It wasn’t the celebration originally envisaged but Friday 28th August 2020 saw the Seaton Tramway in Devon commemorate 50 years of operation with an intensive tram service operating the length of the line – including the ever elusive no. 4. Although the hoped for 13 trams in service on anniversary day wasn’t able to be achieved nine different passenger trams ran giving plenty of variety for visitors.
It was 28th August 1970 that tramcar no. 8 ran the very first passenger service on the new Seaton Tramway between Riverside Depot and just short of Bobsworth Bridge. It was an overhead free tramway with 8 running under battery power but it was the start of the Seaton Tramway and over the past 50 years it has continued to develop to the 3 mile line between Seaton and Colyton we know today. The latest major development was the opening of a new fully covered Seaton terminus and 2021 should see two new halts open – one of Riverside Depot and the other on the section from there towards Colyford at Swan’s Nest loop for access to Seaton Wetlands.
Back to 28th August 2020 and as mentioned above a total of nine trams ran in passenger service at times during the day. 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15 and 16 were all used – of these 4 operated a special live trip on the Seaton Tramway Facebook page from Seaton to Colyton whilst 8 partially recreated the very first trip 50 years later (although this time it was able to travel beyond Bobsworth Bridge and go all the way to Colyton having started back at Seaton.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible for 2 to run whilst 12 and 19 were undergoing maintenance in the depot and were also precluded from operating on the day. The only other passenger car in the fleet – 7 – remains in the depot waiting for its overhaul to begin to return it to service in the future.
It certainly wasn’t the anniversary that anyone could have foreseen at the start of the year but it was still a good way to mark this key milestone in the history of the tramway. Events originally planned for 2020 are now planned to take part in 2021.
8, the very first tram all those years back is now in this blue livery and is seen here leaving Colyton with a service for Seaton.
Blackpool Boat replica no. 4 is a rare tram in service but it was out on anniversary day but is seen here outside the depot the following day enjoying some late August sunshine.
The two newest trams in the fleet are seen here at Colyton. 15 – rebuilt from 17 a couple of years ago – arrives with a service from Seaton as 11 – built in the early 2000s – waits to depart to Seaton. With social distancing restrictions in place trams are currently boarding at this end of the platform at Colyton.
Axmouth loop is the location for this shot of 9 and 6 passing on 29th August 2020. (All Photographs by David Mee)
* More photos from the 50th anniversary weekend will follow in a future update of British Trams Online.