So here we are again at the end of another year (although it really doesn’t seem like 12 months ago since we were saying the same thing!) and as is traditional we start to look back at what has happened in 2014 but also to look forward to 2015. We won’t be having a full and comprehensive review of the year this year but what follows are some memories of the year from your Editor (and I have probably forgotten some major events so if you favourite isn’t included sorry!)
On the light rail front this year we have had to hello and goodbye in equal measure. Edinburgh Trams has joined the UK light rail family with the opening of the line between the Airport and the city centre finally taking place in at the end of May whilst Manchester Metrolink has continued to expand throughout the year. We have had the Oldham Town Centre, Rochdale Town Centre and Airport extensions open and let us not forget the opening of the new line through Deansgate-Castlefield in the last few days.
2014 has also been a year of new LRVs entering service. Of course Manchester Metrolink has continued to introduce new M5000s into service but we have also seen the first Nottingham Express Transit Alstom Citadis and Midland Metro Urbos 3 vehicles carry passengers. As we approach 2015 more of these vehicles will enter service but on Midland Metro this will lead to us having to say goodbye to the T69s. Only 50% of the original T69 fleet now remains operational and it is expected it won’t be too long before the last of these are taken out of use bringing to the end another LRV fleet in the UK. 12 months ago we were preparing to say goodbye to Manchester Metrolink’s T68 and T68A fleet and that is indeed what happened during the early part of the year with the final chance to ride on one of these vehicles on their home system taking place in May with a special charity farewell tour. But during that tour there was some good news with the official handing over of 1007 to the Heaton Park Tramway where it will become the first UK LRV to be preserved.
It hasn’t all been good news for our light rail systems though. By now we should have been enjoying the Phase Two extensions of Nottingham Express Transit (scheduled for a 14th December opening) but delays in the construction have meant this was delayed with no official date now on the table. Elsewhere there have been delays on the track relay on Midland Metro whilst on London Tramlink we still have to wait to see whether we will ever get any extensions – although it might be a case of wait and see who the next Mayor is.
And what about the UK’s traditional tramways this year? It has been another good year with both Crich and Blackpool dominating the biggest news stories throughout the year (which of course means we have a bias (just to let you know we don’t!) – we don’t make the news we just report it!) September saw the Electric 50 event at Crich which had 25 different passenger trams in action over the weekend including three loanees (although strictly speaking Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40 wasn’t really on loan as it belongs to the TMS!) and the entry into service for Blackpool Jubilee 762. The sight of the 25 (or 27 on the Sunday) tram cavalcade was certainly something which will linger long in the memory. Although most of the year at the home of the National Tramway Museum was geared towards that event it wasn’t the only event of note with the Best of Sheffield event in May seeing the return to service after overhaul of Sheffield 510 and then in October there was the chance to say goodbye to Box 40 and Blackpool Balloon 711 ahead of their return to the northwest and also a last chance to ride of Blackpool & Fleetwood Rack 2 which was withdrawn for overhaul.
Probably the highlight in Blackpool was the loan of Pantograph 167 from Crich which saw extensive use between May and August and proved to be a very popular temporary addition to the heritage fleet. Of course 167 was in the news a lot as it equalled the record of running on three tramways during the year having spent the early months at Beamish. Back to Blackpool and the year also saw the return to service of Coronation 304 and also the repaint of Balloon 701 into the Routemaster Red and White livery it previously carried in the 1990s.
But probably the biggest news story of the year came from across the Atlantic Ocean in the form of Burton & Ashby 14. This tram had been sold to Detroit over 30 years ago and towards the end of the year came up for auction with the real fear being that it may be lost forever. But a group of enthusiasts got together and bid for the tram at the auction securing its future, which will eventually see 14 return to the UK. Just goes to show that if you want something bad enough you can achieve it!
The year did see a few disappointments including the controversy of Leeds 602 and the rejection of plans to restore the tram at Crich, the delay to the launch of Liverpool 245 at Birkenhead and several other protracted overhauls across the country. Despite these setbacks it doesn’t take away from the fact that 2014 hasn’t been a bad year at all for our heritage tramways.
