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Title: Croydon Tram Depot
Category: Locations
Posted by: Colin Withey
On: 11/05/2016 15:52
Text: A tram depot taken over by LPTB in 1933 and not mentioned in the Locations list is the ex-SMET depot in Aurelia Road also referred to as Mitcham depot because of access to the Mitcham Road. It was non-operational at the time but in 1935 the junction direction was changed and the building reopened to transfer Cohen's tram scrapping activities from Brixton Hill so it could become fully operational whilst Streatham depot was being rebuilt for taking the longer Felthams. LPTB now gave the building the formal title of ''Croydon depot'' as the Mitcham title would confuse Cohen's hands as they had to pass through Mitcham and then Mitcham Common to enter Croydon to get there!!! Following Cohen's request in the autumn of 1937 for the roof to be made watertight, LPTB decided to transfer the scrapping operation to the now closed Purley depot. The importance of Croydon depot for service vehicles is that it was used as a base for the overhead wire conversion to trolleybus in 1937 and photos exist of the tower wagons stationed there. It is a coincidence, that today's ''Croydon Tram Depot'' is in Therapia Lane which joins Mitcham Road almost opposite Aurelia Road. I wonder if anyone has listed the road service vehicles belonging to Croydon/London Tramlink?

1 reply, shown below.
Posted by Colin Withey at 10:45 on 14/05/2016
Just caught up with the ''Therapia Lane depot'' entry so my question has been answered!!!