London Passenger Transport Board No. 1622

Photo: Jim Dignan
LPTB 1622 is the only remaining working example of the largest class of tramcars from anywhere in the UK as over 1,000 of these E/1 cars once operated in London; although one other example still survives, this is just a static exhibit. The tram originally entered service on the London County Council tramway in 1912 and is thought to have been assigned to the Poplar depot throughout its working life.

Sister car 1626 and 557 at Grove Park terminus. D.K.W. Jones, date unknown.
Although it was fitted with a top cover from the outset the tram was extensively refurbished in 1928 – a process known as ‘Pullmanisation’ – which involved the addition of platform vestibules and more comfortable seating in an attempt to ward off competition from rival bus operators. Indeed, it was the first ‘Pullman’ E/1 on the northern part of the LCC network. The tram also participated in early trials with lead-free paint.
Specification
- Type of tram
- Fully enclosed electric double deck bogie tram
- Livery
- Red and cream
- Seating capacity
- 74
- Date built
- 1911
- Date entered service
- 1912
- Manufacturer of body
- Brush & Co., Loughborough
- Manufacturer of truck
- English Electric Feltham bogies
- Gauge
- 4’ 8½”
- Motor
- BTH 509P1 2 x 70 hp
- Controller
- Westinghouse T2C
- Current collector
- Twin Trolleys
- Modification
Although equipped with a top cover from new, the tram was ‘Pullmanised’ in 1928, which involved the addition of platform vestibules and more comfortable seating.
150 members of the class – though not 1622 – were further modernised (or ‘rehabilitated’) in the 1930s, which involved renewal of the interior.- Withdrawn from service
Withdrawn from regular service in 1940 and assigned to the ‘reserve fleet’ for the duration of the war but never returned to ‘active service’.
- Subsequent history
Both decks were initially sold on to a caravan site on Hayling Island after which the lower deck ended up in an orchard in Liss, Hants, for many years. Discovered by a hiker in 1969 and transported by crane and lorry to London in 1979. An upper deck discovered not too far away (at Meonstoke in Hampshire) provided a template for a replacement to be constructed at Crich.
The tram was restored to depict a ‘rehabilitated’ E/1 tramcar with a refurbished interior, even though 1622 was never modernised in this way.- Restoration history
Extended restoration process undertaken in part by the London County Council Tramways Trust (lower body) and in part by the TMS at Crich (upper body, trucks and final assembly) between 1994 and 1997. The trucks came from a Leeds Feltham tram (no. 517) Neither bogies nor motors are historically accurate for this type of tramcar.
- Current status
- Restored in operational condition but not currently commissioned for service as the tramcar is being overhauled..
- Date started operating at Crich
- 1997. Has operated in 18 seasons, most recently in 2016
- Total mileage covered at Crich
- 11,136
- Current location
- Depots
- Future plans
Currently forms part of the operational fleet
- 1912 – 1940Operational on original tramway
- 1940 – 1945Withdrawn and stored as part of reserve fleet
- 1945 – 1979Converted to farm outbuilding
- 1979 – 1997Undergoing restoration
- 1997 –Operational at Crich