The Company Crest |
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The Llandudno
and Colwyn Bay
Tramway Society |
The 1936 no 7 on the promenade
at
Rhos-on-Sea |
The Tram No.7 Project
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| The 'old' No.7 at Rhos-on-Sea |
| The 'new' No.7 at Rhos-on-Sea
on Sunday 3rd June 2007 |
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When the Ll&CBER closed in 1956 the only tramcar not to be scrapped
was an ex-Bournemouth tram, No.6. This tramcar became part of the British Transport Commission
collection and was on display in Ll&CBER livery at the Clapham Transport Museum throughout the
1960s.
When Clapham closed, the collection was split between the National Railway Museum
at York and the London Transport Museum at Covent Garden.
As No.6 was not relevant to either collection it became the property of the Science Museum and
two opposing bids were made for its restoration, one from a newly formed group based in Llandudno
and one from a group in Bournemouth. The Bournemouth group were successful and No.6 was repainted
in its original Bournemouth livery with its original No.85. It is now displayed in
the 'Southern Electric Museum of Electricity' in Christchurch, Dorset.
This left the Llandudno group without a real purpose and eventually it disbanded.
In the early 1980s a Llandudno enthusiast, Roger Best, obtained the 1925 body of "Brush" built
Bournemouth 126 and with the help of like-minded individuals began the task of recreating a
Llandudno and Colwyn Bay tram.
The number "7" was decided on at the time as this was next in sequence to the existing No.6,
albeit now back in its original Bournemouth guise as No.85.
photo: courtesy of J. Tonge
Many original fixtures and fittings were discovered in both the Colwyn Bay and Llandudno areas,
particularly handrails and top deck seats..........
photo: courtesy of J. Tonge
..........and these were stored along with the the "basic" tram body at a covered yard in Builder
Street, Llandudno which was jacked-up for initial attention to the woodwork.
photo: courtesy of J. Tonge
Some work was done on the body and several large components were manufactured for the
recreated tram, but it became clear that this was an overwhelming task for one person to
undertake.
photo: courtesy of J. Tonge
Things came to a head when the body had to be moved from the protected position at
Llandudno to the former Chairman's garden. The time had come for the formation of a
supporting group for the project and thus
"The Llandudno and Colwyn Bay
Tramway Society" was formed.
It was eventually realised that the state of this tram would never be acceptable for 'operational'
purposes. Consequently another ex-Bournemouth tram
body was purchased and work commenced on rebuilding it to a high standard by a
professional coachbuilder and a mechanical & electrical engineer.
With the Centenary of the Ll&CBER rapidly approaching, it was decided the event must be marked
properly. It is this Replica Tram No.7 that has been made presentable and displayed as part of
the Centenary celebrations throughout 2007. Click
here for further restoration work to the tram in the early part of the centenary year. It
has some new parts (including the vestibule ends and stairs to the top deck) which may ultimately
be incorporated into the 'operational' tram No.6.
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Tuesday 1st May 2007
Out in the sunshine at last
--- the crest and numeral
transfers had just been applied |
The long-term future of this tram body depends entirely on the amount of money made available by you,
Why not give your support by joining the Society NOW ?
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Click here for pictures of Replica No.7 being re-built for display purposes - 2006-2007
Click here for pictures of Replica No.7 at Llandudno
- May 2007
Click here for pictures of Replica Tram No.7 at Rhos-on-Sea
- June 2007
Click here for pictures of Replica Tram No.7 at Conway Road School
- June 2007
Click here for a picture of Replica Tram No.7 outside Venue Cymru
- July 2007
Click here for a picture of Replica Tram No.7 at St David's Church,
Penryhn Bay - July 2007
Do you have a picture of replica Tram No.7 at the Rugby Club Fun Day
at Llandudno ? - July 2007
Click here for a pictures of Replica Tram No.7 at Eiras Park, Colwyn
Bay - August 2007
Do you have a picture of replica Tram No.7 at the Llandudno Carnival ?
- August 2007
Click here for pictures of Replica Tram No.7 at the Birkenhead Tramway
- October 2007
Click here for pictures of Replica Tram No.7 at Bodafon fields/Tabernacl
- October 2007
Click here for pictures of Replica Tram No.7 on the Centenary hauled run
- October 2007
Click here for pictures of Replica Tram No.7 in the Llandudno Christmas
Parade - December 2007
Click here for pictures of Replica Tram No.7 at the Llandudno Upper Mostyn
Street Shopping Event - December 2007
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| No.7 - static/hauled displays |
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throughout 2007, 2008 and 2009 |
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25th December 2008