The future of the last known remaining Carlisle tram is in doubt with its owners the Workington Transport Trust being told they will have to leave its home of 15 years by 23rd November. The Trust have owned the tram since 2005 when they saved it after it failed to seel at auction and since then it has been located in Carlisle Railway Station undercroft but this space is now required for work taking place at the station meaning the tram needs to find a new home within the next few weeks.
The tram was offered for sale at auction in 2005 but was not sold which is when the Workington Transport Trust stepped in to save the unrestored body from being scrapped. Virgin Trains – then operator of Carlisle Station – offered the use of the station undercroft for storage at a peppercorn rent and some restoration work has been able to take place over the past 15 years.
The Trust are looking for a new home where the restoration work can continue. They say that they only require lighting and a plug socket for the use of small electric hand tolls. The tram itself is 15’ long, 6’6” wide and 8’ high and so any accommodation would need to be big enough to house this.
The Workington Transport Trust are a registered charity with limited resources and wouldn’t be able to afford a local storage facility at current commercial rates so are looking for any building which would be available at a reasonable rate. They don’t currently have covered accommodation at their site in Workington and if no building was found in Carlisle there is a strong chance the tram may end up either never returning to Carlisle or the worst case scenario that it would have to be scrapped.
Anyone who can help find a new home for the tram body is asked to either email Philip.tuer@virgin.net or phoning 01228 522 118.