Trams at the Black Country Living Museum (August 2011)

Some old tram photos of mine taken from a day out at the Black Country Living Museum during August 2011. Tram 34 and tram 49. We actually had a ride at the time on tram 49 on the top deck, which was in the open air. The museum is located in Dudley in the Black Country. The museum opened in 1975. I'm sure it's probably changed since my visit including Peaky Blinders filming.

From a day out at the Black Country Living Museum, on the 14th August 2011. There was plenty to see on my first (and so far) only visit to this open air museum. So my visit precedes the filming of episodes of Peaky Blinders by a few years.

Tram 49

This is a Wolverhampton Corporation double decker tram, built in 1909. It is a typical Edwardian tramcar with a lower saloon and open upper deck. It was withdrawn in 1921. It was restored by the Black Country Living Museum and put into service in 2004.

I first saw tram 49 before we headed to have a look in the museum full of vintage cars and other vehicles. It was passing the war memorial. Which was passing these umbrella looking shields.

dndimg alt="Tram 49" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCLM tram 49 (August 2011) (0).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In this view the tram is seen heading to "Penn Fields" (well not really) and had an old Express and Star advert on the side.

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Seen from the other direction getting close to the end of the journey. There was stairs at both ends, and they have to manually move the overhead pantograph, so that the tram can go in the other direction.

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Again seen here, passengers are getting off the tram.

dndimg alt="Tram 49" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCLM tram 49 (August 2011) (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A lady seemed to reverse backwards down the steps.

dndimg alt="Tram 49" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCLM tram 49 (August 2011) (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Adverts also at the front and back. Here you see "Gray's Herbal Tablets".

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The tram driver and the ticket inspector have a chat, or hand over the keys?

dndimg alt="Tram 49" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCLM tram 49 (August 2011) (7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

They only had two volunteers, we had to wait for the tram to get back before we could ride it. By then they had 3 volunteers and we went up to the top deck of the tram.

dndimg alt="Tram 49" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCLM tram 49 (August 2011) (8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Seen here, visitors are seeing heading down the steps and getting off the tram. It was the stop close to the village, and wasn't too far from where tram 34 was. This was after my tram ride, so I took this photo after I got off.

dndimg alt="Tram 49" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCLM tram 49 (August 2011) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A few hours later, saw tram 49 again. This time passing the Underground Mine. This side was an advert for the Co-op.

dndimg alt="Tram 49" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCLM tram 49 (August 2011) (9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Tram 34

This tram was built in 1919 for operation on Wolverhampton District Tramways. It was an enclosed single decker tram that could accommodate 32 seated passengers. It was withdrawn in 1928.

Saw this model of tram 34 in the exhibitions rooms which were housed in the former Rolfe Street Baths building. It was the second exhibition in this room.

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Now onto the real tram 34. We did not ride it, and I'm not sure if it was in use on the day of our visit. It's destination was Dudley.

dndimg alt="Tram 34" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCLM tram 34 (August 2011) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

It was positioned at the time next to the tram depot.

dndimg alt="Tram 34" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCLM tram 34 (August 2011) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

They have other trams in the collection at the Black Country Living Museum, Horse Drawn Tram 23 and Tram 5 although I didn't see them at the time (almost 9 years ago now). More details here: Tram Collection.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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