What will 2015 bring us? At this stage we don’t know a huge amount of any plans but what we do know is that in September Crich will celebrating the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Tramway Museum Society with another two day spectacular whilst in June London County Council 106 will return to service at another special event. Meanwhile the year should hopefully bring us the opening of the Phase Two extensions in Nottingham whilst more new LRVs can expect to carry their first passengers although that will be tinged by sadness as the T69s will run their last on Midland Metro. Apart from that it is probably a case of expect the unexpected as I would imagine that most of the highlights of 2014 we didn’t have a clue about at this stage last year!
And what of British Trams Online? Well you don’t have to be an expert to realise that 2014 has been a bit of a struggle for us to keep up-to-date with all the latest goings on (sometimes I look back with envy to the early days of the website when it took me a couple of hours on a Sunday to do the complete update!) This has been for a variety of reasons and we have had to apologise time and time again for the delays in uploading material so I apologise for apologising so much! Unfortunately delays are inevitable when the site is done in our spare time (which sometimes doesn’t seem to be very long) but hopefully in 2015 these delays will be a bit less than this year. And then there have been the problems of the comments section of the news page. It seems at times that the section has been hijacked by people who have a certain agenda and we have had to wield the moderators finger to delete some comments from appearing. It’s not something we have ever done lightly but it does appear some people are like a dog with a bone on some subjects and to be honest it just gets boring reading the same thing over and over again! Everyone is entitled to their opinion (and we do let opinions different from ours appear as believe me if we only included comments I personally agreed with there would hardly be any approved!) but please think before posting and try and add something else to a discussion. Rant over!
During the early part of 2015 we will be having a review of the website ahead of a major (and probably the most radical) redesign. Our early thoughts on the review is that we will attempt to concentrate on what we do best and reduce the number of sections we have but we will be asking you our readers as to what you like to read and see before making final decisions.
A little bit of housekeeping to finish with. There will be one more main site update of British Trams Online this year which will follow over the next few days (it all depends when I finish it!). This will include four or five more Photo Galleries with images from the DLR, Crich, Midland Metro, Manchester Metrolink and Blackpool. We will then practically be closed from Christmas Eve until New Years Eve (and possibly beyond) unless some ground breaking news is released during this time. This will not only mean no updates but we will also be switching off the ability to comment on any articles (this will be done early on Christmas Eve so if you really want to get something off your chest you have a couple of days still!). We will also not be responding to any emails during this period (some of you may say no change there then!)
It just leaves me to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. A huge thank you to everyone for their support during 2014 whether you have contributed news and photos, read all the articles, looked at all the photos or even just popped in now and again. Without are contributors British Trams Online would not be the website it has grown into and without our readers there really wouldn’t be a lot of point to doing it!
One you have missed is that of Sheffield 264 which is expected to be launched at Beamish after its overhaul sometime in 2015.
Festive greetings to all at BTO. Many thanks, Gareth and Andrew, for al your work in aking the site so interesting and enjoyable. Much appreciated. DM
Many thanks for all your hard work again this year. This is a fantastic resource for all tram enthusiasts and probably my ‘most viewed’ online site. Best seasonal wishes and please continue in 2015!
Many thanks for a very informative 2014 and best wishes to BTO , the first new vehicle for Supertram is due in September 2015 .
Is there a problem with the Advent calendars, no update since Wednesday?
The only problem has been someone forgot to upload them! They should all be there now.
Many thanks to Gareth and Andrew for all the hard work you have put into the site this last year and all the interesting articles and galleries. Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year to you both, and likewise to all the readers and contributors, regardless of whether I agree with everything you say or not! Looking forward to more interesting reading in 2015.
I too endorse David Mee’s comments above. One request ……don’t make site changes too radical as the site is basically fine as it is !
Happy New Year.
Thank you very much for all your hard work in maintaining one of the best sites on the web – no need for apologies, in my view!
Nollick ghennal erriu nyn yees, Gareth as Andrew, as blein vie noa. (Manx Gaelic for “Merry Christmas to you both, Gareth and Andrew, and a good new year.)
Gareth – you have done a remarkable job bringing BTO to a wide audience and as you say it has been an increasing struggle to keep abreast of the diversity of tramway related news both modern and historic.
