Leicester Corporation No. 76

  • Sort results by

Leicester 76

Photo: Jim Dignan

Leicester had a compact, medium-sized tramway and was renowned for having one of the most complicated tramway junctions in the country.  Centred on the area surrounding the Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower, no fewer than six roads converged at this point, posing a serious challenge for the tramway engineers who were responsible for laying the tramlines in 1903.  The tramway itself was well-patronised, however, and in 1919, its peak year, 62.4 million passengers were carried on 160 tramcars.

p_00025_2013-4587

Sister car 75, Abbey Park Road depot. R.B. Parr, 18/8/1946

Leicester 76 was originally built in 1904 as an open-topped tram by the Preston-based Electric Railway and Carriage Company.  An interesting safety feature on this type of tramcar was the use of a “reversed” staircase in place of the ordinary outward facing type.  The problem with these was that as the tramcar moved off anyone climbing the stairs would be at risk of falling off backwards – and possibly into the road – unless they had a firm grasp of the hand-rail.  With a reversed staircase a passenger would be more likely to fall against the stairs themselves or the guard rail that would be positioned behind them.

The perennial problem facing early tram operators of lost revenue during adverse weather conditions was addressed in Leicester’s case by enclosing the upper saloon with a domed roof. A programme to modify the entire fleet in this way commenced in 1913, though balconies were still open at this stage. Further upgrading took place during the 1930s when the open platforms and balconies were fully enclosed.

Specification

Type of tram
Electric 4-wheel passenger tram – double deck with open balconies
Livery
Maroon and cream
Seating capacity
56 (34 on top deck; 22 downstairs)
Date built
1904
Date entered service
1904
Manufacturer of body
Electric Railway and Carriage Co
Manufacturer of truck
Brush AA off Glasgow 1017
Gauge
4’ 8½”
Motor
BTH GE58 2x30hp
Controller
DK DB1 Form B (obtained from Cardiff 131; should be DK DB1)
Current collector
Trolley
Modification

Top cover attached some time after 1913 and fully enclosed in 1929

Withdrawn from service

1947 (July)

Subsequent history

Body sold (minus controllers and truck) to become a cricket pavilion and changing rooms in East Cowick, near Snaith, Yorkshire.

Restoration history

Retrieved and brought to Crich in August 1960 and restored to 1920s condition in 1969.

Current status
Restored (though no longer in operational condition) and on display
Date started operating at Crich
1973. Has operated in 3 seasons, most recently in 1975.
Total mileage covered at Crich
658
Current location
Exhibition Hall
Timeline
  • 1904 – 1947Operational on original tramway
  • 1947 – 1960Body sold and converted to cricket pavilion
  • 1960 – 1969In storage
  • 1969 – 1973Undergoing restoration
  • 1973 – 1975Operational at Crich
  • 1975 –On display

Crich Tramway Village is a brand name for the National Tramway Museum (Accredited with Arts Council England), solely owned and operated by The Tramway Museum Society, incorporated in England with liability by guarantee (no. 744229). Registered charity number 313615. Our ICO number is Z6700136.