Glasgow 1245

The Coronation Class

By the start of the 1930’s demand for improvement in the comfort, standard and speed with increased accommodation of the trams were called for despite in the 1920’s the standard trams had improved. The Mark 1 class of trams was developed to improve the service, one of the Standard trams was converted to test the “remote contactor controller”, this test although did not work it however provided some essential information for the design of the coronation class. Three prototypes were built, numbers 1141 – 1143 and were introduced between December 1936 and March 1937, the prototypes looked different but the electrical and mechanical equipment operated in the same way

The new trams proved to be a success and 150 were planned for completion by June 1940, the design of 1141 was to be the standard. The class gained it name as the tram was introduced into service in 1937 the same year of the coronation of King George VI

The Corporation years (1939-1963)

Glasgow 1245 was launched into passenger service on 29/5/1939 and based at Parkhead Depot and would have operated on routes; 15 (Paisley to Coatbridge),15a(Uddingston to Paisley), 23(Airdrie to Kelvingrove), 29(Anderston Cross to Tollcross) and 30 (Vincent Street to Exhibition, operating for the Empire Exhalation) and operated there until march 1960 when she was moved to Maryhill depot, by October 1961 she was moved to Dalmarnock depot and stayed there until June 1962 when she was withdrawn from passenger service, she was transferred to the works department and was used to shunt trams around Coplawhill Works until 13th February 1963 making this the last tram to operate under her own power on the Glasgow tram network

The traveling years (1963 – 2002)

At the closure of the Glasgow tram system, Glasgow Corporation Transport were scrapping their trams and would sell them to anyone who would buy them, Tram 1245 was purchased in April 1963 by Adam Gordon and transported her down to the Midland Motor Museum in Measham.

By May 1965 the tram was moved to East Anglia Transport Museum, during her stay there the tram was operated, however a fire occurred in the control system making 1245 non-operational (making this the last time the tram operated) during her stay assitional restoration work was completed.

1245 was moved for a 3rd time since the closuer of the Glasgow tram system as more indoor room was needed to store the operational trams. March 1998 saw here moved to Blackpool Tram Depot at Rigby Road by this time the fire damage had being exposed to the sea air and was starting to show, by this time Adam Gordon was looking for a permeant home to help restore 1245 and loan 1245 to, the STG offered to house and restore 1245 at Summerlee but could not agree the condition of a loan and she remained at Blackpool until 2002

1245 homecoming and return into service (2002 – today)

By 2002 Blackpool Transport were looking for 1245 to be moved out of there Rigby Road depot and 1245 was offered to Summerlee, North Lanarkshire Council applied for funding from the National Museum of Scotland, National Funds for Acquisitions and received £2203.13 (50% of the cost to bring 1245 from Blackpool. 1245 arrived at Summerlee 25th April 2002, after arrived at Summerlee varying options for restoration were considered and restoration started in 2011

To find out more about the restoration of 1245 please visit www.glasgowslasttram.net
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1245 in service
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1245 at the Midland Motor Museum in Measham
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1245 on the move to Blackpool
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1245 on the move at Summerlee Museum (Tram Depot to Main Workshop)

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