Shortly after the Birkenhead tramway’s big event to mark 60 years since Liverpool’s last tram, there was more exciting news from the Wirral with the confirmation that Birkenhead 7, a large double-deck horse car, is to move to the tramway for display next month following a lengthy period of storage off display.
Birkenhead 7 used to be a static exhibit at the Woodside Ferry terminal building, before it was removed and put into storage to enable a deconstructed U-Boat to take its place there. The tram was moved into a very small space and unfortunately its open top deck was partly dismantled – hardly an appropriate way to care for the oldest surviving vehicle from Britain’s first street tramway! Happily, it seems that this particular wrongdoing is soon to be put right and hopefully the car will be back on display to the public shortly. 7 is expected to be moved to Taylor Street in October and some preparations have already been taking place to get it ready for its move.
It should be stressed that the horse tram is not currently owned by the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society and is the property of Wirral Council, which is why it was not previously accomodated at their own depot. Hopefully the tram can be re-assembled in due course and will then make a stunning static exhibit, as its historic status deserves.