Whilst a lot of enthusiasts attention towards the trams at the East Anglia Transport Museum has often been Blackpool related over the past few years (with Brush Railcoach 634 arriving and entering service and Standard 143 arriving for the completion of its restoration) it shouldn’t be forgotten that they also have trams from other places, and one of those returned to service on Good Friday having missed the last couple of seasons.
That tram is Amsterdam 474 which has enjoyed some attention in the workshops at the museum. This has included a full repaint and its probably fair to say that the tram hasn’t looked as good as it does now for many years!
474 was built in 1929 as a trailer car (numbered 909) and would be converted to a motor in 1938, which is also when it received its now familiar number. A renumbering to 874 came in 1968 and then in 1972 it was numbered H14 as it became part of the works fleet. Then in 1981 it was withdrawn from service in Amsterdam for the last time and was acquired by the East Anglia Transport Museum – and its been there ever since!
An interesting little fun fact (we think!) is that Amsterdam is actually slightly closer as the crow flies to Carlton Colville than Blackpool is, so Amsterdam 474 is a more local tram for the museum than those from Blackpool!
Amsterdam 474 last ran in 2023 but has now been fully overhauled and commissioned for service, returning to action on Good Friday 3rd April 2026.
This was the first operating day of the 2026 season. As normal a two-tram service was in operation for that first day with 474 joined by London Transport 1858. On the trolleybus front London Transport 260 was the main vehicle used with Maidstone 52 available as the spare.
- The East Anglia Transport Museum will be open across the Easter weekend and is then open every Thursday and Sunday for the rest of April. For full opening dates visit https://www.eatm.co.uk/dates-times-and-prices/.
With the new paintwork still glinting, Amsterdam 474 is captured on camera here in the woods. This was its first day back in service since 2023.
Chapel Road terminus and 474 is joined by London Transport HR/2 1858. On the left are a pair of trolleybuses: Maidstone 52 and London Transport 260.
Blackpool 634 and Sheffield 513 were not in service but are seen stabled at the front of the depot. Both these trams are scheduled to be used during the first month of the season.
Newest tram arrival at the museum is Blackpool Standard 143. Since its arrival it has been moved into main tram depot where it is seen here over the inspection pit. Blackpool Marton VAMBAC 11 is just to the right.
Of the different forms of transport offered at the museum, the East Suffolk Light Railway probably gets the least attention (particularly on these pages!). But on opening day it was being operated by Thorpeness no. 6. This is a Simplex Motorail locomotive which originally worked for Anglian Water Authority before moving on to the Department of Environment. It arrived (along with Orfordness no. 5) at Carlton Colville in 1997.
The season opened with a special Easter event, which included an Easter Egg Hunt for the children. The entrance also had a special inflatable archway! (All Photographs by Bryan Grint, 3rd April 2026)