The COLLECTION

Liverpool horse car 43 at Edge Lane. (R. Martin)

LIVERPOOL 43

This car operated on the Old Swan-Pier Head route. Much of the body style appears to be from the 1890s although some parts apparently date back to 1879/80, probably constructed at Tramway Road in Aigburth, and Lambeth Road.

Withdrawn in 1900, car 43 then languished for more than 70 years as a summerhouse/potting shed in the garden of a large house in Cressington Park, south Liverpool, before being "discovered". Acquired by the MTPS and moved to Green Lane depot, 43 was restored, the period advertisements paying toward the cost of materials. This car has been on loan to the National Tramway Museum but is now back at Taylor Street.

(photo D.Pendleton)

For more on 20

(photo D Butler)

For more on 78

WALLASEY 78

Though built as late as 1920 by Brush, 78 was old-fashioned in design, having open upper deck balconies similar to Liverpool's Bellamy cars. 78 was the very last tram built for Wallasey and it only ran until 1933 when the town went over completely to buses. For more than 50 years, the saloon of Wallasey 78 was used for storage purposes in a North Wales farmyard.

(photo right B.P. Martin)

No longer in use it was handed over to the society by the farmer in 1986. Aided by workers from Community Industry, about a year's restoration work was carried out starting in 1987. Supported by Heritage Lottery cash, work was restarted in 1997. The car has now been restored to its original 1920s appearance with that unusual yellow and cream livery and joined the operational fleet in August 2002.

(photo D Butler)

For more on 762

LIVERPOOL 762

One of 12 bogie cars built in 1931/2 at Edge Lane Works, 70 seat car 762 was originally fitted with English Electric bogies and concealing valances. It was rebuilt in 1939 with EMB lightweight bogies and painted in a green livery.
When it was withdrawn in 1955, the lower saloon became a bowling green clubhouse at Newsham Park.

By 1977 it had become derelict but was rescued by Society members. Restoration began at Green Lane depot two years later, but due to lack of accommodation it had to be stored in the open for 18 months. Work was continued at Speke and Princes Dock, but was suspended at Lairds while Birkenhead 20 was finished. On February 6 2000, 762 was placed on the rails at Pacific Road, and in 2001, 762 was running in service on the heritage line, looking just as it did in the 1930s.

(photo D Butler)

For more on 869

also see history page

LIVERPOOL 869

Bogie streamliner 869 was built at Edge Lane Works in 1936. It ran in the city until 1954 when it was sold with 45 others to Glasgow. Some of these cars were still running in Glasgow in 1960 - three years after trams had stopped in Liverpool. 869 is shown here at Crich.

LIVERPOOL GUY TOWER WAGON

Tower wagon GKD317, built in 1946, was a familiar sight on the city streets for over 30 years. Originally it was used for maintenance of the tramway overhead wiring, but after 1957, exclusively for lighting work. Now things have come full circle and the vehicle is part of the maintenance back-up at the tramway museum. It is seen here at a rally - probably Woodvale. (A. Pendleton)

LISBON 730

This addition to our collection arrived at Taylor St. on 14th February 2004. Lisbon 730 was donated to the Society by Alan Pearce who had intended it to be used at Seaton. It had been stored at Walton-on-Naze in Essex.

The wheels of 730 have had to be regauged to standard gauge in order to be able to run on the heritage tramway.

Keep up with the news on 730.

WARRINGTON 2

On Saturday 24th July 2004, Warrington No.2 was safely delivered to Taylor Street depot from St. Helens Transport Museum, 30 years after being saved for preservation by Alan Pritchard.

Withdrawn in the 1930s the Milnes built car had been in use as a bowling green shelter in Cuddington until 1977.

An assortment of vital components have been obtained for Warrington No. 2 including, Controllers, Air Tanks, Sand Hoppers, etc., not to mention a truck (an ex Brussels longwheelbase Brill 79E).

Keep up with the progress on 2

LIVERPOOL 245

Following the final procession of Liverpool trams in September 1957 "baby grand" 245 was not scrapped like the others but kept aside at Edge Lane depot with the intention of putting it on display in the museum. This did not happen and 245 became an exhibit in a storage shed at Bankhall, in north Liverpool. After lengthy negotiations between the Merseyside Museums and MTPS it was agreed to transfer the car to Taylor Street and this took place in May 2006. At present the condition of the vehicle is being assessed by members of the MTPS.
245 is shown here while in storage at the former Steamport Museum at Southport sometime in the 1980s after languishing in Edge Lane depot.