Brighton Tram 53: Project to Restore Rescued Historic Trams

Brighton Tram 53

An exciting project to restore two rescued historic Brighton trams

I took the photo above during my visit to the Brighton Tram 53 Open Weekend.

Open Weekend Details: Brighton Tram 53 Restoration

Saturday 12th September and Sunday 13th September 2026.

This event has passed.

Visitors were able to see progress on Brighton Tram 53 during the Open Weekend, a historic example of local transport heritage.

Event Highlights & Restoration Background

A restoration project which has taken place over 16 years has seen dedicated volunteers work on Tram 53, the tram which was the last one to be built at the Lewes Road works in 1937.
Up to its closure in 1939 trams had been a principal form of public transport in Brighton. The final aim of the project is to get Tram 53 back to its home city.
The present situation together with some further exhibits is that the restoration of Tram 53 has now advanced to an advanced stage and visitors had the opportunity to look at a second vehicle, Brighton Works car No. 1, which is also intended for future restoration.
The event included light refreshments and an on-site memorabilia sales stall.

Key Event Information

The dates and times were Saturday 12th September and Sunday 13th September, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
To book a slot: you had to phone XXX XXXX to arrange an hourly slot before attending.
It was located near the car park at Chanctonbury Ring, off the A283 north of Steyning.
What3words Address: bugs.positive.converged.

On Saturday, 12 September 2026, my wife and I greatly enjoyed attending the Brighton Tram 53 Open Weekend. Guy Hall, who is one of the leaders of the restoration project, demonstrated to us a working model of Tram 53 in one of the society’s workshops. The tram society have posted the working model of Brighton Tram 53 in the workshop.

Afterwards, we were given a guided visit to the main workshop, where the restoration work on Brighton Tram 53 is still being carried out. Guy provided us with an enthusiastic and easy-to-follow account of the tram’s history. We looked through various folders containing photographs and details about Brighton’s tram history.

It was a most fascinating experience, and we are looking forward to when the project is completed and the tram arrives on a three-quarter mile track in Stanmer Park, Brighton.

The photo above (taken during the Open Weekend) shows the interior of Brighton Tram 53.

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.

Interior of Brighton Tram 53 dating from 2018. — *The interior of Brighton Tram 53 dating from 2018*

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 the Brighton Tram 53 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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