Its been a long time since we last had a look at a “Lost Tram” (which we know aren’t really lost but they’re not exactly in the public eye either!) so we will remedy that with this article. The tram which we feature this time is one from the West Midlands.
Trams originally ran in Coventry between 1884 and 1940 (although look like returning as part of the Very Light Rail project) with Coventry Corporation taking over operation in 1912. The system ran on a 3 foot 6 inch gauge and the electric tramway had 42 different trams during its lifetime, the first of which were built in 1895.
Somewhere in the Warwickshire countryside there remains a survivor from these 42 – tramcar no. 32. This was built in 1907 by Milnes Voss as one of six open-top double deckers and would remain serviceable until the tramway was closed in 1940 during World War II. Obviously sold on for further use it made its way to the woods having been split from its upper deck. Now very much looking worse for wear it does at least still survive and there are still distinguishing features which allow it to be identified.
Hidden deep in the woods this is the worse side of the remains of the tram.
In this view you can see the bodyshape is not quite as it should be!
Looking at this side of the tram and the green paint is still to be seen along with the COVENTRY of the COVENTRY CORPORATION TRAMWAYS legend.
Inside the tram and remarkably some of the interior seating remains in situ.
A close-up of the COVENTRY wording. (All Photographs by Ken Jones, 1st September 2022)