Croydon Trams - The London Transport Era

In July 1933 the newly created London Passenger Transport Board inherited a fleet of more than 2,000 tramcars. The bulk comprised the fleet previously operated by the London County Council, but more than 70 had previously been operated by Croydon Corporation. Of the ex-Croydon trams, 25 – similar in design to the LCC’s ‘E/1’ class were to survive through the 1930s, indeed a number were subject to the Rehab programme that the LPTB instituted, whilst all were fitted with enclosed lower decks by the end of the decade. Although two were withdrawn by the end 1945 as a result of enemy action during World War 2 and due to fire damage, the remainder survived the final closure of the ex-corporation routes - their traditional home - and transfer to less familiar territory. However, the withdrawal of the last members of the class in early 1952 meant that none survived to the very end of the system.