Progress Report 16th Octiber, 2024

Dateline: 16th October 2024. Material supplied by Ken Blacker with additional notes from Hugh Taylor
Added on 27th October was news of LCC No.1 restoration completion

Back in March of this year [2024], spurred on by a long period of inaction, EATM launched an appeal for funding to get the outstanding work on Glasgow 488 completed so that they can finally achieve the aim of putting this splendid 1903-built car into service as a valuable addition to EATMs Museum's tram fleet. Eleven years have now elapsed since EATM brought Glasgow 488 back from its outpost in the AMTUIR Museum in Paris in the expectation of perhaps getting it restored within about 3 or 4 years, and in more recent times there has been a burgeoning sense of guilt that this aim was not achieved. In truth, EATM failed to manage the project well enough, and were remiss in not ascertaining that the funding available for it was running out sooner than expected.

With restoration work on the truck, underframe and lower saloon having been completed to a very high standard some time ago, initially by the Ffestiniog Railway and subsequently by SMS Engineering in Lowestoft, pressure on us had been increasing to get the job completed, hence the appeal for more funds. Having acknowledged right from the start that we would be unable to renovate the car ourselves with all our available manpower being fully taken up on other tasks, we knew that 488 was a restoration task which would have to be undertaken at full commercial cost, and were always well aware that it would not be cheap.

It was solely thanks to the generosity of the Peter Mitchell Estate that we were able to contemplate embarking on the project in the first place and EATM has always acknowledge their indebtitude to him. EATM records their extreme gratitude to those who responded to a recent appeal for more funds so generously, and after adding a couple of bequests to the total we find that we now have around £49,000 in the kitty, which is enough to allow work to resume on 488.

The main outstanding task is to restore the upper saloon. Basically, this is a simple, timber-framed structure, but until it is examined closely there is no way of knowing exactly how much remedial work is required or precisely how much it might cost. Additionally, one end has to be completely reconstructed, the original incredibly having been sawn off on its way to Paris six decades ago to get the vehicle into the ship's hold. When all this is done repainting can take place, both externally and internally, following which the upper deck can be craned on top of the lower deck.

Further outstanding tasks include reconditioning of the controllers and fitting out the seating, which will be carried out by EATM, and then the final rewiring to make the car fully operational for service. It last carried revenue earning passengers on the 3rd June 1961, that was 00 years 00 days ago!

A specialist contractor has been commissioned to carry out the restoration work on the upper deck. It will be carried out in the new tram workshop the atmosphere is cleaner and more suitable for the final paintwork and gold leaf to be applied and where ongoing restoration work on its controllers is continuing. To make sufficient space available, Lowestoft 14 was moved out on 15th August 2024.

Seen in the new tram depot, the top deck of Glasgow 488 wait for restoration has taken its toll since arriving back in the UK in 2013.
Photo: Ken Blacker

Pictures of the top deck of 488 from other sources, taken several years ago, will be displayed when you click to enlarge the picture.

As stated above, we have no means of knowing exactly how much the outstanding work on 488 will cost, but as we do not wish the work on it to come to a halt once again because of lack of funds EATM have kept the 488 Appeal Fund open for further contributions. Donations will be most welcome and can be made direct via bank transfer to EATMs bank account [CAF Bank, Sort Code: 40-52-40, Account: 00013979], but please email the EATM Treasurer, Sue Jones, separately of your donation to 488.

Ken Blacker
Wednesday, 16th October 2024

Hugh Taylor adds:

Let us hope that this injection of £49,000 will complete the restoration of 488. Previous spent to bring this tram back to life has been £239,000 making it the 2nd most expensive tram restoration project ever. [LCC No.1 had around ½ million pounds spent on it].

Accounts rendered by contractors working on 488 naturally include VAT. It is sad to see £50,000 disappearing into Government coffers in our quest to restore a historically interesting tram to preserve our rich heritage.

The complexity of the tram and trolleybus overhead at EATM will unfortunately mean that a trolley pole will have to be used there, but when loaned to other museums [or at Blackpool] the more aesthetically pleasing bow will be available to be used.

Footnote

Ten years plus as a restoration project, London County Council Tram No.1, splendid in its original colour scheme, entered into their working fleet of trams at the National Tramway Museum [Crich] on 13th September 2024. It will obviously be a star attraction there. Video of the event available here.

EATM must pull out all the stops to have an equally finest tram on their tracks within a year or so. Do seriously consider a donation to allow maximum resources to be called in to achieve this.