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Brighton Tram 53
Exciting project to restore two rescued historic trams
Image: Brighton Corporation Tram in Street via Mark Crombie at Flickr.
A dedicated group of volunteers are working to bring a piece of Sussex transport history back to life. The Brighton Tram 53 Society is progressing with an ambitious project to fully restore two rescued historic trams.
The project focuses on the restoration of Brighton Corporation Tramways Tram No. 53, a vehicle dating back to approximately 1936, alongside a second rescued tramcar. For decades after Brighton’s original tram network closed in 1939, many old tram cars were sold off and used as garden sheds, holiday homes, or outbuildings across the Sussex countryside, helping preserve their core structures.
Image: Mark Crombie via Flickr.
A New Heritage Route for Brighton Trams 53?
The Society’s ultimate goal goes beyond static restoration. If Brighton & Hove City Council approves the proposal, the project will include the construction of a short tram route within Stanmer Park in Brighton. This would allow the fully restored, operational trams to run again, offering public rides and creating a unique educational and tourist attraction.
The initiative has recently gained broader attention, featuring in a BBC News report (dated 19 June 2026) highlighting the volunteers’ efforts to preserve these rare engineering survivors. The link to the BBC report is at the bottom of this post and you can watch the associated BBC Facebook real here.
How to Support the Brighton Trams Project
The Brighton Tram 53 Society relies entirely on volunteers, donations, and community support to fund the extensive engineering work and materials required for the restoration.
You can follow their progress, view historical photographs of the original depot and tram network, and find out how to get involved or donate through their official channels:
External Links: Brighton Tram 53 Project
- Official Website: Visit the Brighton Tram 53 Society Website for detailed updates on the restoration and project milestones. Donation page for the Society.
- Social Media: Follow their Facebook Page for regular updates from the workshop, watch this Facebook Reel to see video footage of the ongoing project. The society also has a YouTube channel.
- BBC: Bid to bring 90-year-old tram to city park. 19 June 2026.
Richard Vobes – The Bald Explorer’s video about the Brighton Tram 53 Project.
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