Sheffield Tram 264, 1907

Sheffield 264 is one of a batch of fifteen identical Trams delivered to Sheffield Corporation Tramways in 1907 by the United Electric Car Company of Preston, Lancashire. The upper deck was totally enclosed in the 1920's, which I believe means that the current condition of 264, with a 'balcony' top deck, means it is in its original Edwardian 'as built' condition. It was renumbered in the 1930's to become 342 and was only used at peak times, but clinged on until the 1950's when it was retired and entered preservation. After display at a couple of sites, including the Clapham Transport Museum, now long gone, it ended up at Beamish where it was painted in Gateshead fleet colours (although it never served at Gateshead), and was converted to an open top deck Tram owing to the poor condition of the top deck, however this later reinstated. It has been in storage in the Beamish tram depot for a number of years awaiting major restoration work to the body as well as mechanical attention before entering service again. Interestingly, there are two Sheffield 264's in preservation, the other being 264 of 1937, which is at the National Tramway Museum at Crich, Derbyshire