Chester's last surviving electric tram - Car No. 4

31/12/2023

We hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas.

To end the year, a quick update on the lower saloon bench seats.

After days of carefully marking and drilling, the decorative pattern has been completed on the seat backs.

With the backs done, attention could turn to the seat bases. The first of the four bases has now been completed and drilled. Just three more to go……

It cannot be underestimated how much time and effort goes into the drilling as one mistake you have fit new ply and start again.

Still lots to do, but 2024 is already shaping up to be another good year for Chester 4.

10/11/2023

Having had a surviving part very carefully stripped back, to reveal the original 1903 layer of apple green paint so it could be colour matched, it is full steam ahead now with painting the exterior.

17/10/2023

As promised, a few pictures of the upper deck.

The layout of the seats has been finalised, which in turn has allowed the floor slats to be fitted.

The base of the trolley mast is now also on for good!

07/10/2023

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

It’s been a while since we shared an update.

The lower saloon has come on leaps and bounds in recent months. Bar the longitudinal seats which still require some work, and some fettling here and there, it is virtually completed. We even having work lights in the saloon now!

All the windows have been dry fitted to ensure there are no issues and will be fitted permanently in the near future.

Outside the platforms continue to progress. Trial fitting of the braking mechanism is coming along, as is manufacture of the staircases.

Work has also been ongoing on the upper deck, but as I forgot to take a picture (sorry!), will do a follow up post in the coming days.

14/07/2023

After a planned hiatus for a few months, work has now resumed on No.4. Work has largely focused on completing the lower saloon. The decorative ceiling panels have been fitted along with the grab rails. Surviving bench seats part have been spliced in with new timber where needed. Seat bases and backs are also well advanced. The bulkheads at each end have had the outstanding ornamental beadings fitted.

The exterior hasn’t been totally ignored. A start has been made fitting the handrails on the platform, as well as the protective brass fittings to the window.

24/02/2023

Now the weather is starting to slowly pick up again, and work can carry on on site, we thought a progress report was long overdue!

Work continues on the platforms. The step at each end having been made and fitted. Whilst the concertina gates are being tweaked and refined so they fit just right.

Sterling work has been done to fettle and polish the myriad of brass fittings that arrived from the foundry just before Christmas. Next stage will be to drill/machine them as needed.

Work continues apace in the lower saloon. The ceiling panels have fitted to help determine where the lining out will go, as well as where holes for the light fittings need to be drilled. Using surviving sections as patterns, the longitudinal bench seats are also coming together nicely.

15/01/2023

9th January 2020 versus 9th January 2023. We are getting there!

10/01/2023

Happy New Year!

To kick the year off, we are hoping our followers can help find a pair of circuit breakers? Any leads or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

17/11/2022

Quick update of recent progress.

Work continues on the platforms. Dash panels are now fitted and we are working on the myriad of fixtures and details. Still some trial fitting to be completed, and a few tweaks here and there, but we are getting there.

Attention has also turned to the saloon interior, namely the bench seats. We have assessed all the surviving parts we hold, including the greater majority of the kick boards, and are now in the process of splicing the old with the new.

06/09/2022

Dash panels at each end now fitted :)

Now we just need to fit all the supporting structure behind them!

12/08/2022

For the first time since 1930, Chester 4 is once again the right length of 25ft with the platforms all but finished.

Elsewhere work has started fitting the myriad of beadings around the car.

Eagle eyed observers will also notice some experimentation going on trying to get the right shade of green!

08/07/2022

What a nice surprise to end the week!

Dating from around 1910, this is only the second confirmed picture to come to light of No.4 in service on the streets of Chester. On this occasion, about to pass under the clock at Eastgate on its way to Saltney.

Foregate Street c1905-1910

18/06/2022

Where did May go - we can’t believe it was April last time we shared an update!

The upper deck floor is now fitted. Efforts are now underway to fit the trolley mast.

The outstanding design queries on the platforms have been resolved and good progress is being made.

Meanwhile, various smaller details are being worked on both inside and outside the car. Along with fitting various mouldings and beading’s, both bells have been fitted to the bulkheads.

29/04/2022

Another week, another update :)

Whilst we iron out a few design details with the platforms, attention has turned to the roof/upper deck floor.

First job was to fit the framework for the platform canopies. With those in place, the lower saloon roof has been waterproofed with canvas, and the edges suitably dressed with the appropriate mouldings.

Now, perhaps contrary to popular belief, this is not what forms the floor of the upper deck! That is in fact another layer of planks which are fitted over packing pieces. The resulting space created between the two layers allows for rainwater that permeates through the floor to run off, as well as air in to keep it all dry and prevent rot setting in.

