Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex (close to Clacton) is not exactly somewhere a lot of enthusiasts will think of as somewhere which has a lot of association with trams but you would be wrong as it is home to a number of tram bodies in various conditions which have been collected over the years. In May 2026, Ken Jones had a private visit to see the trams and managed to capture the following images of the five trams which remain stored there, two inside and three outside under tarpaulins.
The five trams located at Walton-on-the-Naze are Lisbon cars 327, 614 and 705, Northampton 21 and Colchester 10. Two trams which were formally on site and are no longer there are Lisbon 345 and Coventry 71. It is believed that 71 has now moved to storage near Ardleigh, Colchester.
The tram that started it all is Colchester 10. The trams at Walton-on-the-Naze are often referred to as “Project 10” as a result. 10 is stored undercover but is surrounded by various other items which makes photography difficult but this view shows the surviving lower deck of the tram. It was built in 1904 as a double deck open topper and would be withdrawn from service 1928/9.
Another view of Colchester 10.
The other UK tram on site now is Northampton 21. This was built by the Electric Railway and Tramway Carriage Works in 1905, one of two trams in its batch which were additional trams for the electric tram network which had started operation the year before. Just the lower deck now survives. Its in covered accommodation and at some stage of its preservation life it has received some paint to the exterior.
The staircase remains although it now leads to nowhere!
The Lisbon cars are all stored outside under tarpaulins with the best positioned for photographs being 705. This was built around 1936 to the standard Lisbon tram design and is believed to have remained in service until around 1995, after which it must have made its way to the UK. As can be seen here it still features an old advertising livery.
On-board 705.
A close-up view of the drivers position on 705.
This is Lisbon 614 which also still carries the advertising livery it ended its operating career in. This tram was built c1935 and withdrawn at some point after 1992.
Lisbon 327 also still has an advertising livery under the tarpaulins and is seen here at the site. This tram was built c1932 and withdrawn around 1996.
Looking on board 327.
One final view showing Lisbon cars 614 and 327 side-by-side outside and under tarpaulins. (All Photographs by Ken Jones, 18th May 2026)
Very interesting! I spent half a day wandering around Walton on the Naze recently and had no idea there were any heritage trams nearby. I appreciate the location is kept secret, but can anyone say any more about this project? Is there an intention to restore any of these cars for public display or operation eventually?
It took a lot of research to find the owner of these trams. He also has brought over from Lisbon other trams which are now like the one at Crowle Peatland museum. They are not just in his back garden that would have been too easy. He is not in the best of health and without addition funding no work will be done on these 5 trams. For example he has approached railway carriage builders / restorers but without funding they will not consider doing the work, and the costs to restore even one of them could be very high.
Remember all 5 are bodies only so there is also the question of what to do with a restored body even if funding was available.
Thanks for the extra info, Ken, and well done with your detective work!
This sounds like situations I’ve seen in bus and car preservation, where someone rescues old vehicles and stores them for future restoration, but the years go by and eventually the owner’s strength and health aren’t what they were.
Some of these projects fall by the wayside but some do eventually return to glory, often after being taken over by other groups who do have the funds and manpower needed. Though perhaps this chap is reluctant to give up ownership.
No disaparagement to the owner – we should thank those who saved historic vehicles – and at least he’s managed to secure undercover storage for the most valuable ones, so there is some hope for their future.
Just thinking aloud, I wonder if the Colchester and Northampton trams might eventually attract some support from the heritage movement in their home towns, for at least a static restoration on dummy trucks.
Or perhaps a tie-up with the new Zero2 Bus Museum on the other side of Colchester? The people behind that have worked miracles in rebuilding ancient buses, and their website says they’re always looking for rarities to take on, whatever the condition… though I don’t think they’ve tackled a tram before!