Fishing for funds to help the Trawler

Posted on Sunday 13 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

As has been reported previously, Blackpool’s illuminated Trawler 737 is currently under overhaul within the Rigby Road workshops having missed the 2015 season completely due to its rather shabby condition. The majority of the current work is generously being funded by Lofthouses, the local firm whose Fisherman’s Friend Trawler logo provided the inspiration for this tram – but further financial assistance will be needed to ensure that it is ready to sail again in time for the 2016 illuminations.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

The decapitation of LCC 1

Posted on Sunday 13 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

On Friday 11th March, a notable and unusual activity took place at Crich Tramway Village involving the ongoing process of stripping London County Council 1. Having spent the past eighteen months in the museum’s workshop, the tram has been reduced to a mere shell – but on this day its appearance was changed even more drastically, with the removal of its roof!

Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 9 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 13 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

This week we have more Photos for you as well as some updates to the Fleet Lists section:

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, London Trams, West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

3111 enters service in Manchester

Posted on Sunday 13 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

For the first time since the system opened in 1992 Manchester Metrolink now have a tram in service which doesn’t contain a 0 in its number! 3111 has entered service joining the non ATS/VRS fitted fleet and was noted in use on Saturday 12th March running between Rochdale Railway Station and Ashton-under-Lyne but it is not known whether this was its first day in service.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 8 Comments

Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 2005

Posted on Sunday 13 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

We are off to Manchester again for Picture in Time today with a view of T68A 2005 back in 2000.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 2005

Blackpool’s blue timetable returns

Posted on Saturday 12 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

To mark Tourism Week in Blackpool, the town’s heritage trams have been enjoying a bumper period of activity with a period of daily operation on heritage tour duties commencing on Saturday 5th March. Normally the traditional fleet would still have been in hibernation at this point but, having already appeared for two well-received ‘gold’ event weekends, the basic ‘blue’ service provision has now returned to operate every weekend until the end of the illuminations.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

03 latest T69 to leave Midland Metro

Posted on Friday 11 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

The acceleration of the departure of the remaining withdrawn Midland Metro T69s from Wednesbury Depot has continued with the latest tram to leave on the back of a lorry being 03. Once again a low loader from Allelys was in town on Friday 11th March to collect the tram which had been withdrawn as long ago as December 2013.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

New name for NET 222

Posted on Friday 11 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit Citadis 222 has become the first tram from the city to receive a second name following the application of the name Barbara White OBE in a special ceremony on the 12th anniversary of the tramway. Barbara is the founder of Nottingham based charity When You Wish Upon A Star.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on New name for NET 222

New Birmingham Snow Hill stop to open at Easter – temporarily

Posted on Friday 11 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

There is more disruption on the way for Midland Metro passengers with weekend closures planned as part of the work to open the line through Birmingham City Centre to New Street station. This work will include attention to the new Snow Hill stop to allow it to open temporarily over the Easter weekend when trams will once again be terminating here.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Metrolink overnight parking trial extended

Posted on Friday 11 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

The trial which allowed Metrolink users to leave their cars overnight at selected car parks on the network on Fridays and Saturdays is to be extended to allow for a full evaluation report to be completed. Originally due to end on 5th March 2016 the trial will now continue until 30th July 2016.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Metrolink overnight parking trial extended

Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 1

Posted on Wednesday 9 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

Today our archive picture series heads across the Irish Sea back to the Isle of Man with our image this time coming from the Manx Electric Railway in 1992.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 1

T69 11 bids farewell to Birmingham

Posted on Tuesday 8 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

Celebrity liveried Midland Metro T69 11 has become the latest to leave the depot at Wednesbury with the familiar sight of an Allelys low loader arriving on Tuesday 8th March. 11 had been waiting in the depot yard since the end of last week for the low loader to be available but it has now left Midland Metro property for the last time.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 7 Comments

Car ends up on Metrolink platform after Police chase

Posted on Tuesday 8 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

We have often reported on cars getting stuck on Metrolink’s tracks after the driver has taken a wrong turn but never before has a car managed to drive onto a platform – until Tuesday 8th March that is. But this time it was not due to a confused driver taking a wrong turn but a Police chase which led the car to mount the platform at New Islington.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 8 Comments

723: from scruffy to shiny!

Posted on Monday 7 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Welcome news from the Blackpool Heritage Trust is that Blackpool Balloon 723 has recently been admitted to the Paint Shop for a full repaint. The tram was re-activated as an extra attraction for last year’s 130th anniversary weekend, following the removal of its previous advertising vinyls for the Sands Venue. This exposed the green and cream livery beneath, but the removal of the vinyls unsurprisingly caused some paintwork damage.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Good Friday gets even better in Blackpool

Posted on Sunday 6 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

When the 2016 operating dates for Blackpool’s heritage tram service were first announced, Good Friday was a surprising omission. However, this has now changed for the better as an amended ‘blue’ timetable will now run on this day. The amendment involves a later start time than usual, allowing the trams in service to stay out later to allow for a very special treat to kick off the Easter excitement!

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 8 Comments

In Pictures: Blackpool 147 enters service at Beamish

Posted on Sunday 6 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Saturday 5th March saw Blackpool Standard 147 make its debut in passenger service at Beamish Museum, just seven days after it last operated in Blackpool. In between the two the tram has endured a rather prolonged and eventful road journey – but in spite of this, the tram was ready to meet its adoring public at its new temporary home for their first enhanced transport weekend of 2016.

Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | 1 Comment

Another M5000 arrives in Manchester

Posted on Sunday 6 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

M5000 3112 has arrived in Manchester with the tram being delivered to Queen’s Road Depot on Saturday 5th March. Upon arrival – shortly after midday – the tram was unloaded and moved into the workshops where initial commissioning will take place ahead of mileage accumulation and then eventual entry into service. With 3112 now in Manchester there are only a further eight M5000s currently on order due to be make the trip across from Germany.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 4 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 6 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

Three more Photo Galleries for you this week as part of the main site update:

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Docklands Light Railway, Edinburgh Trams, Site News | Comments Off on This week on British Trams Online

Picture in Time: Midland Metro 03

Posted on Sunday 6 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

Picture in Time today heads to the West Midlands for a view dated to 2000 of Midland Metro T69 03.

Continue reading →

Posted in Picture in Time, West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Rare trams in the open at Crich

Posted on Friday 4 March 2016 by Gareth Prior

As part of the continued preparations for the 2016 season at the Crich Tramway Village – home of the National Tramway Museum – work on the depot roof saw it necessary to extract all vehicles on road 4 of the main depot. Regular visitors to Crich will know that this is the road which is mainly used to store works vehicles (both operational and stored) but is also home to the longest single decker in the national collection: Grimsby & Immingham 14.

Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | Comments Off on In Pictures: Rare trams in the open at Crich