Probably the most popular livery to ever be carried on a Midland Metro tram features in our latest installment of Picture in Time as we take a look at T69 11 whilst it was carrying its Birmingham Corporation inspired colour scheme.
Although 11 had been in the West Midlands since 6th October 1998 it wasn’t to be until 23rd August 2013 that it really stood out from the crowd. That was the day that the tram unveiled at Birmingham Snow Hill in its Blue and Cream livery which was applied to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the closure of Birmingham Corporation Tramways in 1953. A new livery is also bound to turn heads and that was the case for 11 with it probably becoming the most photographed member of the fleet from this date onwards. However it wasn’t destined to run in service like this for long as it was withdrawn from service in December 2014 and after having been stored at Wednesbury Depot finally departed on 8th March 2016 for further storage at Long Marston where it remains today.
In this view we see 11 about to leave Bilston Road and drop down to Priestfield with a service from Wolverhampton St George’s to Birmingham Snow Hill on 29th January 2014.
Photograph by Tony Sullivan
I always liked the new look on 11. A real retro tram. Well, apart from its LED destination boards 🙂 . Oh well, you can’t always get it right 🙂
I hope this one gets preserved, as well as a few others. They’re not ready for the scrapheap yet!
Wished a car tram could have this livery