It’s that time of the week again (well it’s a day later anyway as I seemed to forget to do it yesterday!) as we round-up just when and where you can ride on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. The end of the 2014 season is now rapidly approaching but that doesn’t mean all the fun has finished just yet! In Blackpool up to five trams a night will be used on the Illumination Tours between 27th October and 2nd November whilst the same week will see the Starlight Specials at Crich with Seaton also getting into the Halloween action. And then as November arrives there will be the Winter Photography event on the Manx Electric Railway.
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: 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.
More info @ http://www.mtps.co.uk
Blackpool Tramway
Current Status: Operates nightly during the Illuminations until Sunday 9th November
Operating Hours: Tours start shortly after the Illuminations are switched on nightly (details of times can be found at http://www.blackpooltransport.com/services/illuminations). It is planned up to 5 trams will be used nightly during the October half term week (25th October-2nd November).
More info @ 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: Saturday 25th October to Sunday 2nd November – Starlight Specials
More info @ http://www.tramway.co.uk
Great Orme Tramway
Current Status: Operates daily
Operating hours: 1000-1700 until late October. 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.
More info @ http://www.heatonparktramway.co.uk
Manx Electric Railway
Current Status: Operating daily. See below for details of when.
The following services will run over the next few weeks:
Timetable A (4 return trips per day) is in operation on Tuesdays-Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays until Thursday 23rd October.
Then from Saturday 25th October to Sunday 2nd November Timetable B (7 return trip daily) will be in operation.
Next special event: Winter Photography on the MER – 1st November
More info @ http://www.gov.im/publictransport/Rail/Electric/
Seaton Tramway
Current Status: Daily running.
The Yellow timetable is in operation until Sunday 2nd November with the first tram from Seaton at 1000 and then every 30 minutes until 1600 with returns from Colyton between 1030 and 1630.
More info @ http://www.tram.co.uk
Snaefell Mountain Railway
Current Status: Operating Daily.
The following services will run over the next few weeks:
Timetable A (services roughly every hour 1015-1545) is in operation on Tuesdays-Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from until Thursday 23rd October.
Then from Saturday 25th October to Sunday 2nd November Timetable B (services roughly hourly between 1015 and 1545) is in operation.
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
With Blackpool's Illumination Tours about to reach their busiest week of the year we feature Western Train 733+734 on Pleasure Beach back on 28th September 2014. (Photo: Gareth Prior)