Operating seasons end across the British Isles

Posted on Saturday 11 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

As has become traditional the first weekend in November usually brings an end to heritage tramway operating seasons and 2017 has been no different. We have already seen what happened at the end of the season at both Crich and on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway but what of some of the other tramways on the British Isles?

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In Pictures: Bilston Road trackworks carry on

Posted on Saturday 11 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

The deadline for reopening Midland Metro through to Wolverhampton St George’s is now rapidly approaching – in time for Christmas is the plan – which means good progress should be able to be seen along Bilston Road and at the city centre junction in this major project to upgrade the tramway. In this latest pictorial update we do see that a lot of work has now been completed but there does still seem to be a fair bit of track to be laid and full road surface returned whilst on the junction finishing works are now underway. Andy Walters with the pictures.

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Picture in Time: South Yorkshire Supertram 10

Posted on Saturday 11 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

We have more early images from the South Yorkshire Supertram system for you in this instalment of Picture in Time. These photos date from 1994 and show no. 10 in service.

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TLC for trams at Beamish

Posted on Friday 10 November 2017 by Andrew Waddington

2017 has been a difficult years for some of the UK’s heritage tramways – and the line at Beamish Museum has been no different, with an operating pool of just four trams available for service since the return of Blackpool Standard 147 to the Fylde coast in March. Unfortunately, things seem to have gone from bad to worse recently but on the plus side some of the fleet have been receiving some much-needed workshop attention.

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Minor collision on Metrolink causes major disruption

Posted on Friday 10 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

Two trams collided at St Peter’s Square on Friday 10th November causing major delays across the entire Manchester Metrolink network. The low speed collision happened in the platform at St Peter’s Square with minor damage caused to both trams but no injuries were reported. Despite the apparent minor nature of the collision all Metrolink services were immediately suspended whilst initial investigations took place; a decision which is to be fully reviewed for any future incidents.

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In Pictures: Dartmouth Street trackwork on Midland Metro

Posted on Friday 10 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

As we mentioned last week there was a temporary closure on Midland Metro on 5th November to allow for a short section of track at Dartmouth Street to be relaid. The trackbed had been sinking here for a while because of poor drainage so the decision was made to replace the track on a quiet Sunday whilst the line to Wolverhampton was also closed. Photos from Andy Walters.

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NET services to change for Christmas lights switch on

Posted on Friday 10 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

There is no getting away from it – Christmas is coming! The seasons approach can clearly be seen with advertising ramping up in recent days and Christmas lights will be switched on across the country in the coming weeks. The switch on for Nottingham will be on Friday 17th November and this will take place in Old Market Square at 1930. As a result of the switch on it will be necessary for all services to be suspended between Royal Centre and Nottingham Station between 1900 and 2030. A normal tram service will run either side of this closure with tram tickets to be accepted on Nottingham City Transport bus services during this period.

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In Pictures: Latest construction shots of Tram-Train pilot

Posted on Friday 10 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

The major construction project to ensure that Tram-Train services will be able to run between Stagecoach Supertram and national rail tracks to Rotherham Central and Parkgate is continuing at its own pace with most attention currently being concentrated on Rotherham Central. Glyn Hill provides the photos.

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In Pictures: Cambridge Horse Car 7 under restoration

Posted on Thursday 9 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

It has been a couple of years since we last featured the restoration of Cambridge Street Tramways no. 7, a horse car built by The Starbuck Car & Wagon Co. in Birkenhead but in the intervening period a good degree of progress has been made in bringing back up to a recognisable tram at the Ipswich Transport Museum.

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Memorials unveiled as Croydon remembers one year on

Posted on Thursday 9 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

It is now one year since the tragic derailment on London Tramlink at Sandilands and to commemorate the anniversary two memorials have been unveiled as the local community remembers the events.

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36 returns to service as Douglas end another season

Posted on Thursday 9 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

The last day of the 2017 operating season on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway was a memorable one as not only did it see the pre-advertised End of Season Parade but also no. 36 returned to service for the first time since its high quality restoration was completed. It may also have seen the last time that popular Trammer Mark was used to haul passengers along the Prom.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool OMO 5

Posted on Thursday 9 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

The year is 1987 for today’s edition of Picture in Time as we feature a photo of a tram from the class of trams which arguably saved the Blackpool Tramway in the 1970s. The tram in question is OMO 5.

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Winter in the workshop at Crich

Posted on Thursday 9 November 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Although the big project for the closed season at Crich Tramway Village is of course the refurbishment of the depots, that doesn’t mean that the tramcar collection will not be getting any attention – far from it! As well as the ongoing reconstruction of London County Council 1, two trams which missed the latter part of the 2017 season have now entered the workshop for some repairs which will hopefully allow them both to return to use in 2018.

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Work starts on depot refurbishment at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 8 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

With Crich now closed for the winter period no time has been wasted in starting the refurbishment of the depot at the museum with Depot II cleared of all trams and the overhead taken down to allow contractors Bailey Construction to start their work. All this came following Big Shunt 2 which brought the curtain down on another operating season at Crich.

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Tramlink strike suspended

Posted on Wednesday 8 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

The planned strike by ASLEF members on London Tramlink, due to take place on 13th November, has been suspended following talks between the union and Tram Operations Limited, the operator of Tramlink. The strike had been called as a result of the introduction of a new safety measure in drivers cabs which the union had said was causing drivers to suffer headaches and has been put in without any consultation.

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In Pictures: New adverts in Manchester

Posted on Wednesday 8 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

Two trams in Manchester have recently appeared in service wearing new vinyl wrap adverts with both making their first public appearances in quick succession at the start of November. The two M5000s to carry the adverts are 3004 and 3018 with the sponsors being LBC and Call of Duty.

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Picture in Time: Great Orme Tramway 7

Posted on Tuesday 7 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

Today Picture in Time is in North Wales for an image taken 21 years ago in 1996 on the Great Orme Tramway. The tram being featured is the highest numbered of the trams which have operated the service since the line opened in 1902 – no. 7.

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In Pictures: Citylink changeover

Posted on Monday 6 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

Since the Citylink tram-trains started running regularly in passenger service – with the Purple route still where you are most likely to see one in operation – the first of the class, 399 201, has seen very little use. This situation changed on Saturday 4th November when 201 was in use during the morning but around lunchtime it was taken out of use and replaced by the last of the class – 399 207. Views of the changeover come from Stuart Cooke.

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In Pictures: Southend Pier Railway 8

Posted on Monday 6 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

Another of those it is a railway or is it a tramway conundrums is the line which runs along the UK’s longest pier at Southend. Still running to this day with more modern rolling stock the feature of this article is the remains of a vehicle which was built in 1949 and was later converted for engineering use.

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Funding appeal success in Blackpool

Posted on Sunday 5 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

Its always pleasing to be able to report some good news and there is double good news from Blackpool where not one but two recent funding appeals have reached their targets meaning work can start in earnest on a restoration whilst another tram is now a permanent member of the heritage collection. The trams in question are Paisley 16 and the illuminated Hovertram.

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