Edinburgh Trams 264 back to fleet livery

Posted on Sunday 23 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Back in December 2022 we reported on a new advertising livery for Edinburgh Trams 264 with it having received vinyls for Jollyes Pet Store. This ended up being a short-term contract though as, although previously unreported, come January 2023 the vinyls were removed with the tram back in fleet livery again.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on Edinburgh Trams 264 back to fleet livery

Available now – one “imperfect” edition of Lytham Trams book

Posted on Sunday 23 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Earlier this year the third book in the trilogy of Brian Turner books on tramways of the Fylde Coast was released. The Blackpool Conduit Tramway was another well received book from the pen of Brian Turner but at the time lots of people asked how they could get their hands on the middle book of the trilogy – Lytham Trams. Well, there is now a unique opportunity to do so as an “imperfect” copy has been found and it is now open for bids on ebay!

Continue reading →

Posted in General | Comments Off on Available now – one “imperfect” edition of Lytham Trams book

What’s New on British Trams Online? 23rd April 2023

Posted on Sunday 23 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

This week its off to South London for our latest set of photos:

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams, Site News | Comments Off on What’s New on British Trams Online? 23rd April 2023

In Pictures: Driver Training underway in Edinburgh

Posted on Saturday 22 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

As you may have noticed if you’ve been checking these pages recently, an extension is set to open on Edinburgh Trams this spring. Running for almost 3 miles between York Place and Newhaven the extension has been progressing well over the past few years and with the main construction works completed attention is being turned to training drivers on the line. Daytime driver training got underway on Wednesday 19th April and will now take place regularly ahead of the line opening.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 7 Comments

Around the World in Trams: Ghent 6352

Posted on Saturday 22 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

The next stop on our “world tour” of various tram systems is in Belgium as we make a brief stop in Ghent.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around the World in Trams | Comments Off on Around the World in Trams: Ghent 6352

MET 331 makes it’s a bakers dozen of trams for Crich

Posted on Saturday 22 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Tuesday 18th April saw the 13th different passenger tram to run in service at the Crich Tramway Village in 2023 – but it wasn’t an unlucky number for Metropolitan Electric Tramways 331 which became the latest tram to be used this year.

Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | Comments Off on MET 331 makes it’s a bakers dozen of trams for Crich

Acocks Green Library to commemorate 70 years since Birmingham tram closure

Posted on Saturday 22 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Acocks Green Library in Birmingham is to hold a special event on Saturday 24th June to commemorate 70 years since the last tram operated on the first generation tramway in the city. Taking place between 1000-1300 and 1400-1600 the event will include much of the special collection which the library holds, including some model trams.

Continue reading →

Posted in General | Comments Off on Acocks Green Library to commemorate 70 years since Birmingham tram closure

In Pictures: Supertram Citylink 399 205 returns to use

Posted on Friday 21 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

When we reported recently that Citylink 399 206 had returned to service on Stagecoach Supertram we mentioned that classmate 399 205 was set to follow it – and now it has! 205 returned to action around Thursday 20th April but it’s a bit of a change for the vehicle as for the first time its received the tram-train wheel profiles which means its just that sub-fleet to be used on the service to Rotherham Parkgate.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on In Pictures: Supertram Citylink 399 205 returns to use

Picture in Time: Blackpool 607 & Blackpool 49

Posted on Friday 21 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Its back to Crich again for today’s image from the archives in “Picture in Time”.

Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

Edinburgh cable tram wheels to go on permanent display

Posted on Thursday 20 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

A pair of cable wheels which were once used to help power the Edinburgh Cable Tramway are to go on permanent display on Leith Walk it has been confirmed. The wheels were discovered during Trams to Newhaven construction works at the Pilrig Street junction with Leith Walk in August 2021 and after their careful removal for conservation work and consultation with the local community a location for their display has now been decided.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on Edinburgh cable tram wheels to go on permanent display

