Monthly Archives: August 2012

UK Light Rail pioneer withdrawn from service

Posted on Thursday 16 August 2012 by Gareth Prior

The first of the new generation of trams in the UK has been withdrawn from service with Manchester Metrolink T68 1001 taken out of service during early August becoming the fifth of the initial 12 to be withdrawn (although this … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 2 Comments

New home for Leeds horse tram

Posted on Thursday 16 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The only surviving Leeds horse tramcar, Leeds 107, has been the subject of a long-running restoration programme in its native city, on which work has accelerated in the last couple of years. With the lower saloon now essentially complete, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Leeds Transport Historical Society | 1 Comment

Jubilee Brush 290 nears completion

Posted on Thursday 16 August 2012 by Gareth Prior

Work on renovating Blackpool Brush 290 at Kirkham Prison by members of the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust in conjunction with inmates at the Prison is fast approaching completion with a move to its new temporary home next to Pleasure Beach … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: DLR Advertising Livery for 63, 74 & 94

Posted on Thursday 16 August 2012 by Gareth Prior

As mentioned a couple of days ago in one of our news stories two three car sets of  Docklands Light Railway units have received all over adverts for the Olympic Games. One of these sets (they have tended to operate … Continue reading →

Posted in Docklands Light Railway | 1 Comment

Leeds 345 comes back with a bang!

Posted on Thursday 16 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The long-running remedial work on Leeds 345 in the Crich workshop has now been completed. After being reunited with its repaired truck towards the end of July, the tram received a few finishing touches but quickly commissioned for testing. Following extensive testing and … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | Comments Off on Leeds 345 comes back with a bang!

TMS commissioned at Old Trafford Depot

Posted on Thursday 16 August 2012 by Gareth Prior

The major expansion of Manchester Metrolink is dependent on the introduction of the new signalling and Tram Management System (TMS) which will enable extra trams to operate across the network more reliably but up until now this has proved to … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 2 Comments

The Rocket has landed!

Posted on Wednesday 15 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A milestone in the history of the most unusual tram to ever run in Blackpool occured in the early hours of Tuesday 14th August, when the illuminated Rocket 732 returned to the promenade after a decade-long absence. As has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | Comments Off on The Rocket has landed!

Pioneer Flexity returns to service

Posted on Wednesday 15 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The first Bombardier Flexity2 type tram in the world, Blackpool 001, has finally returned to traffic following a lengthy lay-off. Following its unveiling to the world at a lavish ceremony 11 months ago, 001 became a fairly common sight over … Continue reading →

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DLR breaks passenger records during Olympics

Posted on Tuesday 14 August 2012 by Gareth Prior

Throughout the build-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games the Docklands Light Railway featured heavily on these pages as preparations were made to ensure it could be a useful and effective way for visitors to travel to some of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Docklands Light Railway | 1 Comment

Repaints start and repaints approach an end at Beamish

Posted on Monday 13 August 2012 by Gareth Prior

Work has now started at Beamish on repainting Gateshead 10 into British Railways green with all efforts being made on completing the paint job by the start of the Power from the Past event between 30th August and 2nd September. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | 1 Comment

Metrolink cross the Mersey…

Posted on Monday 13 August 2012 by Gareth Prior

One of the lines currently under construction as part of the plans for a major expansion of the Manchester Metrolink system is that to Manchester Airport. Due to open in 2016 and leaving the South Manchester line shortly after the … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 4 Comments

More traffic management plans revealed for Edinburgh Tram construction work

Posted on Monday 13 August 2012 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams have announced the next stage of traffic management plans as construction work continues on York Place in the coming months. These latest plans have come about following discussions with both local residents and businesses.

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 1 Comment

Sunderland 16 temporarily withdrawn

Posted on Wednesday 8 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

One of the hard-working members of the operational tram fleet at Beamish Museum, Sunderland 16, has recently been withdrawn from service. For a while now, it has been planned to re-tyre 16 and now the car’s tyres have become a cause … Continue reading →

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Blackpool’s vintage trams missing again

Posted on Wednesday 8 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Sadly, Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram tours have endured further disruption during the week commencing Monday 6th August. After operating a single tram instead of the usual two for the first three days of the week, the tours will not run … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 9 Comments

Cracks appear in Blackpol’s heritage tours

Posted on Saturday 4 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

As reported earlier this week on British Trams Online,  Blackpool Transport resumed operation of its heritage tram coastal tours on Wednesday 1st August, following a four-day absence due to defective points at Pleasure Beach. Unfortunately, since then the service operated has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 16 Comments

Best plan for future of Birkenhead tramway

Posted on Thursday 2 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The ongoing saga of the future of the Birkenhead tramway continues to make the news despite no definite decisions being made. However, an interesting development occured during July, when staff and volunteers who work at Taylor Street museum were given … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 4 Comments

Rocket tram shines for the cameras

Posted on Thursday 2 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The cosmetic restoration of Blackpool’s famous illuminated Rocket tram, 732, is making remarkably speedy progress with work on the external lights now almost complete. When the tram made its last appearance on the Blackpool tramway for a special farewell tour in … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 5 Comments

Western Train moved to Starr Gate

Posted on Thursday 2 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

On Monday 30th July, Blackpool’s most popular trams made a surprise appearance on the promenade. The illuminated Western Train 733+734 was driven to Starr Gate by engineering staff, and moved into the new depot complex. The same crews then returned … Continue reading →

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Welcome return for Blackpool’s heritage trams

Posted on Wednesday 1 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Following an enforced four-day absence due to defective points at the Pleasure Beach loop, it is pleasing to report that the heritage tram tours in Blackpool resumed on Wednesday 1st August, when Brush Railcoach 631 and Balloon 717 were in … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

Crich or Coplawhill?

Posted on Wednesday 1 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Crich workshop is currently resembling a mini-Coplawhill, the legendary works of the extensive Glasgow Coroporation tramway system. As the Museum gears up to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the closure of Glasgow’s tramway, work is well in hand to … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 6 Comments