As we enter December it is time once again to launch the British Trams Online Tram of the Year contest – every year since 2003 we have run a vote to find the “Tram of the Year” with 2012 seeing “Event of the Year” and “Tramway of the Year” added and then in 2014 we added the final category “Tram (Modern) of the Year” with the original “Tram of the Year” category being reserved for traditional trams. Whilst 2022 seems to have been a bit of a holding pattern of anticipation of what is to come soon there have still been some notable events across the British Isles tram-wise and now its open to you to make your nominations for things to be included on the shortlist.
Nominations will be open for only a week this year with the deadline being Saturday 10th December and voting then opening on Sunday 11th December and remaining open for just four weeks. The nomination period is between the first weekend in December 2021 and the first weekend in December 2022, so get your brains thinking of what tram, tramway or event has done something which you think deserves a nomination and then make your nomination!
The four categories we are seeking nominations for are:
Tram (Traditional) of the Year
Last 3 winners: Manx Electric Railway 2, Stockport 5, Manx Electric Railway 54
In the original “award” category – the Traditional Tram of the Year – it has been another case that at the start of the year we thought there would be a large number to nominate but then it didn’t quite happen as we expected! Despite that there have still been some highlights in the past 12 months so if you can think of a tram deserving of a nomination please let us know giving reasons why just in case its not that obvious.
Tram (Modern) of the Year
Last 3 winners: Manchester Metrolink 1023, Manchester Metrolink 3073, Blackpool 001/Manchester Metrolink 3006
Is there anything which has caught your eye on our modern tramways during 2022 which deserves a mention? In the past nominees have received new adverts, started a new service or entered service for the first time – but what has been involved in that something special over 2021? It’s up to you!
Tramway of the Year
Last 3 winners: Crich Tramway Village, Seaton Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway
This category is for modern operating tramway/light rail systems and heritage tramways/museums and we’re looking for a system which has done something special or stood out from the crowd for another reason. What that may be is up to you – just get nominating!
Event of the Year
Last 3 winners: Winter Manx Heritage Transport Festival, Seaton Tramway: 50th Anniversary event, Manx Heritage Transport Festival
2022 has seen the return to normality for a lot of special events in the heritage tram sector but this category can also be used for any specific events on modern operating tramways – maybe the opening of a new line, improved service or anything else really!
Those are the categories, so how do you nominate? You can either leave a comment below, drop an email to gareth@britishtramsonline.co.uk or comment on our Facebook page.
If you want to know more about the contest please visit the dedicated Tram of the Year page at http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/tramofyear.html.
Winner of last year’s “Tram (Traditional) of the Year” was Manx Electric Railway 2. Its seen here on 1st August 2021 when paired with trailer 42 at Ballacallow. (Photograph by David Mee)
Traditional Tram:
Blackpool Baloon 715 – Happy retirement to the old faithful.
Tramway:
East Anglia Transport Museum for being the only heritage line with extension in progress and unexpected aquisition of 3 Blackpool cars.
Modern Tram:
The entrire Edinburgh fleet for being the only CAF (“C***** as F*******”) product in the UK not to have had a class-wide prohibition at any point in the last 12 months!
Event:
The Blackpool Jubilee Parade – A unique one-off occasion.
I would put 715 in for the tram of the year
My nominations would be as follows (no apologies for favouring one place in particular!):
Tram of the Year (Traditional): Blackpool Standard 159 – due to its swifly completed overhaul and operating for the 50th anniversary of the EATM as their first service tram, also the only Blackpool Standard car to carry passengers in 2022!
Honourable mentions to Blackpool Balloon 700 for its excellent wartime repaint (completed in 2021 but it didn’t enter service until after last year’s contest started) and steam tram ‘John Bull’ for its trip to Wales.
Tram of the Year (Modern): Blackpool Flexity2 011 – thanks to its very attractive new advert livery for Mazuma Mobile.
Tramway of the Year: East Anglia Transport Museum – 50th anniversary year, 3 new additions to the tram collection, a new tram depot and a larger running fleet of trams than has been seen for some time… what more needs to be said?
Event of the Year: East Anglia Transport Museum 50th Anniversary – a great way to mark a milestone achievement with an excellent vehicle turnout including all 3 trams in service being decorated and Lowestoft 14 displayed outside to show off progress on its restoration.
A large running fleet ? All three trams running ? This year 50th Anniversary Event event is the third they have held since 2016 .
My nomination for modern tram of the year goes to Blackpool & Fleetwood Flexity 2, 011 wearing its “mazuma” wrap. This has got to be the nicest wrap so far and suits the tram so well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q3UGoOpCcw
Event of the year, to me, has to go to the Blackpool Illuminated feature car parade that totally overwhelmed the council in the numbers that turned out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksqM0E7AyRE
Perhaps a special “one off” award this year to be shared between the only two contenders?…..
Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway for the North Pier to Blackpool North extension
and
West Midlands Metro for the Wolverhampton Railway Plaza extension
the award being “The slowest build of the shortest extension that may, eventually, open in 2023!!
Blackpool may, of course, have the edge as, at least, trams have been tested up the line though the overhead in Blackpool North Station Plaza has now been taken down!
Surely the extension is worth an award when it opens? Not for a few test runs. Award for the most protracted and longest ever interms of time/length of line maybe!
Tram of the Year (Traditional): Blackpool & Fleetwood Box Car 40. Reactivated and having benefited from some much needed TLC. it seems it is able to enjoy its “retirement” leading a quieter life at the NTM. Many lamented its departure from Blackpool (myself included) but given how things have transpired decision looks sensible.
Tramway of the Year: East Anglia Transport Museum. Seem to be moving forward on various fronts (extensions / additional depot / additional trams. impressed the way they gone about it as well.
I echo Mr Morton’s sentiments regarding the protracted “North Station / Talbot Gateway”” terminus. Its certainly has “put Blackpool on the map” as one promised.. just not for the right reasons…
My nomination for modern tram is 3147
The last of the M500 batch