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Volunteers bringing Glasgow’s Last Tram to life

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9:31am - 07 September 2023
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The last tram to draw power on the Glasgow network is being restored thanks to the efforts of a team of local volunteers.

Built in 1939, the art deco Coronation tram No. 1245 is on display at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge.

A group of local men with skills in joinery, engineering, coach building and electrical engineering set up the 1245 Last Tram Group and have worked for the past eight years to fully restore the tram to working order.

Council Leader Jim Logue visited Summerlee to thank the group for their work to restore the tram.

“The 1245 group have done an outstanding job is restoring the tram and bringing it back to full working order,” Councillor Logue said.

“I would like to thank the group for giving the tram a new future, and allowing visitors to Summerlee the opportunity to climb on board, step back to the 1950s and 60s and experience an authentic tram journey.”

Tram 1245 was based at Parkhead depot and ran through Coatbridge on route 23 until 1956 when this part of the tramway system was closed. It then moved to Glasgow city centre to continue passenger service until it was withdrawn in 1962.

It was then used to shunt other trams waiting to be scrapped up until 1963, before completing its final task - to push tram 1272 to the back of Coplawhill works, after which the overhead power would be turned off for the very last time.

For more information about tram 1245’s history and the project to restore it, visit Glasgow's Last Tram (glasgowslasttram.net)

Anyone interested in volunteering on the project, should contact museums@northlan.gov.uk

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Page last updated:
07 Sep 2023

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