Subject: Huddersfield C. T. 137
Maker: English Electric, Preston
Truck: Maley & Taunton swing link
Seating: 36/20
Location: Huddersfield, Great Northern Street
Date: 1931

137 was the first of six cars in the 1931 batch which were a big step forward in design. They also marked a livery change from the previous Indian Red to a much brighter Post Office Red which was in time applied to all the Preston-built trams.

Features to note are the cleaner lines resulting from the elimination of all quarter lights and the smaller fleet name. The smaller fleet numbers were unique to this batch and reverted to standard on repaint. The 1931 trams originally had two Ashanco ventilators above the lower deck windows as seen here. The 1932 trams had four and the 1931 batch was eventually modified to suit.

These trams marked a move away from the Preston truck, with the Maley & Taunton one having a slightly longer wheelbase, along with roller bearings and a patented 'anti-jazz' device. The braking system also changed significantly with a move to air pressure braking, in addition the Spencer track brake with a single long shoe per side was replaced by two shorter shoes, close to each wheel. More significantly it was an electro-magnetic brake (although it could also be applied mechanically in an emergency). In practice these later cars were used on the relatively-flat Marsden to Bradley route and the track brakes were little used. Another difference was the wheel diameter of 28" instead of 33" which permitted a lower underframe, again giving a more modern appearance.

137, along with the other seven 1931/32 trams, was sold to Sunderland in April 1938 where it became 33 in that fleet.

Photograph from the GEC archive