On  9 November 1949, the last electric tram ran in Leicester, signalling the end of an era. It was a wet and gloomy day - which matched the mood of many who turned out to see tram number 58 make its last journey through the city. The dreary weather served as a metaphor for the sadness that many felt as they watched the car make its final trip.

After the tram went to Humberstone, it participated in the closing ceremony. Then, it took the city transport chiefs back to Abbey Park Road depot, which is where the whole journey began in 1904. The destination blind had already been turned to ‘Depot', indicating the final journey had come to an end, and the bus was going back to the garage.

For the event, the tram was decorated with white and pale blue multi-pennant-style flags arranged round the roofline. In addition, between the two floors at the front of the car, there were two intertwined wreaths. These wreaths were inset with the dates ‘1904-1949'. Above the mourning letters ‘RIP', there were also the two wreaths.

The front lamp on the trams was the Leicester cinquefoil, edged by two more funereal wreaths and ribbons with the city's motto, ‘Semper Eadem' – ‘Always the Same'. However, this was no longer the case for the old trams.

On the side of the building, between two shields bearing Union flags, there were the words:

“We mourn the loss of faithful friends from the streets of our grand old city. To move with the times, we cannot have lines – so – go they must – it’s a pity”.

After some cars were sold as sports pavilions and allotment sheds, some were burnt behind the depot, and some trucks went to Calcutta where they were amazingly put back to work.

Fortunately, one of the original cars, Number 76, was found in Yorkshire and brought to the Tramway Museum, at Crich, in Derbyshire. The car was then meticulously restored to its original splendour and elegance of the 1920s.