We’re heading south to Devon for the next few editions of “Picture in Time” (traditional trams not in Blackpool!) as we visit the Seaton Tramway.
In the 50 years of operation of Seaton (as well as the previous years at Eastbourne) several of the trams on the tramway have gone through several rebuilds including some which have gone from single to double deckers! Probably the tram which has enjoyed the most rebuilds is no. 12, which started off life as a single decker and has since had two separate double deck styles, and it is the first of these that we feature in today’s image below.
12 was built as a single decker in 1966 and originally operated on the tramway at Eastbourne. It moved over to Seaton and returned to service in Seaton during 1971 after its had been regauged. It would remain as a fully enclosed single decker until it was rebuilt in 1980 and it this rebuild which we see in the below photo. At this time it received a open top upper deck while the lower deck was also opened out in the style seen on many of the trams on the tramway. To finish off the new look tram it received a dark green and cream livery style with more than a hint of Blackpool.
In this view we see 12 sitting outside Riverside Depot.
Photograph by Keith Chadbourne