Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 36 – which returned to service on the very last day of the 2017 season after a major overhaul – has been voted the Tram of the Year (Traditional) for 2017 after six weeks of public voting. Meanwhile the other categories have seen victories for Stagecoach Supertram 399 202 in the Tram of the Year (Modern) category with the Statfold Barn Railway winning both Tramway of the Year and Event of the Year.
The victory of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 36 in the original and main category is the first time that a tram from the Isle of Man has been voted to the accolade. It may have only run briefly on the last day of the operating season but the high quality restoration work – mainly taking place at the Manx Electric Railway’s Derby Castle workshops – was obviously popular with those of you who voted this year. There is little doubt that the condition of 36 is as good as it has been for a long time and with more trams currently being restored around the island this will be the best the fleet has been for a while.
36 was just over 37% of the vote beating Burton & Ashby 14 into second place (25%). The entry into service of 14 was one of the highlights of the year with the tram having only returned from Detroit and being restored to operational condition at the end of 2015. Next was Blackpool Brush 621 – following its overhaul and return to service in September – followed by Bournemouth 85 – which had joined the national collection at Crich. The list was completed by the second Blackpool Brush shortlisted, 623, and finally Seaton 15.
The domination of Manchester Metrolink in the Tram of the Year (Modern) category was ended with the first of the tram-trains to enter service for Stagecoach Supertram, 399 202, gaining just over 54% of the total vote. Manchester Metrolink 3064 received the remainder of the votes.
Although Burton & Ashby 14 was denied in the Tram of the Year category the Statfold Barn Railway wasn’t to be denied in either of the other two categories it was nominated in walking away with Tramway of the Year (44%) and Event of the Year (36%). In Tramway of the Year the fact that it became the first new heritage tramway in the UK for many years was enough to see off the challenge of Manchester Metrolink (35%) and Edinburgh Trams (19%).
Meanwhile the first day of Burton & Ashby 14 in service at Statfold Barn was voted in as Event of the Year with 36% of you deeming this as the best event during 2017. The annual Anniversary Spectacular in Blackpool came in second with 26% of votes followed by another regular event, Tram Day at Crich (21%) and finally Totally Models in Blackpool received 16% of the votes.
And so that is it for another year. Congratulations to all the winners and commiserations to those who didn’t quite get enough votes. Tram of the Year will return at the end of this year so don’t forget to keep your eyes out for anything which should be nominated for the 2018 contest!
Full Results
Tram (Traditional of the Year)
1. Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 36 – 169 votes (37.39%)
2. Burton & Ashby 14 – 116 votes (25.66%)
3. Blackpool Brush 621 – 72 votes (15.93%)
4. Bournemouth 85 – 46 votes (10.18%)
5. Blackpool Brush 623 – 39 votes (8.63%)
6. Seaton 15 – 10 votes (2.21%)
32 votes rejected due to multiple votes (caused no change to ranking)
Tram (Modern) of the Year
1. Stagecoach Supertram 399 202 – 180 votes (54.38%)
2. Manchester Metrolink 3064 – 151 votes (45.62%)
22 votes rejected due to multiple votes (caused no change to ranking)
Tramway of the Year
1. Statfold Barn Railway – 165 votes (44.24%)
2. Manchester Metrolink – 134 votes (35.92%)
3. Edinburgh Trams – 74 votes (19.84%)
27 votes rejected due to multiple votes (caused no change to ranking)
Event of the Year
1. Statfold Barn Railway: Burton & Ashby 14 1st day in service – 138 votes (36.03%)
2. Blackpool Tramway: Anniversary Spectacular – 100 votes (26.11%)
3. Crich Tramway Village: Tram Day – 83 votes (21.67%)
4. Blackpool Tramway: Totally Models – 62 votes (16.19%)
26 votes rejected due to multiple votes (caused no change to ranking)
Your Tram of the Year for 2017 is Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 36 following its return to service after overhaul. It is seen here on 5th November at Derby Castle waiting to enter service for the end of season parade. (Photograph by Friends of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway)
Stagecoach Supertram 399 202 has been voted as Tram (Modern) of the Year for 2017 as it became the very first Citylink Tram-Train to enter service on the conventional Supertram network. We see it during its special charity tour on 17th September 2017. (Photograph by Graham Smith)
The Statfold Barn Railway won two of the categories: Tramway of the Year and Event of the Year. On the occasion of the first public runs of the new tram line at the railway – which helped it to win both categories – we see Burton & Ashby 14 (which itself was second in the Tram of the Year category) along with steam locomotive Fiji on 25th March 2017. (Photograph by Kevin James)
Congratulations to all. Worthy winners. But may I ask a controversial question which I have seen asked elsewhere. Should a group have been nominated for an event which isn’t open to everyone? Should it be a public event for nomination?
Its not that exclusive – plenty of people do go – and I’d say the fact that readers voted for it indicates that many of them didn’t have a problem with it winning. I suspect the Statfold Barn wins were also helped by the fact that Burton & Ashby 14 was arguably the only really exciting “new” tram to debut at an event last year. Normally Blackpool, and to a lesser extent Crich, dominate the voting but this year was different!
Sorry but I have to disagree. Send us a tenner and you might be lucky enough to visit is not open to all in my book.
I have been twice and like all other preservation sites I expect to pay to get in. It is well worth the price especially When you consider the other attractions. Under Kevin’s rules the Blackpool trams should not be entered because you have to pay to ride.
David, that isn’t what I said at all. Please do me the courtesy of actually reading my comments not interpreting them in some fantasy world. On the website it says send the money with application, it does not say that you are guaranteed to be accepted therefore there is no guarantee you will get in. No one objects to paying to get in if you know you will be guaranteed a place! My initial comment was that anyone in the world can attend events in Blackpool, crich etc but not Statfold. All I asked was is it fair that such invite only events be classed in the same category as open public events? I know you have to pay to get into Crich but anyone can go, its not limited.