Work on returning Aberdeen Suburban Tramways Company 11 to service – albeit as hauled stock – on the Alford Valley Community Railway in Aberdeenshire is continuing to move forward with it having escaped from the workshops for an initial test run.
Although the tram-come-coach has been seen making its first test runs after the start of its restoration work this is by no means the end of the line for no. 11 and an imminent return to full service. There is still a lot of work to be completed with the next step set to be work on the roof membrane with local contractors A & B Buchan Ltd to be employed in providing that.
Aberdeen Suburban Tramways Company 11 was built in 1914 by UEC and didn’t have a long career as an operating tram with its withdrawal coming in the early 1920s. It was then sold on for further use with this seeing it end up as a summerhouse until it was discovered during the 1980s.
It was eventually purchased by the Alford Valley Railway who converted it for use on their 2 foot railway. It remained in use until 2018 when the railway was closed owing to concerns over the state on the track.
The railway was taken over by a local community group with it renamed the Alford Valley Community Railway. The new-look railway started operating again in 2023 but the tram was not commissioned with it requiring some restoration work which has made good progress over the past 12-18 months leading to its latest test run in late February 2025.
Despite the fact that the tram is not currently operational the railway is well worth a visit, although operating dates for 2025 have not yet been posted on their website which can be found at https://avcr.org.uk/.