The 1920 tram, which was being used as a house until 2003, is due to be craned out of its Lincolnshire site on March 31 2007 and be transported 100 miles by road to the Museum at Crich Tramway Village in Derbyshire.
The tram was discovered by representatives from Crich six years ago after a tip-off from the local postman. Its last resident passed away in 2003, aged 93, and when the site was subsequently sold off, the Tramway Museum stepped in to see if the tram could be saved.
“We are delighted to have found this old Nottingham tram,” said Glynn Wilton, curator at the National Tramway Museum. “It will fill an important gap in our collection. We have examples of trams from Derby, Sheffield, Chesterfield and many other towns but not Nottingham.”
The tram was bought by ex-Nottingham tram conductress Mabel Brewin in 1935, who moved it to Lincolnshire with her husband. They turned the lower deck into the ‘Tram House’, adding a lean-to extension on the side.
The passenger saloon was made comfortable with a bed and a wardrobe, while the far end driver’s platform contained a dressing table and the other platform a washbasin. A toilet was added in a small lean-to where the passenger entrance would have been. Despite all these home comforts, the house had no mains electricity or gas, only camping gas bottles.
The tram’s last resident, Ms Ellis, bought the home in 1970.
“Although the upper deck has gone and it hasn’t moved for over 70 years, the under frame and lower body is in good condition,” said curator Glynn. “It has the potential to be returned to running order and join the other trams giving visitors rides through the Tramway Village.”
The tram was one of 25 built by English Electric for Nottingham Tramways, which came into service in 1920. Photographs from their heyday suggest they mainly ran on the Bulwell to Trent Bridge, Basford to Colwick Road and Carlton lines. Tramway operations in Nottingham ceased in the mid 1930s and the vehicles were decommissioned between 1934 and 1936.
The converted tram will be lifted out of its garden on Saturday and lowered on to a low loader for the 100 mile trip to Crich, where it will be stored until funds can be raised for its restoration.
“Our workshops are busy with other restoration projects,” explained Glynn, “but eventually we would like to see the Nottingham tram fully restored. This will take about three years and cost over £300,000 so it will be dependent on funding sponsors.”
