EATM's Unexpected Boost

The local preservation scene has received a very welcome and unexpected boost that a British tram has been acquired on loan by the East Anglia Transport Museum (EATM) at Carlton Coleville.

Glasgow Tram No 488 is a four wheeled double deck 'standard' tramcar dating from 1901. It has resided in France for the past fifty years after the closure of its native system in 1962 following a long operating career. The vehicle was then preserved by the Paris Transport Museum and after the museum's demise was kept in secure storage there for a number of years.

However, after the successful conclusion of confidential talks 488 has returned to Great Britain and is currently on loan to the EATM. Instead of going directly to the Carlton Colville the tram is being delivered to the Boston Lodge workshops of the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway Society who have undertaken similar high quality restoration work recently.

To enable its journey to take place the tram has been split into two parts with upper and lower decks travelling by sea independently. The lower deck has already arrived in Wales with the upper deck expected shortly.

Once completed, Glasgow No 488 will move to its new home at the EATM which is currently progressing the reconstruction of Lowestoft Tram No 14. Interested parties are requested not to contact the Ffestiniog Railway direct about the project but to follow regularly updated progress on the 488 website at www.488.cyberpictures.net

I would like to thank Hugh Taylor for his valuable assistance with this article and for the photos he has provided.