Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1011

Posted on Saturday 4 March 2017 by Gareth Prior

We are heading to Manchester for the next edition of Picture in Time and this time around we are taking a look at T68 1011 back in the first year of the network.

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Permission given for temporary horse tram building at Derby Castle

Posted on Friday 3 March 2017 by Gareth Prior

It would appear that the trams and horses of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway will have a new home in 2017 following the approval of a planning application to construct a temporary building on part of the former Summerland site. The new building will consist of a tram shed, stables, staff welfare facilities, parking and new vehicular access and is partly required because of the very poor condition of the Strathallan Depot and the desire to move the horses from the Summerhill stables which were put up for sale in 2016.

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Blackpool Tramway hits 5 million passengers

Posted on Friday 3 March 2017 by Gareth Prior

More passengers than at any time in the past 20 years are travelling on the Blackpool Tramway according to new figures released this week. 5 million passenger journeys have been recorded since April 2016 – the first time since 1994 that this many passengers have been carried on the tramway and once again showing the benefits of having an upgraded tramway.

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In Pictures: Cardiff 21 shows off new lighting at Crich

Posted on Friday 3 March 2017 by Gareth Prior

Crich may have been closed to the public since the end of October but that doesn’t mean that nothing has been going on at the home of the National Tramway Museum. Aside from the high profile going on in the workshops several other improvement projects have been taking place including in the Great Exhibition Hall. This has seen the lighting system replaced which should be a significant improvement for visitors and will improve photographs taken within the Exhibition Hall. Cardiff 21 was showing off on St David’s Day and these photos show the on loan horse tram in the new lighting.

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RAIB launch investigation into DLR incident

Posted on Friday 3 March 2017 by Gareth Prior

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch have announced that they are investigating what they are calling a “platform-train interface” incident which happened at Bank Station on the Docklands Light Railway on 6th February. The incident happened at approximately 2130 and saw a passenger become trapped in the train doors by their coat as the units were departing from the station.

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Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway 7 grounded

Posted on Friday 3 March 2017 by Gareth Prior

A regular sight at events across Llandudno and Colwyn Bay in recent years has been the replica Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway tramcar no. 7. Normally hauled by the Matador truck – itself a historic vehicle in its own right – the tram has visited many events including the Llandudno Transport Festival which takes place over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend. It had been hoped that 7 would also take part in the annual St David’s Day Parade in Colwyn Bay on Wednesday 1st March but unfortunately the Matador is currently out of service requiring expensive repairs. The Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway Society are a small organisation and are seeking donations – however big or small – to enable the Matador to return to service and for no. 7 to be seen out in public again. If you can help please contact the Treasurer of the Society, whose contact details can be found at http://swissitalianpaddlesteamers.com/lcbtramsoc/treasurer.html.

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Work starts on new footbridge at Queens Medical Centre

Posted on Friday 3 March 2017 by Gareth Prior

Work has started to build a new footbridge linking the tramsotp at Queens Medical Centre to the main hospital. The new bridge will provide direct access from the tram platform to the south side of the hospital. It is planned to open the bridge in the summer.

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Edinburgh Trams celebrate award wins

Posted on Friday 3 March 2017 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams are celebrating after they walked away with two prestigious awards at the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. Having been nominated in five categories they were named winners in the High Growth and Excellence in Health and Safety categories.

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Car on tracks causes NET disruption

Posted on Friday 3 March 2017 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit services on the Toton Lane line were disrupted for nearly two hours on Wednesday 1st March after a car got stuck on the tracks. The car managed to drive onto the bridge close to Gregory Street tramstop – a bridge which has numerous signs warning motorists not to follow the tram tracks – at approximately 1205 leading to trams being suspended between Meadows Way West and University Boulevard whilst it was removed. With the car removed services resumed at 1350.

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Picture in Time: Rigby Road Depot

Posted on Thursday 2 March 2017 by Gareth Prior

We take another look through the doors of Rigby Road Depot in 1972 for this edition of Picture in Time with several trams visible including the former Standard Car 143 whilst it was an engineering vehicle.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

Heaton Park to pay tribute to Bob Hill

Posted on Thursday 2 March 2017 by Andrew Waddington

On Sunday 5th March, the Heaton Park Tramway will be holding a special running day in tribute to Bob Hill, who sadly passed away recently. Bob was one of the key people involved in the tramway’s survival and development through a difficult period, and was serving as President of the Manchester Transport Museum Society at the time of his passing – however these barely scratch the surface of his contribution to British tram preservation, and it is therefore highly appropriate that tram enthusiasts have a chance to pay their respects.

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Picture in Time: Leicester 76

Posted on Tuesday 28 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Another tram which has been a very rare performer at Crich is the feature of today’s Picture in Time instalment – Leicester 76.

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Metrolink’s Second City Crossing opens

Posted on Monday 27 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

A seven year project to dramatically increase the Manchester Metrolink network is over following the opening of the Second City Crossing (2CC) between St Peter’s Square and Victoria via Cross Street and Exchange Square. Passenger services started on Sunday 26th February with all trams between East Didsbury and the Oldham and Rochdale line now using this stretch of track, all other cross city trams continue to use the original line along Mosley Street.

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Trams of all shapes and sizes for Blackpool ‘Winter Gold’ event

Posted on Monday 27 February 2017 by Andrew Waddington

The second ‘gold’ operating weekend for Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours took place on 25th & 26th February, with the now well established formula of six trams running to a timetable including one trip each to Fleetwood once again being used. This time however, there was the added novelty of a temporary heritage stop provided at St Chad’s Road, to serve a model tram event taking place that weekend at the Lyric Hotel.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 26 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

We have three small Photo Galleries for you this week:

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Posted in Docklands Light Railway, London Trams, West Midlands Metro | 5 Comments

In Pictures: New vinyls for Edinburgh Trams 261

Posted on Saturday 25 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams 261 has finally lost its advertising vinyls for Hogmanay with the tram now being used to advertise Scotland’s home Six Nations at Murrayfield which has easy access from the Edinburgh Trams line. It is expected that 261 will be used to advertise seasonal events throughout the year and this second set of vinyls is only really the start of its use for this purpose.

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Picture in Time: Stagecoach Supertram 119

Posted on Saturday 25 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

We are back to South Yorkshire for today’s edition of Picture in Time as we take a look at the by then Stagecoach Supertram system in 2003 with tram 119 the main focus of our attention.

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Blackpool’s February Gold output announced

Posted on Friday 24 February 2017 by Andrew Waddington

This weekend – Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th February – sees the second special ‘Gold’ running weekend for Blackpool’s heritage trams with an impressive turnout of six cars per day planned. In addition, the Tramway & Light Railway Society are hosting a model tram show at the Lyric Hotel, and a temporary heritage tram stop will be placed near the venue at St Chad’s Road to serve this event and add further novelty to the occasion.

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Storm Doris shuts down heritage tours for a day

Posted on Friday 24 February 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Wind gusts of up to 80mph battered Blackpool promenade on Thursday 23rd February, resulting in delays to the core tram service with LRVs operating at a lower speed than normal for safety reasons. The day’s heritage service was also cancelled entirely, the first time that this has ever happened due to adverse weather – although in fairness this is the first year that such a regular service has operated so early!

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Seating on the way for selected Supertram stops

Posted on Friday 24 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Over half of the stops of Stagecoach Supertram are about to be upgraded with the addition of seating in the coming weeks. The work to install seating will be started from Monday 27th February and is being undertaken by South Yorkshire PTE in partnership with Stagecoach Supertram.

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