This is your one stop guide to when and where you can ride on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. The Snaefell Mountain Railway will become the latest place to start operations for 2014 when its first passengers are carried on Friday 11th April and then on Friday 18th April the first Heritage Services in Blackpool will run for the year.
Beamish: The Living Museum of the North
Current Status: Open daily
Opening hours: 1000-1700 (last admission 1500)
Next special event: Great North Steam Fair – Until 13th April
More info @ http://www.beamish.org.uk.
Birkenhead Heritage Tramway
Current Status: Operates every Saturday and Sunday
Operating hours: Services run from Taylor Street Museum at 1300 and then every half hour until 1630, returning from Woodside Ferry at 1315 until the last possible return at 1615.
Next special event: Easter Egg Hunt – 12th & 13th and 18th-21st April
More info @ http://www.mtps.co.uk
Blackpool Tramway
Current Status: Heritage services return on Friday 18th April
Next service:
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. There will also be tram-line ups on each day between 1300 and 1500 on Blundell Street (Friday 18th: Balloons 707, 709, 718 and 724. Saturday 19th: Balloons 700, 713, 719 and 720. Sunday 20th: Balloons 701, 706, 715 and 723.)
More info @ http://www.blackpooltransport.com/services/heritage-trams.
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
More info @ 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.
More info @ 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 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
More info @ 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
More info @ http://www.greatormetramway.co.uk/index.asp
Heaton Park Tramway
Current Status: Open every Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays.
Operating hours: 1200-1700 using at least one tram.
Next special event: Blackpool Running Day – Monday 21st April (a special bus link will run from Blackpool and Blackpool trams 623 and 619 – which will be rededicated as such by Bryan Lindop will be in service with Railgrinder 752 offering Tram Driving Experience trips)
More info @ 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:
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
More info @ 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.
More info @ 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
More info @ 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.
More info @ 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 Great North Steam Fair at Beamish Museum is expected to offer one of the last opportunities to sample the delights of Blackpool 'Pantograph' car 167 at this location, before the tram continues its year of travelling and heads to Blackpool. The tram is pictured in the Town at Beamish on 1st March. (Photo: Andrew Waddington)