Monthly Archives: November 2013

First tram enters new Heaton Park depot

Posted on Thursday 14 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

On Tuesday 12th November 2013, a small but very significant step towards the completion of a second tram depot at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway occurred, when Blackpool Railgrinder 752 became the first tram to enter the new building. Although the … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 5 Comments

Nottingham Citadis trams to start on street testing

Posted on Wednesday 13 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

The testing of the first of the new Nottingham Express Transit Citadis trams is set to be stepped up a notch this week with the first city centre test runs due to take place. The first of the trams has … Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Repaint for Supertram 124

Posted on Wednesday 13 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Stagecoach Supertram 124 has returned to service following a repaint with a slightly revised livery now being carried – although you have to look carefully to see the differences! There are no longer any numbers carried on the sides directly … Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 1 Comment

Cornbrook changes afoot

Posted on Tuesday 12 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

If you are a regular traveller on Manchester Metrolink or have been reading our news pages in recent weeks and months you can’t help but have noticed that there have been major problems at Cornbrook with points failures causing severe … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 21 Comments

Tram-train strategy to be developed in Manchester

Posted on Tuesday 12 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Councillors in Greater Manchester have backed plans to develop a tram-train strategy in  the region which could see six current heavy rail lines converted to tram-train operation. The Transport for Greater Manchester Committee Capital Projects and Policy Sub-committee approved a … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 13 Comments

Manchester Metrolink Improvement Works: Sunday 17th November

Posted on Tuesday 12 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Limited improvement works will take place again on Manchester Metrolink before 0900 on Sunday 17th November causing some services to be altered. Services from Bury will terminate at Crumpsall, from Rochdale trams will run as far as Central Park, trams … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 5 Comments

Blackpool’s heritage trams commence winter hibernation

Posted on Monday 11 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A highly successful season of operation for Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram fleet has now come to an end, co-inciding with the final night of the 2013 illuminations on Sunday 10th November. That evening saw just two trams operate on illumination … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

All change at Crich this winter

Posted on Sunday 10 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A number of developments are taking place at Crich Tramway Village over the winter period, in an attempt to offer an improved experience for visitors to the attraction from next year. Although most of these don’t directly involve the trams … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 7 Comments

This week on British Trams Online….

Posted on Saturday 9 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

We have another couple of Photo Galleries for you this week: Gallery 411: Black Country Living Museum October 2013 – http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery411.html Gallery 412: Liverpool 245 restoration progress to end of October 2013 – http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery412.html

Posted in Site News | Comments Off on This week on British Trams Online….

Preston Trampower scheme not all finished after all!

Posted on Saturday 9 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

A few weeks ago we reported on the apparent abandonment of the plans to return trams to Preston but it now appears that rumours of their demise were false and in fact there has been significant recent progress with more … Continue reading →

Posted in Preston Trampower | 21 Comments

Crich announce ‘Electric 50’ event for 2014

Posted on Saturday 9 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

On 5th July 1964, a huge piece of transport preservation history was made, when Blackpool & Fleetwood 2 became the first electric tramcar to operate in public service at the Crich Tramway Museum. Not only was this a massive leap … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 2 Comments

Heritage Trams for the rest of the year…

Posted on Friday 8 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

For the final time in 2013 we bring you a summary of when and where you can ride on heritage trams around the UK. With Crich, the Manx Electric Railway and Snaefell Mountain Railway now having run their final journeys … Continue reading →

Posted in Support our Heritage Tramways | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Blackpool 167 at Starlight Halloween, Crich

Posted on Friday 8 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

As reported last week the Starlight Halloween event at the Crich Tramway Village featured Blackpool 167 in operation, although not with passengers. The tram had been specially decorated for Halloween and the decorations were so extensive there was very little … Continue reading →

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Midland Metro to extend to Coventry?

Posted on Friday 8 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Plans are being put together for another Midland Metro route which would link Birmingham city centre to Coventry as part of the development likely in the region as a result of HS2. The plans have been revealed by Sir Albert … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Aberdeen horse tram 1

Posted on Friday 8 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

The Grampian Transport Museum in Alford, 25 miles from Aberdeen, is home to two tramcars including Aberdeen District Tramways 1, a horse car dating from 1896. With the Museum now closed for a reorganisation over the winter there have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

New Addington line to close for improvement work

Posted on Friday 8 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

London Tramlink services to New Addington will be suspended from 2200 on Wednesday 4th December until the end of service on Thursday 12th December to allow major improvement works to take place. The work will be undertaken in two phases … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Supertram 104 receives new air conditioning system

Posted on Friday 8 November 2013 by Gareth Prior

Stagecoach Supertram 104 has returned to service after attention in the workshops at the depot with a new air conditioning system fitted alongside an improved system of eight interior cameras, replacing the previous six. It is planned that one tram … Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on In Pictures: Supertram 104 receives new air conditioning system

Tiger tram 622 escapes threat of extinction!

Posted on Thursday 7 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

In a shock development, Blackpool Brush Railcoach 622 was transported back to Rigby Road depot on Thursday 7th November, having been forced out of its former home at the Lancastrian Transport Trust’s base at Brinwell Road. Although 622 is not … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 42 Comments

MER 3 rises from the dead!

Posted on Thursday 7 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Just a few days after Halloween, a long-lost electric tramcar made a return to prominence. The vehicle in question was Manx Electric Railway 3, a tram which was tragically lost in the depot fire some decades ago. So, how did … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on MER 3 rises from the dead!

Glasgow 488 restoration makes progress

Posted on Wednesday 6 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Since being repatriated following five decades spent in Paris, work has commenced on a major restoration of Glasgow ‘Standard’ car 488. Since being moved inside the Boston Lodge railway works at the Ffestinog Railway at the end of the summer, … Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | Comments Off on Glasgow 488 restoration makes progress