Kit TK08: British Steel 'Cissie'

Brief History

• Experiments were made in the 1920's to break away from established traditions of tramcar design. The experimental tramcars 'Bluebell' and 'Poppy' led to the introduction of the first operational Felthams in 1929.
• In 1929 London's Metropolitan Electric Tramways built the car No 320 nicknamed 'Blossom'. It was followed by car No 330 and finally in 1930 by car No 331 known as 'Cissie'. 'Cissie' was built by the Union Construction Company. Originally it had air operated doors and is powered by four motors.
• 'Cissie' was an experiment with 'Pay as you enter' using a single central entrance and exit. The conductor was to stand in the central well collecting fares as the passengers boarded the car.
• 'Cissie' was used solely on the Whetstone - Cricklewood service 40 (later re-numbered 45). Because of its non-standard nature and high capacity, it was mostly used for peak hour short workings between North Finchley and Golders Green.
• In 1933 'Cissie' became London Transport car No 2168 and continued to work route 45 until replaced by trolley buses in August 1936.
• In 1937 'Cissie' was sold to Sunderland where it became car No 100. It was fitted with a pantograph in place of the twin trolley poles and was used on most of Sunderland's extensive system.
• 'Cissie' was retired from service in 1951 and travelled extensively until being delivered to the National Tramway Museum at Crich in 1961.
• In 1989 'Cissie' was painted blue and ivory, with British Steel advertising. In this livery it was used to carry passengers at the National Garden Festival, Gateshead, 1990.
• 'Cissie' is now back at the National Tramway Museum at Crich, restored as Metropolitan Electric Tramways No 331.

Kit special features

• This kit has two plastic bogies with turning wheels.
• A full set of glazing parts is included.
• The transfers/decals have adverts for 'British Steel' and the 'Gateshead Garden Festival'.

Bibliography

• Smeeton, Cyril S. 1986. The Metropolitan Electric Tramways volume 2, 1921 to 1933. Light Rail Transit Association. ISBN 0 948106 00 X.
  A detailed history of the development of 'Cissie' in Chapter 28.
• Reed, John. 1997. London Tramways. Capital Transport Publishing. ISBN 185414 179 1.
  A beautiful pictorial history of all London tramways.
• Voice, David.1985. London Tramways: their history & how to model them. Patrick Stephens Ltd., Cambridge. ISBN 0-85059-668-8 (Out of print)
  Explains how to make an amazing variety of OO gauge model London tramcars.
• Waller, Peter. 1993. The Classic Trams: 30 years of tramcar design 1920-1950. Ian Allen. ISBN 0 7110 2160 0.
  Chapter 10 is a detailed history of the development of the Feltham cars.
• Wiseman, R.J.S. 1986. Classic Tramcars. Ian Allen. ISBN 0 7110 1560 0.
  Contains Eric Thornton's drawing of the Feltham cars.