Edinburgh Corporation Transport No. 35

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Edinburgh 35

Photo: Jim Dignan

Edinburgh’s tramways have had a complex history, to which a new chapter was added in May 2014 when a new 14 km tramway was opened after years of delay. The city’s first trams were horse-drawn and their service commenced in 1871. Subsequently, a cable-hauled system was introduced in parts of the city, which continued to operate between 1888 and 1923, when the final section was converted to conventional electric traction.

edinburgh-35-bob-parr-11-apr-1955

Edinburgh 35 and 66. Bob Parr, 11/4/1955

Many of the city’s early tramcars were converted cable cars, but in 1932 a new semi-streamlined design was devised, which formed the basis of the “Shrubhill Standards”, built in the city’s own workshops of that name. Car 35 was one of a series of new trams that were intended to replace the converted cable cars and, indeed, took the number of one of those trams.  By the time it entered service in 1948, however, the tramway system itself was approaching its twilight phase as the first closures began just four years later, in 1952

Specification

Type of tram
Double deck fully enclosed semi-streamlined electric tramcar of the Shrubhill class
Livery
Madder (maroon) and white
Seating capacity
62 (38 upper saloon, 24 lower saloon)
Date built
1948
Manufacturer of body
Edinburgh Corporation
Manufacturer of truck
Peckham P22
Gauge
4’ 8½”
Motor
2x 50 hp MV101
Controller
BTH B510A with air box tops
Current collector
Trolley Pole (Fixed head). In Edinburgh it had a swivel head carbon skid.
Withdrawn from service

Final ‘in service’ run was on 21 October 1956 on route 23.

Subsequent history

Saved from scrap for preservation, it was the ‘third choice’ after the first choice (225) was badly damaged in a collision just two months before final closure of the system and the second choice (172) had been repainted as the decorated ‘last tram’.

Restoration history

Overhauled and repainted immediately after being taken into preservation and was put on display for a time in its home city. After a period in storage (between 1979 and 1983) it was moved via a circuitous route to Blackpool, where it took part in the borough tramway’s centenary activities. It arrived at Crich on 12th October 1988 and was given a cosmetic makeover in 2013.

Current status
Conserved; on display
Date started operating at Crich
1989 only (on non-passenger duties)
Total mileage covered at Crich
8 on non-passenger duties only. Before that, it covered 2091 miles at Blackpool in 1985 and 3883 at the Glasgow Garden Festival in 1988.
Current location
Exhibition Hall
Timeline
  • 1948 – 1956Fully operational on original tramway
  • 1956 – 1979On display
  • 1979 – 1983In storage
  • 1983 – 1988Operational at Blackpool & Glasgow Garden Festival
  • 1989 –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.