Some disappointing news to report on from the Rocks by Rail Museum near Cottesmore in Rutland where it has been confirmed the remains of Newcastle tram 117 have been scrapped after an attempt was made to lift it off the wagon it was being stored on.
We last reported on this tram – although it was only the remain on the lower deck body which survived – back in 2021 where we saw that the remain were stored outside whilst workshop space was waited for. At that time it was hoped that it could be restored as a passenger carrying vehicle with it fitted to a 6-wheel rail milk chassis.
Sadly that plan will not be happening. When the team at the museum attempted to left it from the wagon chassis the body is said to have fallen to bits and with it in a poor condition they now consider the vehicle to be scrapped. Parts of the tram do still exist although it is now in such a bad stat that there is no prospect it will be able to restored.
The tram was once part of the same batch of “A” class trams similar to 114 (as restored at Beamish) being built in 1901. It remained in Newcastle for 40 years before being sold to Sheffield in 1941 and then 1951 saw its withdrawal in the steel city. It was sold on and was eventually found at a farm in the East Midlands. That was until the Industrial Diesel Railway Preservation Group acquired it and moved it to Rocks by Rail, until its recent dismantling.
The remains of Newcastle 117 following its dismantling. (Photograph by Rod Bryant, 19th June 2025)