The British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2011 is Blackpool Marton VAMBAC 11 having beaten off competition from Stockport 5 and Manx Electric Railway 7 over the past month of voting. The 2010 contest may have been a surprise with Liverpool 762 taking the accolade but I think it would be fair to say that this year it has been anything but a surprise!
Although Stockport 5 put up a initial valiant effort to deny 11 the title it was never really in any doubt that the East Anglia Transport Museum’s stunning single deck streamlined tram was going to the “people’s choice” in 2011 with 55% of the total votes.
11 really did steal the show at one of the (if not the) tram events of the year – Power from the Past at Beamish in early September as it effortlessly made it way round the tramway circuit time after time over the four days. This was without doubt the hardest the tram has had to work since it was withdrawn from service in Blackpool in the early 1960s and it didn’t put a foot wrong throughout the event, clearly being the star of the show for many
who attended. The tram was such a star at Beamish that many tram enthusiasts found it very difficult to peel themselves away from 11 as it went round and round and round!
11 becomes the first tram from the East Anglia Transport Museum to become British Trams Online Tram of the Year but is the fifth Blackpool tram to win the accolade (following on from Frigate 736 (joint winner 2004), Brush 623 (2007), Balloon 717 (2008) and Western Train 733+734 (2009)).
Thanks to all who voted for the British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2011. Now I wonder which trams might be up for the tenth Tram of the Year award at the end of this year?!?!
Full results for British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2011 are:
Blackpool Marton VAMBAC 11 – 109 votes (55%)
Stockport 5 – 62 votes (31%)
Manx Electric Railway 7 – 28 votes (14%)