The restoration of Aberdeen Suburban Tramways Company 11 into a fully functioning piece of rolling stock on the Alford Valley Community Railway is starting to come to a conclusion with the fully repainted vehicle having enjoyed a test run on Saturday 9th May 2026.
Aberdeen Suburban Tramways Company 11 was built as a double deck tramcar in 1914 by UEC. It was destined to have a short original working life as it was withdrawn in the 1920s when services were abandoned; it is thought to have been the last tram to have been used on the Deeside section to Beldside.
After abandonment of the tramway 11 was sold on for further use as a summerhouse. And that it how it remained until the 1980s when it was discovered at Ellon, some 16 miles north of Aberdeen, and acquired by the Alford Valley Railway who proceeded to convert it into hauled rolling stock.
The Alford Valley Railway – which runs on 2-foot gauge – closed in 2017 and was then taken over by a community organisation who reopened the railway as the Alford Valley Community Railway in 2023. A backlog of maintenance meant that 11 was not part of the initial fleet and a major restoration has been underway over the past couple of years.
Initial hopes that it would be ready for the 2025 Santa Specials were unable to be achieved but the extensive and high-quality restoration work has been continuing over the past few months. As well as a full mechanical overhaul, the tram has enjoyed a repaint inside and out. The repaint has been done fully by hand with two of the restoration team having put on seven coats of paint and two of internal varnish.
- The Alford Valley Community Railway is open every Saturday and Sunday (subject to volunteer availability). More information on their website at https://avcr.org.uk/
The high quality paintwork is seen here as 11 stands outside the workshops in the sunshine ahead of its test run.
A view from the other end showing the open platform. Once again the high quality work completed on the former tramcar by the volunteers at the railway can be clearly seen.
11 is then seen being connected up to more rolling stock ahead of its test run. (All Photographs by William Brown, 9th May 2026)