This is your one stop guide to when and where you can ride on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. Another week and more excitement in the heritage tram world with the latest batch of heritage running in Blackpool including the use of Pantograph 167 back on its home tramway, on loan from Crich. Speaking of Crich there is another special event at the home of the National Tramway Museum with “Beside the Seaside” starting a nine day spectacular whilst there will be one final chance to ride on a Manchester Metrolink T68 (OK we’re stretching the heritage aspect this week!) and the Birkenhead Heritage Tramway will be open daily during Half Term.
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 2nd June 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 Monday 26 May.
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:
Saturday 24th-Monday 26th May with a 3 tram service on each day. A full preview of this can be found at http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/news/?p=7598.
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: Beside the Seaside – 24th May-1st June. A full preview of this event can be found at http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/news/?p=7498.
More info @ http://www.tramway.co.uk
Douglas Horse Tramway
Current Status: Daily operation until September.
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 Monday 26th May 1100-1700 (last admission 1600) and daily Tuesday 27th to Saturday 31st May 1300-1700 (last admission 1600).
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 May:
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)
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 May:
Daily from Saturday 24th May until Friday 11th July – Blue timetable. First tram Seaton at 1000 and then every 20 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 May:
Saturday 24th-Friday 30th May – Timetable D (half hourly departures between 1015 and 1545 – return from the Summit at 1110-1640)
Saturday 31st May-Friday 6th June- Timetable F (half hourly departures between 0945 and 1545 – return from the Summit at 1040-1640)
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 next batch of heritage operation in Blackpool takes place over the Bank Holiday weekend 24th-26th May and will see Blackpool Pantograph 167 featuring heavily across the three days. A tram which will be making a rare daylight appearance will be the Illuminated Western Train 733+734. Of course the carriage of this set is a former Pantograph car and so its appearance alongside 167 will be a welcome sight. Our photo on this page this week features the Western Train when it was used on trips during the Totally Transport event on 28th June 2009 (only 5 years ago but it seems a lot longer than that!). (Photo: Gareth Prior)