Breathing new life into ‘Glasgow’s last tram’
Two Cambuslang volunteers are among a driven group aiming to bring a historic Glasgow tram back into operation in its 80th anniversary year.
Bobby Davidson and Bill Guy are using their engineering skills on a painstaking restoration of Coronation tram 1245, known as “Glasgow’s last tram”.
The duo are members of the Summerlee transport group, based at the Scottish museum of industrial life, who are working to bring the fondly-remembered vehicle back to operational use at the Coatbridge site next year.
Bobby said: “There are only four left and this will be the only one in the world to be running, so people will come from all over to see it.
“They called this the art deco tram because of its fixtures and fittings; and it was the fastest thing on the road, able to do 60mph in certain open areas like Mosspark Boulevard.”
Part of a core group of volunteers who have engineering backgrounds, the Cambuslang pair have been involved in four years of work to date – stripping and rebuilding the tram’s four motors, or bogies, then strengthening and rebuilding its chassis.
Next, the interior will be refitted in all its intricate art deco elegance, with the aim being to have the tram back on the museum tracks late in 2019.
Bobby led the restoration of the motors, and said: “There was no-one we could call on to say how to do this; we had to work it out on our own, and now we’re experts – we just had to repair everything that’s there.
“After they’d been built and tested, the next step was to repair all the chassis, starting with the bottom section and then moving on to the top, which we’re working on just now. It’s just like a giant Meccano set!
“The control system is currently in the tram shed and all the controls inside will look as they did in 1939; but it was prone to faults so we’re putting in a modern system to drive the tram which means that future maintenance is built in.”
Tram 1245 gained its place in history as it was used to shunt other trams to depots for scrapping after passenger services stopped in September 1962, becoming the last tram to run in the city before the system’s power supply was finally switched off.
Summerlee acquired the iconic tram for just £1, but it then lay in storage for several years before the volunteer group stepped in, determined to restore it to its former glory before it proved too late.
Now they are also applying for lottery funding to allow them to complete the restoration – which they describe as “Scotland’s best-kept secret” – and bring the tram back into public use next year at the museum.
Known for its art deco fixtures and fittings, the Coronation tram dates to 1939 with only four still remaining in existence; and Summerlee’s will be unique in operating for passengers.
Group member George Drain said: “The 1245 Coronation tram is an iconic heritage symbol of industrial Glasgow and its surrounding areas, taking workers to factories and offices, children to school and families on outings.
“It was the iconic tram of the 1930s – Glaswegians were fiercely proud of them and they’re remembered by many, even today.”