Carriages removed from cliff side tramway

4 hours ago

Jonny ManningNorth East and Cumbria

News image — The two trams were lifted from the tracks by crane

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council A red and white tram carriage being lowered by a crane onto the ground at the bottom of the tramway. Two men, wearing hard hats and safety clothing, stand on either side of the carriage to guide its descent. — The two trams were lifted from the tracks by crane

The carriages of a cliffside tramline have been removed so they can be replaced and upgraded.

Cranes lifted the two red carriages from the Grade II listed Saltburn Cliff Tramway, in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, on Thursday after they completed more than 15 years of service.

The replacement carriages will be installed in the coming months and will be given larger stained glass windows.

The deputy leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Carrie Richardson, said the tramway had brought "pleasure" to holidaymakers for more than 140 years and the upgrades would mean it would carry on being enjoyed.

"It's incredibly well used and after great service the carriages have reached the end of their lives and it's time to install new, better ones," she said.

"Safety always comes first and as well as servicing and testing the whole tramway, a new brake and buffering system will be installed to ensure it can be enjoyed for many years to come."

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council A red and white carriage sits at the bottom of the tram tracks, which runs up the steep bank of the Saltburn cliffs. Harnesses have been attached to its underside and it is about to be lifted from the tracks by a crane. A crowd of people look down from the top of the cliffs. — The carriages have been in use for 15 years and have carried about 2.5 million passengers

The Saltburn Cliff Tramway opened in 1884 and replaced a vertical hoist.

It is the oldest water balanced funicular still in use in Great Britain and links Saltburn with the only remaining pleasure pier on the north-east England coast.

Since the carriages were last installed, they are estimated to have carried 2.5 million passengers.

The existing stained-glass windows were designed in 1991 by local artist Chloe Buck and will be reconditioned and transferred into the new carriages.

The council said the carriages will be constructed in the same style and colour as the old models, with the only noticeable modification being an increase to the window depth to allow passengers to see more while travelling.

A fire broke out at the tramway in January last year causing "extensive damage" to the Victorian lifts.

They reopened in September after undergoing repairs.

Follow BBC Tees on X,Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.