydon at Larcombe Close By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 740
	2535 - The first tram to Croydon at Lloyd Park By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 738
	2535 - The first tram to Croydon at Larcombe Close By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 735
	2535 - The first tram at Larcombe Close By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 716
	2535 - The first tram to Croydon at Larcombe Close By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 752
	2535 - The first powered run at Chepstow Road (Watch that Cone!) By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 643
	2535 - The first powered tram to Croydon at Lebanon Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 700
	2535 - The first powered run along Addiscombe Road tests bus bay clearance at Lebanon Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 699
	2535 - The first powered run along Addiscombe Road at Lebanon Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 698
	2535 - The first powered tram at Lebanon Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 696
	2535 - The first powered tram at Lebanon Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 694
	2535 - The first powered run along Addiscombe Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 686
	2535 - The first powered run along Addiscombe Road reaches Chepstow Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 684
	2535 - The first powered run along Addiscombe Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 682
	2530 - The first powered tram enters East Croydon By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 568
	2535 - The first powered tram at Sandilands watched by the HMRI inspector By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 658
	2530 and 2535 - the first powered trams at East Croydon By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 573
	2535 - The first powered tram at Sandilands crossover By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 635
	2535 - The first powered tram at Chepstow Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 626
	2535 - The first tram at Sandilands Junction By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 625
	2535 - The first powered run along Addiscombe Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 624
	2535 - The first tram on the old Woodside and South Croydon alignment By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 622
	2535 - The first powered run into Croydon at Chepstow Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 617
	2530 and 2535 - the first powered trams at East Croydon By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 589
	2535 - The first powered tram into Croydon at the NLA tower By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 579
	2530 and 2535 wait in George Street before testing clearances at East Croydon By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 357
	2535 - The first powered tram at Lebanon Road By: S.J.Parascandolo Date: 29/07/1999 ID: 680

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