You may be forgiven for thinking that once the last service tram returns to depot at the end of each day that nothing will happen on a tramway until it all starts again the next day. But, of course, this is actually a short period where various maintenance and testing can take place. As was the case recently on Edinburgh Trams where one of their fleet of trams was fitted with specialist equipment.
The tram chosen was 254 – one of the rare trams which only has partial advertising instead of a full wrap – which was being used to check the overhead wires. As well as its pantograph it was also fitted with ultrasonic testing equipment to aid with this checking.
The specialist equipment was provided by a German company from near Berlin, Deutzer. They specialise in measurement services for transport companies and currently work with more than 100 companies in 25 countries worldwide.
It’s a little after midnight on Sunday 13th July and 254 is seen coming into St Andrew Square. The ultrasonic testing equipment is seen attached to the front of the tram.
254 is back at St Andrew Square as it climbs to the stop having just come round the corner from Newhaven. (Both Photographs by Ryan Birchall, 13th July 2025)