Subject: Huddersfield C. T. 73
Maker: United Electric Car Company, Preston
Truck: Preston 21E
Seating: 36/22
Location: Huddersfield, Ray Street
Date: 1909

73 was one of a batch of five new in 1909. The design of these was influenced by Leeds 115-126, the first trams built by Leeds themselves. In particular the four side windows, opening quarter lights in the upper saloon with the two end ones per side fixed. An unusual feature common to both was the iron grille between the front dash and the bulkhead, behind the staircase. The feature was lost both in Leeds and Huddersfield when the platform vestibule was enclosed which happened to 73 around 1915.

These trams differed from the Leeds ones in a way that was perpetuated on all later Huddersfield trams, which had a longer (6 foot) platform with flat dashes and little body end taper. The bracket on the dash is for a letter box, Huddersfield was the first tram system to introduce this feature back in steam tram days in 1893.

Photographed just outside the depot on Great Northern Street, 73 was sold by Huddersfield in November 1937.

Photograph from the GEC Archive, taken by E. Hoole