Meanwhile, does anyone know where this original part of Chester 4 is fitted? It was removed for safe keeping 35/40 years ago, and along with a few other smaller parts, were collected last weekend. Our sincere thanks to Alan Brotchie, for both looking after them for all these years, and donating them to go back on the tram.

05/04/2022

Good morning everyone :)

The temperature may have dropped a bit, but that hasn’t dampened our rate of progress.

Externally, the platforms are taking shape. The steelwork has now been fitted at both ends, and we are finalising the design/layout for the flooring. We are also helped with the task by having acquired a genuine GF Milnes fender from another tram. It is proving invaluable with getting everything lined up.

Internally, the second set of saloon doors have been successfully fitted.

19/03/2022

Great progress today. For the first time since 1930, Chester 4 now has the makings of a platform at one end again!

27/02/2022

With the basic shell of the lower saloon completed, we have been able to turn our attention to making a start on fitting out the interior. As well as the saloon bulkheads, there is a myriad of decorative oak mouldings to fit throughout. Not to mention trying to blend newly made parts with original ones!

The opportunity has also been taken to install the wiring for the lighting.

13/02/2022

Another week, and more progress to report!

The steel panels on both sides of the tram are now permanently fitted. We are also making some test pieces to ascertain how the canopy each end will fit ahead of making them properly.

Then for good measure, the first layer of roof planks have been fitted. This will eventually be covered with canvas to make it water proof, then the upper deck floor can be fitted over that.

09/02/2022

***SAVE THE DATE***

Saturday 14th May, Hooton Park will be opening to welcome visitors.

Come say hello and see Chester 4 for yourselves!

We will share more details as we get them so please keep checking for updates.

02/02/2022

More progress to report!

The second side has now been assembled permanently.

Trial fit of the original doors went well. A few little snags to address, but nothing a bit of fettling won’t sort.

Meanwhile, on the other side, all panels fitted as well as the rubbing rail.

18/01/2022

The reward for several weeks effort, dismantling a whole side of the tram to glue and screw it all together permanently? - you get to do it all again on the other one……

14/01/2022

Safe to say everyone has been itching to trial fit the quarter lights for months now, and today was the day!

Slight trepidation in case any of our measurements were slightly out, but thankfully they dropped straight in and happy faces all round.

10/01/2022

Happy New Year to everyone.

Ahead of a more detailed progress update, what a difference 2 years can make!

Both pictures were taken 9th January. The first in 2020 and the latter yesterday (2022).

19/12/2021

At first glance it rather looks like a large part of Chester 4 has vanished.

Fear not, instead the time has finally come to assemble everything permanently. We have held off on doing this until now whilst we found all the snags and addressed them. They were to be expected given what we started with!

Weather and Covid restrictions permitting, she should be looking like her old self again soon :)

26/10/2021

We had to move Chester 4 recently, and a quick thinking Rob captured the attached clip for posterity.

05/10/2021

So with some of the side panelling trial fitted, the chance to apply some Chester Green was too good to miss.

We are not 100% confident just yet that we have the correct shade of ‘Eau de Nil’, but based on the piece of original panel we are certainly in the right area!

16/09/2021

Sorry for being a bit quiet recently on the updates front (thanks for the gentle nudge Andy ;) ).

Progress is rather rapid at the moment. As such a picture heavy update is the order of the day!

01/08/2021

Not a lot of progress to report this week on the bodywork front.

Instead, an update on some of the smaller items that have been progressed.

Paul from Western Signs & Printing called in yesterday and dropped of a lovely surprise - the first batch of the recreated adverts to go in the quarter-lights. We are absolutely delighted with them!

A few people have previously expressed an interest in having copies of certain designs to display at home. If that is still the case, please send us a quick message or email ( [email protected] ) and we will explore the idea further if there is sufficient interest.

We can also report Chester 4 now has a trolley mast! The Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society rediscovered it during a recent rationalisation of their stores. A deal was soon done and it is now waiting its turn for attention. Thanks as always to the MTPS guys for their help and support.

It was made by Robert W Blackwell and Co. There is some engineering work needed, comparing it to a period advertisement we appear to be missing the central part of the mast, so we would love to hear from anyone who has any technical information they could share to help with this task.

26/07/2021

Good afternoon everyone :)

A bit more progress on Chester 4 has been made since the last update. It is now in danger of being recognisable once more!

25/06/2021

And so it begins.

After 12+ months of quietly repairing,fabricating and acquiring parts, the time finally came to start assembly.

There have been some interesting design and construction challenges to contend with, but we have worked through them and number 4 is starting to be three-dimensional once again.

Plan is to start at one end, then work our way down the lower saloon assembling as we go.

Whilst a way off yet, we have had to plan for attaching the platform bearers and how they attach.

Watch this space for more progress updates!