Category Archives: Event Reviews

In Pictures: First Winter Gold of 2020

Posted on Monday 20 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

It may only be mere weeks since Christmas but the past weekend has seen the first “Gold weekend” of 2020 in Blackpool with six trams scheduled to run on each day with the new timetable seeing regular services running from … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Wirral Bus and Tram Show draws the crowds

Posted on Wednesday 9 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

The fickle British weather really can make and break any transport event – if the sun shines lots of people will make the trip but if the rain falls then numbers are down. Over the past few weeks we have … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Event Reviews | 1 Comment

A soggy September Spectacular in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 3 October 2019 by Gareth Prior

What’s that saying about the best laid plans? Well, that is exactly how the organisers of the September Spectacular must have felt with very heavy rain at times and of the three trams due to return to service over the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Event Reviews | 10 Comments

In Pictures: Yorkshire takes centre stage as Crich celebrates 60 years

Posted on Tuesday 24 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

The annual enthusiasts event at the Crich Tramway Village this year took place over two days on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the site at Crich for the siting of … Continue reading →

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In Review: Isle of Man Heritage Transport Festival – July 2019

Posted on Sunday 18 August 2019 by admin

Every July Isle of Man Transport run a five day Heritage Transport event showcasing their four systems: Isle of Man Steam Railway, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Snaefell Mountain Railway and Manx Electric Railway. Ably supported by the volunteers at Groudle … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Returning friends and long journeys as Blackpool celebrates Tram Sunday weekend

Posted on Wednesday 24 July 2019 by Gareth Prior

They don’t need much of an excuse in Blackpool to have intensive heritage tram action but with Fleetwood Tram Sunday (or Transport Festival if you prefer) taking place on Sunday 21st July the whole weekend saw another Gold timetable in … Continue reading →

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A baker’s dozen of trams but where are the passengers?

Posted on Friday 31 May 2019 by Gareth Prior

The latest Bank Holiday weekend in Blackpool once again saw the more intensive Gold timetable running with six trams allocated to service each day across the tramway between Pleasure Beach and Blackpool. The original allocations were changed throughout the weekend … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Event Reviews | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Behind the Scenes at Derby Castle Sheds

Posted on Wednesday 24 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

One of the highlights of practically any tram event is the chance to see “behind the scenes” of a depot whether that be on the Isle of Man at Derby Castle or Laxey or at Blackpool’s Rigby Road Depot. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Event Reviews, Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Behind the Scenes at Derby Castle Sheds

In Pictures: Rush Hour on the Railways ends in style

Posted on Tuesday 23 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

The first enthusiast event of 2019 on the Isle of Man is now over with the four-day Rush Hour on the Railways concluding on Easter Monday, 22nd April. The Manx Electric Railway again played a significant part in the event … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Rush Hour on the Railways continues

Posted on Sunday 21 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Day two of Rush Hour on the Railways – Saturday 20th April – didn’t feature any pre-advertised events on the Manx Electric Railway with the main concentration of the day on the Isle of Man Steam Railway but that didn’t … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Parallel run gets Rush Hour on the Railways off and running

Posted on Friday 19 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Now firmly part of the special events calendar on the Isle of Man, Rush Hour on the Railways is a four day event taking place over the long Easter weekend with plenty to see and do across the island’s heritage … Continue reading →

Posted in Event Reviews, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Parallel run gets Rush Hour on the Railways off and running

Event Report: First ‘Gold’ weekend of 2019 in Blackpool

Posted on Friday 1 February 2019 by Andrew Waddington

January 26th & 27th saw the first Gold Weekend of the year in Blackpool, with an interesting and varied turnout of trams in action despite some rather challenging weather conditions, particularly on the Sunday when string winds battled the coast! … Continue reading →

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Event Review: Horse Trams join in the celebrations

Posted on Sunday 7 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

After a week of celebrations the Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary came to an end with a further day of events, including the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway getting in the act with a seven tram Cavalcade. But the MER was … Continue reading →

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Event Review: A stunning Cavalcade as MER celebrates its birthday in style

Posted on Sunday 30 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

It was 7th September 1893 that the Manx Electric Railway opened between Derby Castle and Groudle and exactly 125 years later celebrations to mark the occasion reached their zenith with a stunning Cavalcade of 14 motors, 12 passenger trailers, 2 … Continue reading →

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Event Review: MER goes back to its beginnings and 1975

Posted on Sunday 30 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Days five and six of the 125th Anniversary events saw the Manx Electric Railway look back with Wednesday 5th seeing Groudle shuttle with the original trams 1 and 2 (plus 3!) in action whilst Thursday 6th it was back to … Continue reading →

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Event Review: Anniversary Spectacular – Blackpool Tramway, 22nd & 23rd September

Posted on Tuesday 25 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

The biggest event for Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours each year takes place on the third weekend of September – the Anniversary Spectacular. As usual the 2018 event saw an intensive tram service – including non-timetabled specials – across the whole … Continue reading →

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Event Review: Ratchet Car 14 returns to service as Crossbench cars enter stage right

Posted on Wednesday 19 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

The 125th Anniversary of the Manx Electric Railway celebrations continued at the start of the working week with the big highlight being the official launch into service of Ratchet Car 14 after its high quality paid staff and volunteer restoration … Continue reading →

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Event Review: MER 125 gets off to a soggy start

Posted on Wednesday 19 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Opening in 1893 between Douglas and Groudle, the Manx Electric Railway celebrated its 125th anniversary with a week long special event at the start of September – and what an event it was! Trams returning to service, cavalcades, intensive services, … Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Event Reviews, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | Comments Off on Event Review: MER 125 gets off to a soggy start

Event Review: ‘Simply Trams’ at Crich Tramway Village, 1st September 2018

Posted on Tuesday 4 September 2018 by Andrew Waddington

For 2018, the annual enthusiasts event at Crich Tramway Village was given a brand new name – ‘Simply Trams’ – and the main theme was that of ‘Birthdays & Anniversaries’, with Blackpool & Fleetwood 2 returning to service for one … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village, Event Reviews | 2 Comments

Event Review: Manx Heritage Transport Festival

Posted on Saturday 18 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

Continuing his diary whilst on the Isle of Man, David Mee describes the action during the Manx Heritage Transport Festival at the end of July before concluding on the state of the tramways on the island.

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Event Reviews, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | Comments Off on Event Review: Manx Heritage Transport Festival