The Workington Transport Heritage Trust (WTHT) are the proud owners of the lower deck of the last surviving Carlisle tram and have made an appeal for more volunteers to help with its restoration. Their big aim is that it would become a local tourist attraction but before that can happen they need extra help to bring the tram back to a condition more akin to a tramcar.<\/p>\n
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The tram\u2019s exact identity is unknown but is thought to be part of a batch of eight trams built in 1912. It is known not to be no. 8 so that reduces the possibilities to it being any of numbers 1 to 7.<\/p>\n
The tram body was discovered in the early 1980s and was purchased by one Ambrose McCourt before Tullie House then acquired it in 1985. One year later and it seemed to change ownership again to Carlisle City Council. It moved several times over the years and was at on time at Carlisle College where there were outline plans to restore it as a woodworking project.<\/p>\n
Fast-forward to 2005 and the College contacted the widow of Ambrose McCourt asking her to remove the tram (Tullie House claimed that they had never formally accepted the tram and so she still owned it).\u00a0 It was put for auction but with no bidders forthcoming the WTHT stepped in and after making a donation to a charity of Mrs McCourt\u2019s choosing became the new owners of the tram.<\/p>\n
It was able to stay at Carlisle College until 2013 when it finally had to be moved \u2013 and that is when it found its way to the undercroft at Carlisle Railway Station. Plans to start its restoration in 2020 were delayed by a certain pandemic\u00a0 and then they were provided with notice to remove it from the undercroft.<\/p>\n
Various offers were made for the tram at this stage (including Sunderland, Blackpool and the Wirral) but the Trust retained it and were able to move it to Denton Holme, thanks to Wayne McKnight. It made the move in November 2020 and remains in the same location today.<\/p>\n
The WTHT are now appealing for volunteers to help with its restoration \u2013 especially those with skills in carpentry. Philip Tuer from the Trust said: \u201cIt’s a big woodwork project, but everything is do-able, just need the will power.\u201d<\/p>\n
They currently have a small amount of funds and enough material to restore the main body. After that they would apply for grants to help complete the tram.<\/p>\n
After any restoration they would like to see it move to either the National Tramway Museum or Beamish. Longer-term the Trust hope that it could run in Carlisle itself on a section of restored tram track.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Workington Transport Heritage Trust (WTHT) are the proud owners of the lower deck of the last surviving Carlisle tram and have made an appeal for more volunteers to help with its restoration. Their big aim is that it would … Continue reading