Looking for something to do over the weekend of Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May? Well if you’re in the south of England the weekend will provide you with an opportunity to visit the last Brighton Corporation Tramways passenger tram – no. 53 – with an Open Weekend taking place at their base near Steyning.
53 and the Society were in the news earlier this year with the BBC amongst those to pick up on the continued progress of the restoration of the tram, including their ambitious plans to one-day possibly operate the tram again in the local area.
For the past 15 years, the Brighton Tram Society have been restoring no. 53, a tramcar which had a painfully limited operating career. Built in 1936 – the last tram to be built at Lewis Road Depot – it would be withdrawn when the tramway closed in 1939 after barely starting its operating life. It was then sold on to a West Sussex farm where it remained until the 1970s before being rescued. It was only from 2010 that work started on its restoration which is when the Society was formed.
As well as being proud owners of no. 53, the Society also own former Works Car 1, with work now also underway on restoring this as well. Both will be available to view over the weekend.
The Open Weekend will see the tram available for viewing between 1100 and 1500 on both Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May. To visit you should head to Chanctonbury Ring car park, off the A283, north of Steyning (What three words: bugs positive converged). From there the location of the tram will be signposted (turn left out the car park, head towards the ring and on the left is a sign for a monastery, go down that road).
Free refreshments will be offer and items will be available to buy. More details – and for full directions – contact the Society by email at tram53project@yahoo.com or visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Brightontram53society/.