LEEDS 345 BACK ON TRACKS AFTER 50 YEARS
After 50 years hidden under an old tarpaulin, craftsmen at the National Tramway Museum have completed the restoration of Leeds City Transport no. 345. Now fully restored in princess blue and cream, the tram will once again be carrying passengers for the first time since 1948.
David Baker, Rolling Stock Engineer charged with restoring the old Leeds tramcar said, “It was rescued from the scrap-heap by enthusiasts back in the ‘50s, but there were no funds to restore it. Over the years other more easily restorable trams came along and Leeds 345 was forgotten. Untouched for 50 years, the tram was like a time capsule of everyday life in Leeds. We have found many fascinating objects left behind by 1940’s passengers.”
The restoration of Leeds 345 is now complete and the tram is ready to join Crich Tramway Village’s fleet of over twenty operational trams that run through the recreated period street and out into the Derbyshire Countryside.
At an official ceremony at 2pm on Saturday 1 April, surrounded by other restored Leeds trams, David Ronald representing the Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation and Ian Dougill representing the Leeds Tranport Historical Society who both raised the funds to restore Leeds 345, handed over the controller key to Tramway Museum Society Chairman Colin Heaton, and Leeds 345 re-entered service after a gap of 58 years.
Tramway Museum Society Chairman Colin Heaton said, “We are very grateful to the Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation for raising the funds, and to all the workshop staff and volunteers for their skills in returning this magnificent tram to its original condition. We look forward to it carrying a new generation of passengers here at the Tramway Village.”
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