Its been a while since we last featured an update on the comprehensive restoration of Glasgow Coronation Car 1245 (in fact its almost exactly a year ago!) so we remedy that in this pictorial article as we take a look at recent progress as the project starts to come towards an end.
Glasgow 1245 has called Summerlee home since 2002 when it was moved back to Scotland for the first time since originally leaving in 1963. It earnt the name “Glasgow’s Last Tram” as it was used to shunt fellow Glasgow Corporation Transport trams to be scrapped, its last such move was when it moved 1274.
After this role finished it entered preservation with its first home being the Measham Motor Museum in Leicestershire. It was displayed outside the museum as an exhibit to entice people inside to visit the other exhibits and stayed there until 1969 when it was then moved to the East Anglia Transport Museum. In 1998 it was on the move again when it headed to Blackpool Transport’s Rigby Road Depot where it was stored for four years before it returned to Scotland in 2002 for the first time in almost 40 years; Summerlee was its new home and that’s where it has remained for the past 23 years.
Restoration on the tram started in 2011 and over the past 14 years excellent progress has been made on returning the tram to operational condition. It is now approaching the final stages of its restoration and the small team behind the work are hopeful that all major work will be completed during 2026.
Recent work has included the completion of the external paintwork, trial fitting of the lower deck seating and the start of the fitting of the air brake piping.
External paintwork completed and 1245 certainly looks the part again.
Looking at the illuminated “CORPORATION TRANSPORT” panels between decks.
Inside the tram and period signage has been added.
A sneak peek through the entrance doors where work continues on the wiring.
The control cabinet and its myriad of wiring.
The lower deck and although seating was trial fitted it has now been removed to allow access to install the piping for the air braking.
The entrance with a view towards the driver’s position at this end. (All Photographs courtesy of Summerlee Transport Group, 25th November 2025)