After we looked at some of the Granada Studios “trams” last week in 1985 we move forward 11 months to May 1986 where they seem to have multiplied somewhat!
In these photos we can see at least three trams and they have a northeast connection now as at least one has Newcastle upon Tyne Corporation Tramways on the side and another is heading to Wallsend. With period adverts on the trams we have one single decker (again numbered 50) plus two double deckers (one of which carried the number 20). What does seem clearer here is the rubber tyres to aid their movement.
Again, anyone with any more information on these vehicles please let us know! We’ve also been told that there was a “tram” numbered 50 at Thorpe Park Resort in the 1990s – was this one of those from Granada Studio Tours?
The three trams are seen in this view with the single decker 50 partially obscured and 20 seen beyond the barriers.
A close-up of 20 through the fence.
A view of the single deck. We can also see more of the set here with elaborate overhead support poles and brackets also in place.
This final view shows one of the double deckers with the rubber wheels seen here to aid movement around the set. (All Photographs by Keith Chadbourne)
My comments about date must have been wrong it must have been 1984/85, sorry about that, but a few years have passed since! I am delighted to see the comments and photos, because I have always wondered.
In the first and fourth pictures, there appears to be the ‘ghostly remains’ of track in the road surface (possibly a crossover?) even though one set of rails seems to be heading straight through the passenger shelter!
Much of the site had previously been part of the Liverpool Road Goods Station and a quick look at a couple of OS maps seems to indicate that there may have been a crossover in the area depicted.
Were they making movies of Catherine Cookson Tyneside stories?
More info: Granada TV made the Catherine Cookson Tyneside-set story The Mallens a 13-part series 1979-1980. Perhaps the trams were for this.