More car v tram collision footage released by TfGM

Posted on Thursday 20 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

As Transport for Greater Manchester continue their safety campaign encouraging motorists to “Be Tram Aware” they have released some more footage of collisions between cars and trams. A previous video was released in February and this latest footage shows drivers pulling ahead of oncoming trams before the tram driver can react, resulting in damage to both vehicles.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on More car v tram collision footage released by TfGM

In Pictures: Blackpool Towing Car 281 at St Helens

Posted on Wednesday 19 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

It was November 2022 that we last featured photos of the Fylde Transport Trust’s Blackpool Towing Car 281 at which point it was making good progress in being painted cream and losing its long standing Metro Coastlines colour scheme. We then reported on the tram in January when its repaint was very nearly completed and now we head to its new home in St Helens where it is on display looking every bit like the Towing Car it was before being permanently coupled to its trailer.

Continue reading →

Posted in Fylde Transport Trust | 3 Comments

Driver training gets underway on Edinburgh Trams extension

Posted on Wednesday 19 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Another day and yet another milestone on the Trams to Newhaven project in Edinburgh as driver training gets underway on the nearly 3 mile extension. Edinburgh Trams announced that driver training on the tracks would be getting underway from Wednesday 19th April after initial training had taken place on state of the art driver simulators at the depot.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on Driver training gets underway on Edinburgh Trams extension

Cheaper Metro fares announced for young people

Posted on Wednesday 19 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Anyone aged 21 and under will be able to benefit from cheaper fares on the Tyne and Wear Metro as from 7th May with the expansion of the Pop Blue smartcard. Currently available to those between 16 and 18 it will now be valid for those 21 and under.

Continue reading →

Posted in Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on Cheaper Metro fares announced for young people

In Pictures: More testing in Edinburgh

Posted on Tuesday 18 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Its been over a month since we saw the first trams run on the Trams to Newhaven extension in Edinburgh. Since that first week of testing – which included trams running all the way along the extension – it had gone a little quiet with little said about the testing and commissioning which is still needed ahead of the line opening aside from a generic statement that it would be continuing. But trams have again been seen on the line this week as preparations for the start of service continue.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: More testing in Edinburgh

Efficiency review to be undertaken into Isle of Man heritage railway operations

Posted on Tuesday 18 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

The Department of Infrastructure has confirmed that a new efficiency review is to take place into the Isle of Man’s heritage railways. This will be a wide-ranging review to see where money can be saved and will include a look at the Manx Electric Railway, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Snaefell Mountain Railway as well as the Isle of Man Steam Railway.

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | 9 Comments

Another Enhanced Weekend of operation in Blackpool May Day Bank Holiday weekend

Posted on Tuesday 18 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours will be running another Enhanced Weekend over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend. And if that wasn’t enough there is also due to be a Model Tram Exhibition at the Solaris Centre on the Saturday and Sunday of the weekend with a special heritage tramstop in place outside the venue.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Models | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Trams back on display at NELSAM

Posted on Monday 17 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

The trams owned by the North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust are once again on public display after the reopening of the Tram Shed to the public on Saturday 1st April (an official reopening had taken place the previous day). It had been closed to the public since 14th November 2022 and during that time there have been some changes with the trams now joined by some other vehicles as part of a “Made in Sunderland” exhibition.

Continue reading →

Posted in North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | Comments Off on In Pictures: Trams back on display at NELSAM

In Pictures: Croydon Tramlink 058 out on the Crich mainline

Posted on Monday 17 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Over the past month or so we’ve run regular articles on how this tram has entered service, that tram has carried passengers for the first tram etc. but very little mention has been made of the works cars in the fleet at the Crich Tramway Village. The museum is home to a varied collection of works vehicles, some of which are on static display to help tell the history of trams whilst others are still very much providing a vital service to help with maintenance.

Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | Comments Off on In Pictures: Croydon Tramlink 058 out on the Crich mainline

Out and About: A quick shot at Manchester Airport

Posted on Monday 17 April 2023 by Gareth Prior

Today’s “Out and About” is back in Manchester as we head to the Airport for a quick shot of one of the trams to have carried an advert in recent years.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink, Out and About | Comments Off on Out and About: A quick shot at Manchester Airport