Southampton Tram Project

11/05/2026

Some photos of the weekend.
Car 11 was towed out of the shed courtesy of our retired firemen friends.

11/05/2026

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/26092408.southampton-tram-returns-track-first-time-77-years/?fbclid=IwdGRjcARvAoNjbGNrBG8CeWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHkfgSziUCkvR1pEhsX-GUblWjFg6FL1mZOZyn8-3QyzZzD9hwLbdxJzyqMTZ_aem_rlpSmL_eS6dAFK6i470z0A

We had a great weekend, with our annual model tram event.
Press coverage included a mention in the Telegraph.
Lord Montagu paid a visit and took a great deal of interest in our project.

A Southampton tram has been rolled-out on the tracks for the first time in 77 years.

01/05/2026

This week, contractors Alan Keef came and laid some special low-level track out of the shed. Car 11 was pulled out into the sunshine, in anticipation of our tram event next weekend.

Photos are by volunteer Dave.

14/04/2026

More progress today.
As we intend to move tram 11 out of the shed at our models event next month, a towbar has been fitted. This was done by Steve and Gareth from Switch Engineering Ltd.

27/03/2026

Last Tuesday, the team worked hard to assemble the mechanism for the handbrake on one end of car 11.

This includes a coupled bar made by Solent Powder Finishers.

Some machining was also needed so the small cog would slide on to the brake shaft. This was done at short notice by Southampton Steam Works.

26/02/2026

We're delighted to announce the dates of this year's model tram event. Put this in your diary now !!

21/09/2025

Tram 87, one of the 'flat top' design, ended up in a field in West Wellow after withdrawal in 1948. When it was going to be scrapped, the City Museums decided to save one end for eventual display.
The parts have since been in store in various locations, and had to be moved into a container last week.

10/09/2025

Following on from car 11s truck being installed, Angela is meticulously applying the yellow lining.

20/06/2025

Our annual tram celebration begins tomorrow 21-22 June! Here is Cowley Bridge – a miniature working signal box, operated by volunteers, complete with track plan of Cowley Bridge Junction, signals, bells, and a lever frame. The operators control the movement of the trains via the signals and points that are operated by the levers, with the bells confirming the actions.

19/06/2025

Only two more days until our annual tram event on 21-22 June! Here's another of our exhibitors: Gordon Bartlet – narrow gauge tramway ¾ inch scale. This layout will be situated next to the Tramway Arms. Although the models are to the same scale as the Tramway Arms it shows narrow gauge trams using a track gauge of 2⅝”. There will be a number of models running including Bournemouth 85, Poole 3, Taunton 6, Exeter 16, Llandudno 4 and Karachi 103. Some of these trams run using live overhead others are battery powered.

19/06/2025

Ready for this year's tram event 21-22 June: The Tramway Arms is a modular layout built to the large scale of 1:16, (3/4"=one foot). The track gauge is 3.5 inches wide, and the layout sets out to recreate the street running scenes of the first generation of British tramways. The tram models are accurate examples of prototypes that once ran in cities such as Portsmouth and Southampton. The models collect their operating power (24v max) from the overhead wire in a similar fashion to the real trams that these models are based upon.

The layout is operated by members of the Sussex, Solent and West of England Area Groups of the Tramway and Light Railway Society, who will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
The model trams in this scale are around 2 feet long, and the layout has 27 feet of track making it very impressive to see. Although this layout has been at every one of our events, it changes the track layout and the trams running every year.