In this edition of Picture in Time we are off to the south coast for an image taken more than 50 years ago before the Modern Electric Tramways operation was moved to Devon.
The tram we feature today is no. 4 which was the third Open Boat style tram to be built by Modern Electric Tramways with it entering service in 1961 on the Eastbourne line. It would be fair to say that the main feature of the majority of the now Seaton Tramway fleet is how many times they have enjoyed a new style (as evidenced with the recent rebuilding of 17 to become an enclosed saloon as 15) but for no. 4 it has not seen any major changes over the years with the only major attention seeing a regauging from 2ft to 2ft 9in once it had moved along the coast (although it had to wait until 1976 for regauging). Today 4 remains as part of the serviceable fleet at Seaton although is probably used the least of all the operational trams with a low capacity probably not helping matters.
This photo is of 4 at Eastbourne in July 1963 – just two years after entering service – and shows it near the Golf House.
Photograph by Bob Hodges