In Picture: Tamper at work in Blackpool

Posted on Saturday 20 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

It may be the weekend but that doesn’t mean it’s a day off for the workers involved in the trackwork in Blackpool – far from it as the tamper was out once again being used on both the northbound track from Cleveleys to Fleetwood and then the southbound track. Unfortunately, as with an attempt earlier in the week to use the crossover at Cabin it wasn’t possible for the tram to use the crossover at Thornton Gate and so a road trip was required to transfer it onto the opposite track. This latest photo update shows us a few sights on Saturday 20th February 2021.

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Around the World in Trams: Den Haag 5017

Posted on Saturday 20 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Today we have another look at the trams in Den Haag,

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Progress made on restorations in the north west

Posted on Saturday 20 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Although we remain under Covid restrictions there is still some good progress to be reported on two tram restorations in the north west – one in Blackpool and the other in Birkenhead. Those trams are Blackpool Railcoach 279 and Warrington 28.

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Lockdown Walks: Edinburgh Trams 261

Posted on Saturday 20 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Lockdown Walks” we are again heading north of the border to the only new tramway in Scotland.

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Very Light Rail test track complete

Posted on Friday 19 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

The test track for the Very Light Rail project in Dudley has been completed in a major milestone for the programme, with the first of Coventry VLR prototype vehicles due to be tested later in 2021. The test track is part of the National Innovation Centre which is being supported by the West Midlands Combined Authority as part of their plan to make the region net zero carbon zero in the next 20 years.

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Full length Douglas Bay Horse thrown into doubt again

Posted on Friday 19 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

If this article was in a tabloid newspaper the word again in the headline would probably in capitals as it’s a story which keeps coming around time after time – it appears that the future of the full length Douglas Bay Horse Tramway has again been thrown into doubt. It now seems that permission for funding for the section of tramway between Broadway and the Sea Terminal will have to be sought again as Treasury politicians have decided that before the Department of Infrastructure use part of their pre-agreed heritage railway budget for the purpose it will have to be approved in Tynwald (again).

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Smartphone app launched to showcase rebuild of Gosforth Depot

Posted on Friday 19 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

VolkerFitzpatrick – who have been contracted by Stadler to rebuild the Tyne and Wear Metro depot at Gosforth – have developed a new smartphone app which will be able to keep the local community up-to-date with the £70 million project. It is hoped it will give a better understanding to local residents and businesses of the works taking place at the depot.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool 31

Posted on Friday 19 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

The location for this edition of “Picture in Time” is Beamish again.

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Metrolink disruption after derailment at Deansgte-Castlefield

Posted on Thursday 18 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Services throughout the Manchester Metrolink network were disrupted on Thursday 18th February after a minor derailment at Deansgate-Castlefield. Double unit 3019 and 3059 were the trams involved in the incident which saw the rear bogies of 3019 leaving the tracks as the pair departed from the stop towards the city centre.

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In Pictures: More from Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 18 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this latest look at the ongoing trackworks in Blackpool we feature some more track welding taking place at Gynn Square as well as taking a look at another piece of equipment which is being used during the works. Tony Armitage is our man on the ground again as he continues to get his lockdown exercise!

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Stop by Stop Blackpool Tramway: Pleasure Beach

Posted on Thursday 18 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

The first of the main stops on the Blackpool Tramway after departure from Starr Gate heading north is that at Pleasure Beach which always sees plenty of people getting on and off (except during a major global pandemic of course!).

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In Pictures: Blackpool engineering works continue

Posted on Wednesday 17 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

The two week programme of engineering works on the Blackpool Tramway has been continuing over the last couple of days and in this pictorial update we see some of the work being undertaken on the section north of Cabin up towards Cleveleys with new track and a tamper featuring. Tony Armitage went for a walk to see what was happening on 17th February 2021.

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Tram Pub Signs: The Tramway, Gorleston and Tramway Hotel, Pakefield

Posted on Wednesday 17 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this article we feature another two pubs with tramway themed signs, both of which can be found in East Anglia. We’ve banded these two together because they actually use the same image of a tram – a tram that isn’t particularly local to East Anglia!

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Still Standing! Daubhill Depot, Bolton

Posted on Wednesday 17 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Another trip to the northwest of England for the latest instalment of our series looking at surviving structures from first generation tramways. This is one of the old depots in Bolton.

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Third of latest batch of M5000s arrives in Manchester

Posted on Tuesday 16 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Saturday 6th February saw the third of the current batch of 27 Bombardier built M5000s arrive at Queen’s Road Depot in Manchester – almost two months since the previous arrival. 3123 made the trip from Germany and will now be commissioned at the depot before being considered to enter service.

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Tyne and Wear Metro’s 40th anniversary to be celebrated with online event

Posted on Tuesday 16 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

A special online lunchtime event will be taking place on Wednesday 24th February with the former boss of Nexus Mike Parker and the current Director General Tobyn Hughes in conversation about the Tyne and Wear Metro network. This free event is part of the Urban Transport Group’s series with a live online audience.

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Whatever Happened To? Midland Metro 14

Posted on Tuesday 16 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

Its another look at one of the original Midland Metro trams for this edition of “Whatever Happened To?” as we now reach no. 14.

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In Pictures: Blackpool trackwork begins

Posted on Monday 15 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

With the Blackpool Tramway being completely suspended for a week from Sunday 14th December (and then only running part route for up to the next seven days) a start has been made on the essential trackworks. Work is underway in at least two different locations with advantage being taken of no trams running at all to get the work completed. Tony Armitage took a walk down to the Prom to see what was happening.

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Trams &: Sunderland 16 & Road Locomotive

Posted on Monday 15 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of “Trams &” we take a trip to Beamish to see one of the resident trams alongside a visiting road locomotive.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Diamond T tow truck

Posted on Monday 15 February 2021 by Gareth Prior

As we continue our look at some of the Works vehicles of Blackpool Corporation Transport in 1975 we find ourselves looking at one which was used mainly to tow buses but was also occasionally used for trams – it is a Diamond T truck.

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