'Caur' No.1100 - A story in itself

Even though the Glasgow tramway system had been abandoned more than a year previously, by the beginning of 1964 there still remained seven trams inside the former Coplawhill workshops. Of these, six were destined for an indefinite stay as exhibits in the soon to be created transport museum but the seventh, the unique rebuilt Kilmarnock Bogie Car 1100 had been sold to a private individual and was still awaiting relocation to a new home.

On 4th February 1964, 1100 was duly loaded up and departed Glasgow for the last time, becoming the final tram from one of Britain's largest tramway fleets to leave the city. Its destination was to be Shropshire where arrangements had been made to display the tram in the grounds of a mansion in Whitchurch.

However, as the tram made its way southwards, an abrupt change of plan occurred and, instead, it was diverted to Crich were it appeared without warning and with few officials of the Tramway Museum Society aware of its intended arrival. The tram was duly unloaded and thus became part of the national collection by default, having been rejected for inclusion in the museum when the idea had first been mooted a few months previously.

Thus 1100 found an unexpected new home, remaining at Crich for more than forty years. It returned to passenger service during the formative years of electric operation at the museum although it was withdrawn in 1976 and became a static exhibit, latterly in the Exhibition Hall until, in 2005, it was dispatched to off-site storage at Clay Cross. Having been rejected once and defying its critics to become part of the national collection, 1100 was thus finally banished into obscurity where it still remains although, hopefully, one day it will enjoy an upturn in its fortunes, as it did when a new home was being sought in 1964.

Postscript information from the Glasgow Tram Facebook Page
With acknowlegements to Mike Redmayne and Paul Strathdee

This unique tram had maximum traction trucks and was probably the only contactor equipped two motor maximum traction tram. The BTH equipment was a four motor set altered for use in a two motor tram. Nicknamed the 'Horonation' when running at Crich.

Has been stored at Clay Cross since 2005 and Hugh McAulay doubts it will ever run again.

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