It was established in 1970 by Claude Lane, founder of Modern Electric Tramways Ltd, which had previously operated in Eastbourne between 1954 and 1969.

Most were built from scratch by Claude Lane and/or his successor Allan Gardner, but three were rebuilt from full-size cars which originally ran in London, Bournemouth and Exeter.

In 1953 he agreed a lease at Eastbourne for a permanent 2 ft (610 mm) gauge system, running the 2⁄3 mile (1.1 km) between Princes Park and the Crumbles.

By the mid-1960s, it became apparent that the lease at Eastbourne would not be renewed, and so Lane sought a freehold site for a longer line, which would be laid to a wider 2 ft 9in gauge.

Negotiations to purchase the site from British Rail, and then to obtain the necessary Light Railway Order, took some time and the latter was not granted until December 1969.

This initial opening was very limited: the line only went as far as the newly christened 'Bobsworth Bridge', named after the inaugural one shilling fare.

Services closed again in September 1970, to allow further work to be completed including the extension to Colyford, erection of overhead traction poles and the gauge conversion of other rolling stock.

[3][4] Claude Lane suffered a heart attack and died on 2 April 1971, just before the Tramway was due to open for the new season.

The overhead electrical supply was completed in 1973, and in May 1975 an extension from Riverside Depot to Harbour Road was opened, which gave the Tramway a more visible presence in the centre of the town.

Over the next three years, most of the track and overhead wire was put in place, but in 1978 a flash flood just to the north of Colyford washed away a considerable amount of the newly laid ballast, and it was not until 1980 that the extension to Colyton was finally opened.

With the exception of car 17, these trams are enclosed single deck saloons, aimed at providing comfort during bad weather and also to extend the season.

Indeed, the success of out of season special events such as the Polar Express resulted in the conversion of car 17 to a fully enclosed saloon in 2016, and it was re-numbered 15.

Between 2004 and 2007, three new cars to a standardised design based on elements from Plymouth and Blackburn tramcars were introduced, carrying numbers 9, 10 and 11.

New health and safety procedures were introduced to ensure the tramway was 'Covid Secure' and operated on a reduced timetable.

During the lockdown the tramway launched its 'Tramathon Live' appeal, hoping to raise money to ensure its future against any losses it made being closed.

The most recent rebuilding has resulted in the construction of a modern enclosed building suitable for operation all-year round, and which acts as a venue for a range of tramway and community based events.

[6][7][8] From Seaton tram station to the Riverside tram stop, the tramway follows a route, created in the 1970s, running first north by a number of curves to the marshland that lies inland of Seaton and then tuning east to run between the marshland and the town until it reaches the right of way of the former railway branch.

In February 2020, a new decked extension was constructed, sited between the track and over the river bank, in preparation for Riverside's use as a permanent halt.

[6] The station is the northern terminus of the tramway and is situated about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from the centre of Colyton town.

Seaton Tramway is a single line system, with passing loops roughly every half mile.

In addition, there are several out of season events, principally bird watching specials and Polar Express trips during December.

* 225, built in 1950 and operated at St Leonards, Rhyl and Eastbourne until the late 1950s, and in November 1963 was sold and shipped to a private collector in the US, along with two other early cars, 3 and 238.

* 226, built in 1954, rebuilt as a works vehicle in 1960, and finally converted into Tram Shop 01 in 1965 (see car 01 below for more details).

It was regauged to 2 ft 9in for operation at Seaton in 1974, and rebuilt again in 1989, reverting to its original cross bench lower deck seating arrangement.

A late 1980s rebuild featured easier-access staircases, and since then it has sported an approximation of the Bournemouth Corporation Tramways livery.

It was then used as a garden shed at Waltham Cross until it was acquired by a group of enthusiasts, and moved to Eastbourne Tramway in 1961.

Major work was delayed by the establishment of Seaton Tramway, and the car was not finished until 2 June 1984, when it was launched by the late TV personality Larry Grayson.

The body was subsequently discovered in use on a Dorset farm, acquired by the Bournemouth Transport Preservation Group and then donated to Seaton Tramway in 1974.

[14] It was the first working tramcar in the history of Modern Electric Tramways, and operated in Rhyl and St Leonard's.