THE Summerlee Transport Group (STG) is hopeful a Heritage Lottery Fund grant application will be successful, enabling it to complete the restoration of Glasgow Corporation ‘Coronation’ car No. 1245.
The group is based at the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, near Coatbridge.
The double-deck tram arrived in Coatbridge from Blackpool in 2003, but restoration work did not get underway until five years ago when a small group of retired mechanical and electrical engineers – George Drain, Charlie Mcaloon, Bob Davidson and Azeem Dim – took on the project.
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Their first task was to complete a feasibility study covering the restoration of the motors, bogies and braking systems, after which the bogies and upper and lower decks of No. 1245 were transferred from the tram shed to the museum workshop.
Since then the chassis has been fully restored and strengthened, all seating and glass removed from both decks, and all exterior panelling removed; new aluminium panelling is being used for the restoration.
Read more in December’s issue of The RM – on sale now!
