This is your one stop guide to when and where you can ride on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. The past couple of days have seen both the East Anglia Transport Museum and the Manx Electric Railway open for the first time in 2014 and they will joined by the Snaefell Mountain Railway on Friday 11th April. And that isn’t where first operations of the year will stop for this month as on Friday 18th April we have the first Heritage Service in Blackpool for 2014.
Beamish: The Living Museum of the North
Current Status: Open daily
Opening hours: 1000-1700 (last admission 1500)
Next special events: Edwardians at Play – Until 6th April
Great North Steam Fair – 10th-13th April
What trams are on site? http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/beamishfleet.html
Want to visit? Find out more information on how to get there and how much it costs can be found @ http://www.beamish.org.uk.
Birkenhead Heritage Tramway
Current Status: Operates every Saturday and Sunday
Operating hours: Services run from Taylor Street Museum at 1240, 1310, 1340, 1410, 1440, 1510, 1540, 1610, returning from Woodside Ferry at 1255, 1255, 1325, 1355, 1425, 1455, 1525, 1555, 1625.
Next special event: Easter Egg Hunt – 12th & 13th and 18th-21st April
What trams are on site? http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/birkenhead.html
Want to visit? Find out more information on how to get there and how much it costs can be found @ http://www.mtps.co.uk
Blackpool Tramway
Current Status: Heritage services return on Friday 18th April
The Heritage Services will run on the following dates in 2014:
Friday 18th, Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th April – English Electric at Easter (celebrating the 80th anniversary of the streamlined fleet with 4 service cars on each day. On Saturday 19th at 1430 there will be a naming ceremony at Pleasure Beach heritage stop by Daphne Luff, daughter of Walter Luff.)
Sunday 4th & Monday 5th May (3 car service)
Saturday 24th, Sunday 25th & Monday 26th May (3 car service)
Sunday 22nd June (3 car service)
Sunday 20th July (3 car service)
Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th & Monday 25th August (3 car service)
What trams are on site? http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/blackpoolfleet.html
Want to visit? Find out more information on how to get there and how much it costs can be found @ http://www.blackpooltransport.com/services/heritage-trams (there is also a Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/BlackpoolHeritageTramTours)
Crich Tramway Village
Current Status: Open Daily
Opening hours: 1000-1730 (last admission 1600). At least 3 trams should be in service each day (subject to availability)
Next special event: Easter 1940s Weekend – 20th & 21st April
What trams are on site? http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/crich.html
Want to visit? Find out more information on how to get there and how much it costs can be found @ http://www.tramway.co.uk
Douglas Horse Tramway
Current Status: Closed. Re-opens Monday 12th May 2014.
Operating hours: First tram departs Strathallan at 0900 and then every 20 minutes until 1720. Return journeys commence from the Sea Terminal at 0920 and then every 20 minutes until 1740.
What trams are on site? http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/douglas.html
Want to visit? Find out more information on how to get there and how much it costs can be found @ http://www.douglas.gov.im/index.php/leisure/horse-trams#.UzXDlGdOWM8
East Anglia Transport Museum
Current Status: Open (details of when see below).
Opening hours: Every Thursday 1300-1700 (last admission 1600) and every Sunday 1100-1700 (last admission 1600). Also Tuesday 8th, Wednesday 9th, Tuesday 15th, Wednesday 16th, Friday 18th & Saturday 19th April (1300-1700) and Monday 21st April (1100-1700).
Next special event: Suffolk Made & Operated – Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th May
What trams are on site? http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/eatm.html
Want to visit? Find out more information on how to get there and how much it costs can be found @ http://www.eatm.org.uk/index.html
Great Orme Tramway
Current Status: Operates daily
Operating hours: 1000-1700 (from April 1000-1800). Trams every 20 minutes
What trams are on site? http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/greatorme.html
Want to visit? Find out more information on how to get there and how much it costs can be found @ http://www.greatormetramway.co.uk/index.asp
Heaton Park Tramway
Current Status: Open every Sunday
Operating hours: 1200-1700 using at least one tram.
Next special event: 765 100 not out – Sunday 6th July
What trams are on site? http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/heaton.html.
Want to visit? Find out more information on how to get there and how much it costs can be found @ http://www.heatonparktramway.co.uk.
Manx Electric Railway
Current Status: Now in operation. See below for details of when.
The following services will be running during April:
Until Tuesday 8th, Friday 11th & Monday 28th-Wednesday 30th – Timetable B (7 departures daily between Derby Castle and Ramsey and return starting at 0940 from Derby Castle)
Saturday 12th-Saturday 19th, Monday 21st-Sunday 27th – Timetable C (9 departures between Derby Castle and Ramsey starting from Derby Castle at 0940 plus one morning Laxey-Derby Castle and evening return journey)
A special service will operate on Sunday 20th April in connection with “Rush Hour on the Railways”
Next special event: Rush Hour on the Railways – 18th-21st April
What trams are on site? http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/mer.html.
Want to visit? Find out more information on how to get there and how much it costs can be found @ http://www.gov.im/publictransport/Rail/Electric/
Seaton Tramway
Current Status: Daily running.
The following services will be running during April:
Until Friday 11th April & Monday 28th April-Friday 2nd May – Yellow timetable. First tram Seaton at 1000 and then every 30 minutes until 1600 with returns from Colyton starting at 1030 until the last departure of the day at 1630.
Saturday 12th-Sunday 29th April – Blue timetable. First tram Seaton at 1000 and then every 30 minutes until 1700 with returns from Colyton starting at 1030 until the last departure of the day at 1730.
What trams are on site? http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/seaton.html
Want to visit? Find out more information on how to get there and how much it costs can be found @ http://www.tram.co.uk
Snaefell Mountain Railway
Current Status: Re-opens Friday 11th April
The following services will be running during April:
Friday 11th & Monday 28th-Wednesday 30th – Timetable B (hourly departures between 1015 and 1545 – return from the Summit at 1110-1645)
Saturday 12th–Sunday 27th – Timetable C (every half hour between 1015 and 1545 – return from the Summit at 1110-1640)
Extra evening services will run on Friday 25th & Saturday 26th April for Pie in the Sky ticket holders
Next special event: Pie in the Sky – 25th & 26th April
What trams are on site? http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/smr.html
Want to visit? Find out more information on how to get there and how much it costs can be found @ http://www.gov.im/publictransport/Rail/Snaefell
Summerlee – The Museum of Scottish Industrial Life
Current Status: Open daily
Opening hours: 1000-1700. One tram is usually in service each day.
What trams are on site? http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/summerlee.html
Want to visit? Find out more information on how to get there and how much it costs (here’s a clue to this one – it doesn’t!) can be found @ http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15877
The information provided above is given in good faith and is correct to the best of our knowledge. If you know of any errors please contact us by using the comments section below or by emailing gareth@britishtramsonline.co.uk
The Manx Electric Railway has become the latest heritage operation to start for 2014 with the first services running on Friday 4th April. Indeed the first tram to carry passengers was 21 which is pictured here at Ramsey back on 15th August 2013. (Photo: Gareth Prior)