283-322 Grandes abertos – Large open trams

These large open cars were built by Brill. Like usual they were sent “knocked down” to save on the shipping costs, and had to be assembled by the Carris workshops in Lisboa. The first batch of ten cars arrived early January 1902 and the first of these cars was tested on the 27th of that month. On 10 March 1902 the other 30 cars of the type arrived.

These cars were used on the long suburban routes. As delivered, the trolleys were mounted at the roof-ends and the trolley not in use had to be swung to the centre. After a collision 305 was rebuilt in 1936 getting a saloon body of the Standard type. All others were in the late 1940’s fitted with windscreens. 283 was in 1955 painted grey and used for driving-instruction until 1961.

Large open tram no.283 was restored for the museum.