Some exciting news to report from the north of Scotland where Aberdeen Corporation Tramways 15 is set to be moved from Alford to Northumberland for a start to be made on its restoration thanks to a bequest left to allow this work to take place.
15 was built new for Aberdeen Corporation Tramway by Brush of Loughborough in 1901 as an open top double deck tramcar. It received a top cover – but kept open balconies – within the first decade of its operation. It stayed operational until 1929 when it was withdrawn as newer trams came into service on the Corporation tram network.
After withdrawal it was sold on for further use and ended up as a home. It remained at a location on Wellington Road in Aberdeen for decades and it wasn’t until 2013 that redevelopment meant it would have to be moved. Unlike many trams sold on for further use both decks would survive. It was carefully extracted and would initially be moved to the Dundee Transport Museum for storage, before moving up to Alford in January 2019.
It was always the intention to the restore the tram, and this is now being made possible thanks to the bequest. Initial work will be on the body, and to allow this to happen it will need to be split as the premises of the restorers are not able to fit in a double deck tramcar.
It is expected to move to Northumberland at some point in the spring and preparations have been underway for the past few months to make this possible at the Bus Collection at Alford premises that it has called its home for the past few years.
At the moment there is no funding in place for the restoration of the truck and running gear.
Aberdeen Corporation Tramways 15 and its current condition seen at the Bus Collection at Alford premises. The bus next to it is the first bendy bus to operate in Aberdeen.
A close-up view of 15.
Amongst the peeling paint the ABERDEEN CORPORATION TRAMWAYS legend can be made out along the side of the tram. (All Photographs by William Brown, 4th April 2026)