The Manchester Transport Museum Society has announced that they are restoring Manchester Tram No 173 to working service.

This is the first time in nearly a century that 173 will be in active service and is the sole survivor of 81 trams built by Brush in Loughborough in 1901.

The three surviving trams are all owned by the society, with two being previously restored for use at Heaton Park Tramway.

Heaton Park Tramway is currently closed temporarily, and with Blackpool Tram 916 being completed, No. 173 has been moved into the workshops which allows a restoration to start.

The temporary closure of the tramway is due to an upgrade needed on the substation. Work is now underway and news about a reopening will be confirmed soon.

The bodywork is in need of renovation after being on display for a number of years.

Whilst this is being completed, the chassis will undergo a full reassessment, with suitable motors being sourced from an ex-Lisbon tramcar.

The society’s intention is to restore the tram to as close to original condition as possible, including its open top deck and flip-over seating.

Once restoration is complete, which is hoped to be in a few years, the tram will be in regular service at Heaton Park Tramway as well as visiting other heritage tramways in the UK.

The Heaton Park Tramway is looking for donations and volunteers to help complete the restoration. More details can be found on their Facebook page.