Restoration of Manchester 173 underway

Exciting news from the Heaton Park Tramway where it has been confirmed that restoration work is underway on returning double-deck open topper Manchester 173 to service. When the work is completed – over the next few years – it will mark the first use in service of the tram in almost a century and, obviously, its first ever use in preservation.

173 has recently been moved into the workshops of the tramway. This comes after the completion of the overhaul on Blackpool 619 and the temporary closure of the tramway to allow the complete upgrade of the substation (this happened last September and works are underway with the hope that it won’t be too long before the tramway is operational again). Although previously cosmetically restored (with a period on display at the Manchester Museum of Transport following), the work will see further renovation of the bodywork alongside a full reassessment of the chassis, with alternative suitable motors having recently being sourced from Lisbon 711 (which is being converted to hauled stock at the Crowle Peatland Railway in Lincolnshire

173 was one of 81 trams built by Brush of Loughborough in 1901 and is the only survivor of this class, and indeed just one of three Manchester Corporation Tramways vehicles which survive (the other two horse car L53 and 765 are also both owned by the Manchester Transport Museum Society). The other two have been restored and used at Heaton Park (although L53 is currently a static exhibit at the Manchester Museum of Transport) and its hoped that 173 will complete the hattrick in the future.

Originally an open topper, 173 received a top deck in around 1907 and would carry on serving the people of Manchester until 1931. The following story is familiar as the lower deck was sold on for use as a shed and would remain in use for this purpose until the 1970s when it was found and rescued by members of the MTMS. That was when it was cosmetically restored, which is how it has remained – until now!

It is planned to restore the tram to as close to its original condition as possible, including open top deck and flip-over seating. When the restoration is completed – hoped to be in the next few years – it will be used regularly at the Heaton Park Tramway and may also have the opportunity to visit other heritage tramways in the UK.

• To help the MTMS achieve their aims of restoring 173 why not consider becoming a member and volunteering? Find out more details at https://hptramway.co.uk/come-and-join-us/. Donations are also welcome and can be made via the MTMS website as well.

254 was a sister car of 173 and is seen here during its service days. Its planned that this is how 173 will look once restored (although whether they will be able to find as many fine moustaches as in this image when its launched remains to be seen!).

173 before its latest restoration began. Its seen here outside Lakeside Depot, the tram has now been moved into the Middleton Road workshops. (Both Photographs courtesy of the Manchester Transport Museum Society)