This latest article in “Meet the Trams” continues featuring trams which have run in passenger service during 2026 and this time we take a look at Leeds 399.
Leeds 399 was built in 1925 and was a product of Leeds City Transport’s very own workshops. Whereas a lot of the trams we have featured in this series started off as open toppers and later received top covers, for 399 it was built as an enclosed car and was the last tram in Leeds to feature the brown, yellow and white livery to enter service (blue and white soon took over as the fleet livery after 399’s entry into service).
399 would remain in service until June 1951 when it was withdrawn (by which time it had carried the blue and white livery, khaki wartime livery and blue livery). It subsequently became a depot shunter at Kirkstall Works and would remain in use for that purpose until the closure of the works in 1957 and it was moved to Swinegate Depot.
The tram was acquired for preservation by the Leeds Tramways Historical Society and it was moved to Crich on 15th August 1959 – shortly before its home tramway was closed. On arrival at Crich it was just the second tram on-site following on from Cardiff 131.
It wasn’t to be a quick entry into service though as it would need extensive work to bring it up to operational condition. It would not be until 1991 that it entered service at Crich for the first time, and since then has been used regularly. Its spent some periods out of service for regular maintenance but has remained at Crich throughout meaning that it has actually been in Derbyshire for over 66 years!
Its back to last year for this photo of 399 as it passes by the depot entrance with a service up the line towards Glory Mine. (Photograph by Gareth Prior, 13th September 2025)