Manchester 173 is a 4-wheel double deck tram built by Brush of Loughborough and entering service at Queens Road Depot in 1901. The sole survivor of 81 similar trams delivered that year, it was originally built with an open top deck and ends. After having a top deck fitted in c1907, Car 173 operated in the city until 1931. The body was sold off for use as a garden shed, until being discovered by society members in the 1970s.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, a cosmetic overhaul was completed and a suitable underframe ‘truck’ sourced (from an imported Portugese Opoto ‘Coal Car’), but the car was never electrically completed and instead put on static display. After moving between a number of locations in the North West, 173 went on display at the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester, until 2013 when it was moved to Heaton Park.

Following a further period of display and storage, 173 was moved into our workshops at the end of 2024 to allow a full restoration to take place. After many years of display, the bodywork is once again in need of renovation, and this is being carried out alongside a full reassessment of the chassis, with potentially suitable motors recently sourced from Lisbon tram 711.

Work has already started on the car with refurbishment of the saloon interior, upstairs seating, controllers and handrails well underway.It is hoped that 173 will return to active service in the next few years, and we invite any new volunteers and/or donations to help make this a reality. Please drop us a message below or directly via Facebook messenger if you’d like to join us.