THE last surviving tramcar used in Carlisle until 1931 has finally seen the light of day after languishing in an outbuilding close to the city centre.

The tram was one of eight built in 1912 by the United Electric Car Company of Preston and was used until the tramway system in the city was scrapped on November 11, 1931.

It is now to be sold at auction after it was unearthed from the outbuilding and although it is likely to cost someone a small fortune to renovate, is expected to fetch between £1,000 and £3,000.

Auctioneers, H&H King Cumbria Auction Rooms, were astonished when they made the discovery and have spent hours researching the tram’s history.

Many of the trams that were used for Carlisle’s system were broken-up after the transport service ceased operating and their bodies were either sold for use as hen-houses or farm store-buildings.

Two of the trams were used to provide a structure for a farm building in Rosley, near Wigton, which was then converted into a bungalow and incorporated into the home.

In 1971 the owners, Bob and Kitty Charters decided to modernise their bungalow and had to replace the wooden and metal trams with bricks and mortar.

One tram had to be completely dismantled and was sent to be used as spares for another one that was being restored by the Tramway Museum at Crich in Derbyshire.

The other tram, believed to be the one now up for sale, came out almost complete and has been stored in various outbuildings ever since.

Auctioneers are sure that the tram’s history will attract national attention from private collectors and museums when it comes up for auction next Sunday during the Classic Car Weekend to be held at Dalemain near Ullswater.

Auctioneer Howard Naylor, said: “This tram has a remarkable history and our research has indicated that it is the last surviving Carlisle city tramcar.

Posted: 08|18|05 at 10:05 am. Filed under: UK News.