STTS launch appeal to return Glasgow 1282 to service

The Scottish Tramway and Transport Society have launched an appeal to raise funds for the full restoration of Glasgow Coronation 1282 at the Crich Tramway Village so that it can once again return to the operational fleet. At last September’s Glasgow 50 celebrations with the publicity surrounding the return to Glasgow blue route colour livery of 1068 it was expected that the appearance in service of 1282 would just be added bonus but as it turned out the Coronation stole the show! As a result of this the STTS have decided that they will attempt to raise the funds – currently estimated to be £150,000 – so that 1282 can once again turn heads at the home of the National Tramway Museum.

Glasgow Coronation 1282 entered service in Glasgow in March 1940 having been constructed at the famous Coplawhill Works and became the last tram to operate in passenger service in the City on 6^th September 1962. Less than a year later the tram was
at Crich with an arrival date given in the excellent “Destination Crich” book of 24^th March 1963. Despite the fact that the tram had been operated right until the end at Glasgow it was not to actually operate in passenger service at Crich until 1978 following workshop attention over the previous year. It remained part of the operational fleet until 1985 after which it required some further attention in the Workshops, it received this in 1986 and was back in service the same year. The tram had another stint in the Workshop in 1996 and remained in service until 2003 when it was withdrawn with more drastic attention required. This time, though, there was not to be a quick fix and 1282 ended up sitting out of the limelight for nine years before it was resurrected for the Glasgow 50 celebrations where it proved to be a star of the show and people started to yearn for its return to a more permanent role in the operating fleet.

As the predecessor of the STTS – the Scottish Tramway Museum Society – was the original sponsor of 1282 it was decided that they would set up a fund specifically to return the  tram to the rails at Crich and the “STTS Coronation Appeal Fund” was formally launched at the monthly meeting of the group on Friday 11^th January 2013. The fund has already been boosted by monies raised through the sale of the “Destination Crich” book by Wim Beukenkamp which was launched at the Glasgow 50 event last September. Donations have also already started to come in including a very symbolic amount of £1282 from a Life Member of the STTS.

The STTS have liaised with the Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation, who themselves have a lot on their plate at the moment, and Crich are also aware of their intentions to raise the monies required for the restoration.

If you wish to donate money towards this fund you can send a cheque payable to “STTS Coronation Appeal Fund” to:

Scottish Tramway & Transport Society

87 Holmfauldhead Drive

Glasgow

G51 4PZ

Alternatively you can make payments using PayPal through the official STTS website (http://www.scottishtransport.org) and clicking on “Appeal Fund” for instructions (although at the time of writing this is not yet available).

You can also use the attached donation form and send it to the above address. This form also has all the required details to make a donation using Gift Aid which is a vital tool for charities.

With the London County Council Tramways Trust also currently in the process of raising funds for the major restoration of London County Council 1 it looks as though it could be an exciting few years in the Workshop at Crich.

Appeal Fund Form

Could sights like this return on a regular basis at Crich? If the fund just launched by the Scottish Tramway and Transport Society has anything to do with it then the answer is yes! 1282 is seen here passing the Depot gates on 15th September 2012. (Photo: Gareth Prior)