We head along the south coast for our next installment in our archive photo series although in effect we remain with the same tramway as we move from Eastbourne to Seaton. The tram we feature this week is no. 6, a tram which remains part of the operational fleet today although since this photo was taken it has changed in appearance slightly.
6 was originally constructed in 1954 as a single deck toastrack but only lasted two years in this style before being withdrawn and the chassis reused to construct the second no. 6. This version was an open top double decker with an open crossbench lower deck although protection was provided for the driver in the form of windscreens. In 1962 a further change was affected when the lower deck was rebuilt to include small saloons at either end and it is that design which we feature in this picture.
This image was taken in the 1980s – possibly 1983 – and shows no. 6 at Colyton with a hardy few souls on the top deck. No. 6 has since been rebuilt again (in 1989) when it returned to an open crossbench style lower deck and remains in this design today seeing use on the tramway on a regular basis.
(Photo: Ken Walker)