The now annual Solent Sky Tram Event will be taking place on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd June 2025 at the museum in Southampton which has been the home of the trams owned by the Southampton Tram Project for several years now. And this year’s event looks set to be a historic one as it will be the first chance to see Southampton 11 on its own trucks and rail in over 75 years!
Southampton 11 is the sole surviving dome roofed tram built for Southampton Corporation Tramways in 1923 (although for the first few months of its life it was an open topper before being fitted with a top cover). The system always had a challenge in operating through the low medieval Bargate arch which led to the dome roof trams being introduced to allow smooth operation under the arch (previously open toppers were required and these had knifeboard seating on the top deck to avoid the issue).
Withdrawn when the system closed in 1949, it took 30 years for the tram to be rescued for preservation with it discovered near Winchester where it had been used a summer house. Restoration has been progressing since with more recent years seeing significant progress on restoring the tram to its former glory, initially at a location in Southampton Docks before being moved to the Solent Sky Museum and a permanent home for the Southampton Tram Group in August 2020.
The latest milestone in the restoration project came in January when its truck was taken away for its own restoration. This will be back under the tram by the Solent Sky Tram Event in June which will give the public the first chance to see 11 on its truck and rail in over 75 years! Now that is something to celebrate!
The event will also allow visitors the chance to see Southampton 38 (a tram similar to the national collection’s 45) and Lisbon 715 (initially bought for spares but now being kept as a tram in its own right).
There will also be model tramway and railway layouts and sales stalls on site.
The Solent Sky Museum is located on Albert Road South in Southampton (close to Ocean Village). It is linked to the city centre by Bluestar 19 bus. It will be open between 1000 and 1700 on both days with admission being £12 for adults and £8 for children. More information on their website at https://www.solentsky.org/.