Southern England’s only operational heritage tramway, the Seaton Tramway, have become the latest organisation to reveal their event plans for 2015. As well as the regular Bird Watching Trips, Dinosaur Tram and the evening events at the Tramstop Restaurant this year will also see a new Branch Line Tour take place once a month between February and September looking at the history of the line.
The 2015 season will commence on Saturday 14th February and will run daily until Sunday 22nd February before the line drops into an early season operating pattern of every Saturday and Sunday up until the end of March. Daily running then starts and will continue all the way until the start of November. Once again there will be three timetables of operation with the Yellow timetable (half hourly services between1000 and 1600) running early and late season, the Blue timetable (every 20 minutes between 1000 and 1700) which will operate during early season school holidays and weekends and then daily in June, July and September and the Pink timetable (which according to the Seaton website seems to be identical to the Blue timetable!) during the school summer holidays.
The Seaton Tramway fleet is not expected to see any changes in 2015 with the three new trams – 9, 10 and 11 (we say new but in reality they were built 13 years ago now!) likely to cover the most mileage during the year. There are also the three enclosed trams (14, 16 and 19) which will see use at times of inclement weather and the remainder of the fleet (2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 17) will also be used on a regular basis with the best chance to catch these trams during busy periods and/or when there is a Bird Watching Trip.
On the special event front, this year will see the introduction of a new regular event: Explore Seaton Branch Line Tour. As you will be aware the bulk of the Seaton Tramway follows the trackbed of the old Southern Railway line and this three hour tour will give the history behind the line with some fascinating stories. Departing Seaton at 1000 the tour will cost £17.50 per person which includes an All Day Explorer Ticket (so once the tour is back at Seaton terminus at 1300 you are able to travel on service trams for the rest of the day), tea/coffee and a cake as well as a memorabilia pack of nostalgic postcards. This tour will run once a month between February and September with the first chance to take it on Saturday 21st February (all dates will be added to our Events Diary shortly).
Other events to look out for in 2015 include a 24 hour charity Tramathon on Wednesday 27th May with non-stop tram action for a full day, Sunday 7th June sees the 19th annual Classic Car Show when an intensive service is expected to run on the Tramway and Friday 31st July will be Pirate Day when once again the Seaton Pearl (tram no. 4) will be in action. There will also be Driver’s Eye Experience tasters available on selected dates, regular Bird Watching Trips and for the kids the Dinosaur Tram specials will be returning throughout the year. On top of that there are several evening events at the Tramstop Restaurant at Colyton.
Looking further ahead there will be the Halloween Tram of Terror and the Electric Shock O Horror Zombie Fest at the end of October. In December rather than just standard Santa Specials, Seaton will be offering The Polar Express Tram Ride which as well as giving the kids a chance to meet Santa himself will see allow you to listen to and sing along with all the songs from the hit movie.
All in all it looks like being another busy year at the Seaton Tramway!
* Seaton Tramway have redesigned their website in time for the start of the 2015 season with a much improved look now available. The website can be found at http://www.tram.co.uk.
the Explore Seaton branch line tour looks to be extremely good value for money especially considering the day rover ticket on its own was £10 in 2014 (and that was good value). Must try one of those. I remember when I had my driver experience day last year my Instructor pointed out 2 signal posts which are still in position from railway days and are located where the trackbed was washed away. He remarked that although the traction poles ended up at all sorts of angles after the washout, the 2 old signal posts remained completely undisturbed! A bit like the famous much-photographed postbox after the Manchester bomb. I’m sure these tours will be full of interest.