Monthly Archives: December 2018

September Review – Isle of Man: No. 15 – Another look at some of the MER trailers

Posted on Saturday 15 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

For the second time in this series we concentrate on the trailers performing a valuable service to MER.

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A busy time in Rigby Road workshops

Posted on Friday 14 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

We reported earlier this week about how Coronation 304 was out on test but that is not all that has been happening in the Rigby Road workshops with the main focus of attention now being Standard 143 – another tram … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

In Pictures: Glasgow 812 sees the daylight at Crich

Posted on Friday 14 December 2018 by Andrew Waddington

Glasgow 812 may have been a popular member of the Crich Tramway Village operational fleet for many years, but for some time now the enclosed Glasgow ‘Standard’ car has been out of service, awaiting its turn in the workshops for … Continue reading →

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New Supertram DVD out now!

Posted on Friday 14 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

In case you haven’t completed your Christmas shopping for that tram enthusiast in your life just yet another new DVD is out now, this time (mainly) on the Stagecoach Supertram system in Sheffield. The latest offering from Bob Hodges Transport … Continue reading →

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September Review – Blackpool: No. 7 – Brush Railcoach 621

Posted on Friday 14 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

The September 2018 event was the second successive event that Brush 621 featured at, with this tram having been restored to service in time for the 2017 version. The original Brush Car remained popular this year with passengers clambering to … Continue reading →

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 14 – Solo Motors

Posted on Friday 14 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

The normal many have of the Manx Electric Railway is of motor and trailer working together but it is also a fairly common occurrence during quieter periods for motors to run solo which also have the major advantage of speeding … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: And the batteries keep on coming

Posted on Thursday 13 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

No sooner had 35 become the latest West Midlands Metro Urbos 3 to enter service with batteries than attention has turned towards the seventh of the 21 strong class. This time the tram chosen is the other named tram – … Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Free trams back for Hogmanay in Edinburgh

Posted on Thursday 13 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Once again – for the third year in succession – all night free trams will run in Edinburgh to help move the crowds during the Hogmanay celebrations. The trams will in the early hours of the new year between midnight … Continue reading →

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September Review – Crich: No. 7 – Leeds Trams

Posted on Thursday 13 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

The current operational fleet at Crich consists of three trams which plied their trade in West Yorkshire on Leeds Corporation Tramways. These are 180, 345 and 399 and they all feature in today’s look back at Simply Trams.

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 13 – Wagons in service

Posted on Thursday 13 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Throughout its earlier history the MER was not just concerned with the transportation of passengers but also goods and mail. To this end a number of wagons and vans were built for use and over the past few years several … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Blackpool Prom tramway meets Talbot Road tracks!

Posted on Wednesday 12 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

As we briefly mentioned in our story yesterday about the testing of Coronation 304 the Blackpool Tramway is currently seeing single line working between North Pier and Cabin to allow the Blackpool North Station extension to be joined up to … Continue reading →

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Former Aberdeen tram grounded – what future does it have?

Posted on Wednesday 12 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

We have previously featured the former Aberdeen Suburban Tramways no. 11 – which has been converted to a carriage for use on the Alford Valley Railway – on these pages but the ex-tram has been grounded since earlier this year … Continue reading →

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September Review – Blackpool: No. 6 – Balloon 701

Posted on Wednesday 12 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

The oldest of the Balloon Cars to be an official member of the heritage tram fleet (700 doesn’t count as it is a B fleet Balloon which just happens to be more or less solely used as a heritage tram!) … Continue reading →

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 12 – The Oldest Tram in the World

Posted on Wednesday 12 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

There aren’t many trams in the British Isles which can lay claim to having an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records but the original MER motors can do so. They are officially the oldest trams in the world … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: 35 returns to service with batteries

Posted on Tuesday 11 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Tuesday 11th December also saw another tram return to action, this time it was West Midlands Metro 35 which ran in passenger service for the first time since it had batteries fitted. This is the sixth battery fitted tram to … Continue reading →

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A Coronation on the Prom

Posted on Tuesday 11 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Anyone in Blackpool on Tuesday 11th December may be forgiven for thinking they were seeing things as for the first time in over two years a Coronation Car was seen on the Prom with 304 the lucky tram as its … Continue reading →

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September Review – Crich: No. 6 – Blackpool & Fleetwood Rack 2

Posted on Tuesday 11 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

An unexpected tram in use during Simply Trams was Blackpool & Fleetwood Rack 2 with the tram having previously been withdrawn from service requiring a space in the workshop. But with the tram itself being 120 years old – and … Continue reading →

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 11 – Ratchet 14 is back!

Posted on Tuesday 11 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Undoubtedly one of the highlights of the MER 125 events was the return to action of Ratchet Car 14 following the completion of its restoration. Having last run in passenger service in 1978 (and works use two years later), the … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Latest images from Pinfold Street, Birmingham

Posted on Monday 10 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

With work continuing on extension construction work on three different systems – Blackpool, Manchester and West Midlands Metro – we take a look at recent progress at the Birmingham end of West Midlands Metro where there has been a concentration … Continue reading →

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September Review – Blackpool: No. 5 – Illuminated Trams

Posted on Monday 10 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool’s Illuminated trams have always turned heads when they come into their own during the annual Illumination season from September until November each year. The operational Illuminated tram fleet currently consists of three trams – Western Train, Frigate and Trawler … Continue reading →

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