Ride the Trams at the National Tramway Museum

Below we have included a short summary of the trams you might be enjoying during your day! For more information, please visit our Tram Collections page.

Blackpool ‘Standard’ No. 40 – A Crich Pioneer

Built in 1926 as part of a major renewal of Blackpool’s tram fleet, Blackpool Corporation Transport ‘Standard’ No. 40 is a classic example of the famous open-balcony tram design. Withdrawn from service in 1962 as the last open-balcony tram operating in Britain, it arrived at Crich the following year and became one of the first electric tramcars to run at the Museum. Since then, No. 40 has been one of the most frequently used trams in the collection.

Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramroad 40

Built in 1914 by the United Electric Car Company of Preston, No. 40 was one of the final box-style tramcars produced for the Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramroad. After withdrawal from passenger service in 1936, it served as an engineering vehicle and even helped clear heavy snow during the severe winter of 1940. Restored for Blackpool Tramways’ 75th anniversary in 1960, it was later donated to Crich and arrived in 1963. The tram became one of the first to carry passengers at the museum after electrification in 1964 and has since also operated at several other heritage tramways.

Blackpool ‘Toastrack’ No. 166 – A Seaside Classic

Built in 1927, Blackpool ‘Toastrack’ No. 166 was one of the last of its kind constructed in Britain for the famous Blackpool Circular Tours along the promenade. These open trams were hugely popular with holidaymakers, although conductors originally had to balance along the running boards to collect fares. During the Second World War, the traditional tours ended, and No. 166 later served as a works car and even a television car for BBC coverage of the Blackpool Illuminations. It survived until 1972, when it arrived at the Tramway for restoration.

Blackpool 167 – A Modern ‘Pullman’ Tram

Built in 1928, Blackpool 167 was the first of a new generation of ‘Pullman’ tramcars designed to replace older and less comfortable vehicles on the Blackpool & Fleetwood route. Equipped with faster motors and improved air brakes, it spent much of its working life on the inter-urban line between North Station and Fleetwood. Withdrawn from service in 1953 and later used as a works car, it arrived at Crich in 1962 and was restored to its 1950s condition in 1983. Since then, the tram has enjoyed an active preservation life, appearing at major events in Blackpool, Gateshead, and beyond.

Blackpool Corporation 630

Built in 1937 as No. 293, Blackpool 630 began life as a luxurious ‘Railcoach’ tram, featuring cushioned seating, heaters, and ornate concealed lighting. Over the decades, it was modernised with simpler, bus-style interiors, a change completed in the 1990s. After serving until 2011, it was withdrawn, repainted in a 1990s green-and-cream livery, and now operates as part of Crich’s heritage tram fleet.

Glasgow ‘Standard’ No. 22 – A Crich Original
Built in 1922 as part of Glasgow’s ‘Standard’ class, No. 22 served one of Britain’s largest tramway systems before being withdrawn from passenger service in 1960 and used as a depot shunter. Restored by Glasgow Corporation at Coplawhill Works, the tram arrived at Crich in 1963 in near-operational condition. It went on to carry passengers in 1964, the first year of electric tramcar operation at the Museum, and has run here regularly ever since.

Leeds 180 – A Tram with Many Identities

Built in the 1930s to modernise Leeds’ tram fleet, Leeds 180 has worn several colour schemes over the years, from princess blue and cream to wartime khaki green and the red and cream it carries today. After a collision destroyed sister tram 189 in 1958, 180 took on its truck and identity until the Leeds system closed in 1959. The tram arrived at Crich in 1960, reclaiming its original number, and even found television fame in 2009 when it appeared in Kay Mellor’s A Passionate Woman.

Leeds City Transport 345

Built in 1921 as an open-balcony four-wheeler, Leeds 345 was modernised in the 1930s but later relegated to a joiners’ shed when its body deteriorated. Rescued from scrapping in 1959, it became one of the first trams to arrive at Crich, though it remained in storage for decades. Restoration began in 2002, and by 2006, 345 was back in operational service at the Museum.

London County Council 106 – London’s Sole Survivor

Built in 1903, London County Council Tramways 106 originally collected its power from an underground conduit system rather than overhead wires. As London’s tramways evolved, the small tramcars became unsuitable for busy routes and many were sold or converted for other uses. No. 106 had its top deck removed and spent its later years as a snow broom, clearing snow from tram tracks. Chosen for preservation in 1951, it was later restored by the London County Council Tramways Trust and presented to the National Tramway Museum.

London 1622 – The Last of a Giant Fleet

Built in 1912, London Passenger Transport Board 1622 was one of more than 1,000 ‘E/1’ tramcars that once ran across the capital, making it part of the largest tramcar class in the UK. Withdrawn from service in 1940, it later found an unusual second life as accommodation, an orchard hut, and even a chicken shed on a Hampshire farm. Eventually rescued for preservation, the tram was restored with support from the London County Council Tramways Trust and the National Tramway Museum, returning to service at Crich in 1997 as the only working example of its kind.

Oporto 273 – Built for Every Weather

Built in 1928 to an American semi-convertible design patented by the J. G. Brill Company, Oporto 273 was created to cope with changing weather conditions. Its retractable windows and distinctive barrel-shaped roof allowed the tram to run either open-sided or fully enclosed. After decades of service in Portugal, it was withdrawn in 1995 and later moved to Crich, where it was restored between 1999 and 2002 with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Sheffield Corporation 74 – An Elegant Edwardian
Built in 1900 by the Electric Railway and Carriage Company, Sheffield 74 began life as an open-topped tram before gaining a short top cover in 1909 to protect passengers from the weather. Sold to Gateshead & District Tramways in 1922 and rebuilt as an enclosed tramcar, it ran in service until 1951. After decades spent as a garden shed, the lower saloon was rediscovered by the Tramway Museum Society and carefully reconstructed using parts from several preserved trams. Sheffield 74 returned to carrying passengers at Crich in May 1995.