There were delays to Edinburgh Trams services on Monday 19th December after one of the usually reliable CAF trams in the city broke down at York Place and required rescuing. This led to the unusual sight of two trams – already the longest in the UK at 42 metres long – being coupled together and running from York Place back to depot.
The breakdown happened late morning and saw 253 fail. Whether by luck or arrangement the tram had reached York Place (where they continue to turn having terminated at St Andrew Square) when it was declared a failure. With tram services suspended from West End to St Andrew Square, 263 was sent to retrieve its sister and return it to the depot at Gogar.
This involved the trams coupling together and then gradually making their way along the tramway – including a significant amount of street running along Princes Street. A CAF Rail engineer was on the scene along with three other Edinburgh Trams members of staff. When the trams were on the move both front cabs were occupied.
263 has arrived to perform the rescue and is coupled to 253. This is the very end of the line as it is today at the sight of the former York Place stop.
The two trams coupled with the tow bar seen.
Off they go! 263 starts to tow 253 back to depot. This is at the west end of York Place and the pair are waiting for the traffic lights to change before they turn into North Saint Andrew Street.
The pair then turn into North Saint Andrew Street. As can be seen here both trams have an engineer on board in the front cabs.
The formation has now travelled up North Saint Andrew Street and passed through St Andrew Square tramstop. This is the rear of the convoy with 253 closest to the camera. Impatient pedestrians can’t wait for the extra long tram to move out the way as they make their way round the back.
South Saint Andrew Street looking back up towards St Andrew Square. The trams are about to turn onto Princes Street.
They have now reached Princes Street and this last shot shows 253 – with pantograph retracted – on the curve. In the background is the Balmoral Hotel above Waverley Station. (All Photographs by Roy Calderwood, 19th December 2022)