This is your one stop guide to when and where you can ride on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. Although the excitement of Easter’s special events is now a memory this week sees 10 of our heritage tramways offering services with the next running day in Blackpool only just over a week away…
Beamish: The Living Museum of the North
Current Status: Open daily
Opening hours: 1000-1700 (last admission 1500)
More info @ http://www.beamish.org.uk.
Birkenhead Heritage Tramway
Current Status: Operating daily until Sunday 27th April and then 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. A two tram service will run on Easter Sunday and Monday.
More info @ http://www.mtps.co.uk
Blackpool Tramway
Current Status: Operates Bank Holiday weekends and selected other dates until end of August.
Next service:
Sunday 4th & Monday 5th May with a 3 tram service on each day.
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: The Best of Sheffield – 17th-23rd May
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 open Bank Holiday Mondays 5th & 26th May 1100-1700 (last admission 1600), Saturday 10th May for the Suffolk Made & Operated event and daily Tuesday 27th to Saturday 31st May 1300-1700 (last admission 1600).
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: 765 100 Not Out – Sunday 6th July
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/May:
Monday 28th April-Friday 2nd May & Tuesday 6th-Friday 23rd May – Timetable B (7 departures daily between Derby Castle and Ramsey and return starting at 0940 from Derby Castle)
Until Sunday 27th April, Saturday 3rd, Sunday 4th & Monday 5th May – 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)
Saturday 24th-Friday 30th May – Timetable D (14 departures from Derby Castle between 0940 and 1640, 5 of which only run as far as Laxey)
Saturday 31st May-Friday 6th June – Timetable F (15 departures from Derby Castle between 0910 and 1740, all but the 0910 and 1410 run all the way to Ramsey)
Fridays 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd May see additional evening services.
Next special event: Manx Heritage Transport Festival 2014 – 30th July-3rd August
More info @ http://www.gov.im/publictransport/Rail/Electric/
Seaton Tramway
Current Status: Daily running.
The following services will be running during April/May:
Monday 28th April-Friday 2nd May Tuesday 6th-Friday 9th May and then Mondays-Fridays until Friday 23rd 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.
Until Sunday 29th April, Saturday 3rd-Monday 5th May, Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th May, Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th May and then daily from Saturday 24th May until Friday 11th July – 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: Open
The following services will be running during April/May:
Monday 28th-Friday 2nd May, Tuesday 6th May-Friday 23rd May – Timetable B (hourly departures between 1015 and 1545 – return from the Summit at 1110-1645)
Until Sunday 27th, Saturday 3rd-Monday 5th May – 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 and then Fridays 2nd-23rd May for summit diners
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 Snaefell Mountain Railway is now operating daily between Laxey and the Summit. This weeks photo shows 5 and 4 at the "old" Laxey on 16th August 2013.