Be honest how many of you thought that when the breakup of the traditional Blackpool Tramway fleet started that one of the major players in tram preservation would turn out to be a group nearly 150 miles away? Well that is exactly what is happening at the moment with the North East Electrical Traction Trust (NEETT) continually making the headlines with the progress they have made in such a short length of time. Not content with the Blackpool tram they had already acquired, this week it was announced that they have made an agreement to purchase the Blackpool Illuminated tram Hovertram 735 from its current home in Beith, Scotland. The tram is expected to remain north of the border for a while yet and NEETT have now started a campaign raising funds for the purchase and move - details on how you can contribute to this can be found on our news pages here. And if that wasn't enough for the group Krefeld 412 has also joined their collection with this tram being recently loaded at its former home at Walthamstow Pumping Station before making the long journey to Sunderland where NEETT are constructing their depot at the North East Sea, Land and Air Museum. It just goes to show you never can predict what is going to happen in UK tram preservation!

What's that you say? You don't think there were enough photos from the late May Bank Holiday heritage tram operation in Blackpool last week? Well don't worry for we have another 50 photos for you this week! Gallery 371 features images of many of the trams in action across the weekend from the camera of Andrew Waddington. Enjoy!

* Please note there will be no main site update over the weekend of 15/16 June 2013 although the News Blog will continue to be updated throughout the week.

Gareth
9 June 2013



Picture of the Week: London Tramlink 2534

For the first time in nearly four years a tram on London Tramlink is in red and white - although this time it is as part of an advertising livery and not fleet livery. 2534 is now carrying an advert for McMillan Williams - a firm of Solicitors - and is seen here at Blackhorse Lane on 8 June operating a line 1 service from Elmers End to West Croydon. The last tram to carry the red and white fleet livery was also ironically 2534 with it keeping it until October 2009 as it was receiving collision repairs.
Photo: Ian Buck