Monthly Archives: December 2018

Balloon 711 on standby for snow

For many years it has been the norm for at least one of Blackpool’s Balloon cars to be fitted with snowplough equipment for the winter. In the last few years, members of the ‘B Fleet’ have been used in this … Continue reading

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September Review – Crich: No. 16 – Blackpool Standard 40

Just before you head off for your New Year’s celebrations we have one final update for you as we conclude our look at September’s Simply Trams event at Crich. The final star of this series is Blackpool Standard 40.

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New Snow Hill entrance will finally provide a direct link from St Chad’s

When the West Midlands Metro extension into Birmingham City Centre opened a new stop was provided at Snow Hill to provide access to the railway station of the same name, and replacing the former terminus which was actually in the … Continue reading

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 31 – One final looks at the Crossbenches

And so with it being the last day of December we reach the conclusion of this series looking at events on the Isle of Man during the MER 125th anniversary. And for this edition we once again feature the Crossbench … Continue reading

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September Review – Blackpool: No. 15 – North Pier

With the shop tram – Balloon 711 – constantly stabled on the loop line at North Pier this was another location during the September Spectacular that provided differing photographic opportunities as we see in today’s retrospective.

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Businesses have their say on support needed if Edinburgh extension goes ahead

It may be a few months before we find out for definite whether Edinburgh Trams’ extension along Leith Walk and on to Newhaven will get the go-ahead but the work to put into place support for businesses who may be … Continue reading

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 30 – The MER and SMR meet again

We are back at Laxey today as we once again look at some images showing both the Manx Electric Railway and Snaefell Mountain Railway together in the station.

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September Review – Crich: No. 15 – Inside the depots

Over the winter of 2017/18 major work was undertaken on the depots at Crich which saw them improved to conserve the trams better in the future. This resulted in a very different view with internal walls included for the first … Continue reading

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Tyne and Wear Metro to feature in new TV documentary

The Tyne and Wear Metro is set to become a television star in its own right with ITV commissioning a new four part series looking behind the scenes on the system – the first time in the network’s history that … Continue reading

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 29 – Another look at the horse trams

Today we head back to the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway for another look at the horse trams in service. This time around we feature those horse cars which aren’t in service that often – 1, 12 and 18.

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September Review – Blackpool: No. 14 – Balloon 717

It is a tram that usually goes about its business with the minimum of fuss regularly operating on heritage tours, illumination tours and private hires. Probably harshly Balloon 717 is a tram which doesn’t have that “wow” factor with many … Continue reading

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In Pictures: Concrete base in place on Pinfold Street

Whilst for many the pre-Christmas period is a time of winding down getting ready for the festivities that is far from the case on West Midlands Metro construction works with significant milestones reached on the both the Birmingham Westside and … Continue reading

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 28 – Even more good vehicles out

For the third time in this series we feature the goods vehicles of the Manx Electric Railway as they see use during the events week (and slightly beyond!). This time around we feature not only the vans – 4 and … Continue reading

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September Review – Crich: No. 14 – More views of Works Cars

Today as we head back to Crich we feature more photos of Works Cars in action with two locomotives in the frame.

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Man to appear in court over first Tram-Train collision

A 60 year old man has been charged for driving without due care and attention and for contravening a red light following the collision between a lorry and a tram-train on the first day of the service to Rotherham Parkgate … Continue reading

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 27 – The second oldest tram in the world

1 and 2 are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records jointly as the oldest trams running on their original system but surely one must be a bit newer than the other! It may not be the case that … Continue reading

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September Review – Blackpool: No. 13 – Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40

Although still part of the national collection, Box 40 is a tram which has been a more or less permanent member of the tram fleet in Blackpool for many years (save for a short return “visit” to Crich) and also … Continue reading

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 26 – More Tunnel Cars in service

Leftover Turkey may be on the menu for you today but to take your thoughts away from that we bring you more photos from September’s Manx Electric Railway 125th anniversary week. This time around we once again feature the Tunnel … Continue reading

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September Review – Crich: No. 13 – Open Air through the Derbyshire countryside

Hopefully Santa has visited you all by now and you are enjoying your Christmas festivities and now as an added present we bring you our second set of photos of the day. This time we are back at Crich and … Continue reading

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 25 – The MER meets the SMR

Happy Christmas everyone! It may be Christmas Day but that doesn’t mean the updates stop! In the first of our return to September photographic series of the day we head to Laxey Station for some views of the Manx Electric … Continue reading

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