In this edition of “They’ve Run in 2026 – Meet the Trams” we stay in Derbyshire at the National Tramway Museum to take a more detailed look at another tram to have been used in 2026. This week that tram is Sheffield 510.
Sheffield 510 is one of two surviving Roberts Cars which were built by Charles Roberts and entered service between 1950 and 1952 (the other is 513 which can be found at the East Anglia Transport Museum). The 35 strong fleet would have a painfully short operational life as Sheffield’s first generation tram system would close in October 1960. Whilst for 510 that was ten years after it was built, for others it would only be an operating life of eight short years.
But before the end of services 510 would be one of two Roberts Cars (513 being the other) to receive a special “Last Tram Week” livery which depicted various different trams would had run in Sheffield over the years. 510 would run in the final tram procession on 8th October 1960 and after that all the trams were withdrawn.
510 would be one of the lucky ones though as it was donated to the Tramway Museum Society and would quickly arrive at Crich in the same month that it ran for the last time in Sheffield. It would retain its special livery and remain in regular use until another withdrawal came in 2006. An overhaul followed and at the same it was agreed that it would receive a full repaint into its “Last Tram Week” livery.
510 returned to service in 2014 and remains a regular performer in 2026.
Sheffield 510 is seen in this image at Town End during another day of operation during the 2026 season. (Photograph by Stuart Cooke, 3rd June 2006)