Tramcar on track to return to city

Published on Monday 26 November 2007 12:03

ONE of the last remaining trams to run on the streets of Edinburgh could soon be on its way back to the Capital.

Tramcar 35 - the last example of the city's old tram fleet - has been on loan to the National Tramway Museum in Crich, Derbyshire, since the late 1980s.

Council officials recently recommended letting it stay there as a gift because it was felt it would be too expensive to bring the vehicle back and house it in Edinburgh.

But a group of tram enthusiasts have approached the council claiming private backers are ready to put up the cash to return and restore it.

They would also fund the creation of an exhibition space for the vehicle, possibly along the route of the city's new trams.

Councillors have now agreed to postpone the handover of the tram until February 5 and asked all interested parties to come forward before then with a fully costed alternative proposal.

Councillor Ricky Henderson, Labour's transport spokesman, led calls for an investigation into the cost of bringing back the 35 and establishing a museum and said he was delighted to hear of the interest from the private sector.

He said: "This tram is the last of its type and we would ideally want to see it housed in a proper museum up here.

"Unfortunately we do not have anywhere like that, and we do not have the resources to bring the tram back or create a home for it.

"The council has agreed to postpone the handover however, as we have been approached by people who claim to have significant private sector support which could fund the return of the tram.

"The onus is now on them to come forward with detailed proposals.

"This is a piece of the city's history and I think it would be something the whole of the city would want to see brought back here, particularly now."

After the Edinburgh tramway was abandoned in 1956, all the trams except number 35 were reported to have been transported to Coatbridge and set ablaze.

It was claimed the councillors of the day, unlike their modern-day counterparts, had become fiercely "anti-tram" and wanted rid of the system as soon as possible.

Backers have been given until February 5 to come up with a firm proposal for returning Tramcar 35, after which it is expected the tram will be handed over to the National Tramway Museum.

However, officials said that part of the handover agreement would be a clause that gave the city first option on buying the tram if the museum ever decided to sell it.

No one involved in the plans could be contacted for comment.