The restoration of Aberdeen Corporation Tramways 15 is now underway following its move to Northumberland in mid-April 2026. The tram, which is usually housed at the Bus Collection at Alford in Aberdeenshire, is being restored thanks to a bequest with the work expected to take several years.
15 is the tram which was used as a home for over 70 years having been sold on by Aberdeen Corporation Tramways in 1929 after its withdrawal. It had originally been built for Aberdeen by Brush, Lougborough in 1901 as an open top double decker, although did receive a top cover within the first decade of its operation.
It was found on Wellington Road, Aberdeen and removed in 2013 with its first home after that being the Dundee Transport Museum before it moved back north to Alford in 2019. The tram has been lucky in that a bequest has been made to support its restoration and to allow this to happen a contractor has been found to complete the bodywork.
Stanegate Restorations in Northumberland have been contracted for the work and the tram was moved as one on 15th April 2026. Once it arrived in Northumberland the two decks were split to allow the work to begin in earnest.
In the first restoration update since its move it has been confirmed that one of the first jobs completed is an assessment of the condition of the wooden bodywork. It is perhaps unsurprising considering how long it was in use as a house that a lot of the wood will need replacement. The two decks will be worked on separately.
- To see all the latest on the tram, including photos of the start of the restoration visit the Bus Collection at Alford’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thebuscollectionatalford/