An experimental tram running in 1960?

kango · Post by **kango** » Sat 23 Mar, 2013 5:49 pm

Whilst browsing the Leeds forum I came across a couple of posts referring to a tram running in the early1960's in the Hunslet/Middleton area.http://www.leedsforum.co.uk/showthread. ... page=2Does Anyone have any recollections of this as all My,albeit cursory, searches seem to say Leeds trams were done and dusted by 1959, and I cannot find any mention of said experimental vehicle?Kango.

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Sat 23 Mar, 2013 6:12 pm

kango wrote: Whilst browsing the Leeds forum I came across a couple of posts referring to a tram running in the early1960's in the Hunslet/Middleton area.http://www.leedsforum.co.uk/showthread. ... page=2Does Anyone have any recollections of this as all My,albeit cursory, searches seem to say Leeds trams were done and dusted by 1959, and I cannot find any mention of said experimental vehicle?Kango. Hi Kango I remember a single decker tram that ran on Hunslet Road i think it was in purple/white that would have been nineteen fifty nine sixty.I also think there was one more of the same type that ran in another part of the city.I think it has been posted on s/l in the past but i could be wrong.Ps Just had a thought i think the other tram was in another livery.I also think they ran for about twelve months that would take them to the end of nineteen sixty.

peterg · Post by **peterg** » Sat 23 Mar, 2013 6:24 pm

There were at least two experimental trams that ran while trams were still in service. One is preserved at the Tram Museum. I travelled on ome once.

kango · Post by **kango** » Sat 23 Mar, 2013 6:43 pm

Hi Tilly.I found mention of the trams You mention here..http://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Mess ... Light=1But these were on the go in the fifties, whereas the poster on the Leeds forum says.".. they were "experimenting" with a mnew (sic) single decker tram in THE EARLY 60s.(My caps) It never took off though and the idea was eventually scarpped(sic)... "Early 60's would indicate to Me any time up to 63/64.So was there a tram running around LS10 then or is He referring to a factory based experiment perhaps?One for BLAKEY I think!Kango.

jim · Post by **jim** » Sat 23 Mar, 2013 8:56 pm

No trams ran on the streets of Leeds after complete closure of the tram system and disposal of the last trams in 1959 Kango. The only tram which could have been claimed to "run" in Leeds in the 1960s was Swansea and Mumbles car No 2, which had been brought to Leeds for preservation by the Middleton Railway. For a short time, rides were offered in this vehicle hauled behind Hunslet diesel 1697. Unfortunately the tram enthusiasts understandably focused their efforts on the Crich tramway project when that got well under way, and car No2 rotted away where it stood. Efforts were made to find a group willing to take the vehicle away to where it could be stored under cover until restoration could be afforded and undertaken, but eventually its condition became so dangerous that it had to be scrapped.The Leeds single decker trams referred to were No 600, a rebuild of an ex-Sunderland car, which usually ran in red, and Nos 601 and 602, apparently alike but with very different electrical systems. The latter two were I believe in a purple and cream livery. All three spent most of their careers running on the route to the Crooked Billet terminus. Cars 600 and 602 are still in existence at Crich.

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Sat 23 Mar, 2013 9:47 pm

Hi Jim I got the colour wrong purple/cream i said white this tram did run for a time on Hunslet Road i remember it well.It must be fifty nine not sixty that it ran its so long ago its hard to remember.

kango · Post by **kango** » Sun 24 Mar, 2013 12:24 am

jim wrote: No trams ran on the streets of Leeds after complete closure of the tram system and disposal of the last trams in 1959 Kango. The only tram which could have been claimed to "run" in Leeds in the 1960s was Swansea and Mumbles car No 2, which had been brought to Leeds for preservation by the Middleton Railway. For a short time, rides were offered in this vehicle hauled behind Hunslet diesel 1697. Unfortunately the tram enthusiasts understandably focused their efforts on the Crich tramway project when that got well under way, and car No2 rotted away where it stood. Efforts were made to find a group willing to take the vehicle away to where it could be stored under cover until restoration could be afforded and undertaken, but eventually its condition became so dangerous that it had to be scrapped.The Leeds single decker trams referred to were No 600, a rebuild of an ex-Sunderland car, which usually ran in red, and Nos 601 and 602, apparently alike but with very different electrical systems. The latter two were I believe in a purple and cream livery. All three spent most of their careers running on the route to the Crooked Billet terminus. Cars 600 and 602 are still in existence at Crich. Hi Jim.The Swansea and Mumbles car No 2 was the first thing that sprang to mind( Having once being a M.R.T. member I was aware of said tram) and curiously enough I recently discovered that My Brother made an offer to the late Dr Fred Youell to purchase it only to be turned down!I think this one can be classed as solved.Kango.

jim · Post by **jim** » Sun 24 Mar, 2013 5:49 pm

Just checked on the "official" livery of 601/2. They were painted royal purple and ivory. I must concede that tilly's "white" is closer than my "cream". One to you mate!

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Sun 24 Mar, 2013 10:54 pm

jim wrote: Just checked on the "official" livery of 601/2. They were painted royal purple and ivory. I must concede that tilly's "white" is closer than my "cream". One to you mate! Hi Jim its so long ago i remember seeing this tram on Hunslet Road and thinking what a great tram i cant say i saw the other ones but then they did not run on my patch.In my minds eye i can still see Hunslet Road at christmas time with all the shops lit up, look at it now not a shop in sight the song has ended but the memory lingers on.

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Mon 25 Mar, 2013 12:15 am

I'm almost sure I used to see one of the single-decker trams in a scrapyard in 1963/64. I was working in Hunslet at the time and used to catch a bus from town. I always sat upstairs on the bus so I could see into the scrapyard. I'm pretty sure there was a couple of double-deckers in the yard at the time as well.