I certainly applaud your decision to relinquish the comments adjunct which I am sure has been a cause of continuing angst. There is value in hearing constructive and independent views especially when they refer to original material or ‘finds’. But this is outweighed by the repetitive and mostly inconsequential input from ‘frequent fliers’. They now have a more receptive online soapbox to peddle comments.
We welcome one final correction year end correction to the FHLT fleet list detail – but if you are intending to review this segment of the site in the
planned revamp then it can wait. Looking forward to the new look BTO site in due course. Our own website is also due a revamp and will be offline from the end of the month – but we are not going away and will no doubt feature in BTO in 2015. Enjoy your holiday and a rest from this
‘hobby’.
John Woodman
From my side, also many thanks for such a great site bringing the news as and when it happens. The amount of work your team put in is greaty appreciated. Enjoy the festive period, and take a well earned rest!
Hopefully 2015 will be the year to break the dominance of the news by Blackpool and Crich…
If all goes to plan we will see 245 finally enter service at Birkenhead; 2 cars returning to service at Heaton Park; at least 1 and possibly 2 cars returning to service at Beamish, and maybe a visitor or two; at least one new extension opening; and just maybe a reprieve for one or two cars currently under threat?
There’s a lot to look forward to. Next year’s Tram of the Year nominations could be the most varied yet!
Merry Christmas Gareth and Andrew!
Paul
very many thanks for a super site which must include so much hard work by you both, a task which not many would like to undertake I am sure. I wish you and your families a happy christmas and best wishes for the new year
Merry Christmas to you both and to all other contributors and readers of this site. May the New Year bring us all peace, prosperity, happiness and, most of all plenty of tram and light rail activity for us all to enjoy. To Andrew and Gareth, you do a fantastic job on this project. Sincere thanks and may it continue into 2015 and beyond.
Don’t forget the first of SYPTE’s Vossloh Citylink LRVs will be delivered to Stagecoach Supertram in September 2015!
Thanks for all the news over the year and have a good Christmas regards Bill
Thank you very much for all your hard work in keeping this web-site updated.
It is only in this past year that I have started taking an interest in trams & light rail, mainly thanks to your site.
Best wishes for Christmas & the New Year
Must admit looking back it has been a very busy year full of ups and downs. I agree that at times the comments section has got stormy but this has in fact proved what a good job Andy and Gareth have done and to me BTO is THE tramway page to read, long may you keep it up. Seasons greetings to you and the readers.
Happy new year all.
Can we enter 2015 without the malice, sniping and petty attacks on people and organisations and please keep it that way. It doesn’t do anyone any favours in the long run and is just complete pettiness.
Merry Christmas to you both and congratulations on maintaining the flow of news. I only found this site earlier this year and like others I have found it to be most helpful in keeping up to date not only with heritage happenings but also the development of the present generation systems. One “little” hope – perhaps LUAS could be included in future. After all Dublin is in the British Isles!!
All your hard work in putting this informative site together is greatly appreciated, you do a great job. Merry Christmas and a happy 2015
This site is head and shoulders the best for ongoing information in the tramway world, and I thank its managers for that – however, I suspect that because I do not roll over and accept the conventional wisdom of those who think they know best, that I am regarded as one of those with a hobby horse to ride. I will also put my cards clearly on the table. I am a heritage enthusiast with merely a passing interest in the modern scene.
Tramways do not deserve to succeed, merely because they exist. They have to take their place in the world of today, and stand or fall on their own merits, and that does not, in my view, include having any playing field tilted their way to the detriment of the 98.5% of the population who never use a tram.
So – sorry – but I’m not changing my outlook or approach. The right answer is only found by deep analysis of the facts of any matter, and that is not provided by “I am telling you, so why don’t you accept it? which seems to be so dear to the transport consultants of today” It’s found by openly, and robustly, debating the issues and discarding the arguments that are unsustainable. The wrong answer is always the wrong answer until it is proven, and not preached, to be right.
I don’t really see Blackpool or Beamish or Heaton Park falling away from the most written about topics next year. The locations with the most active and talented management will always rise to the top, and it will take quite an act to overshadow Bob, or Bryan or Paul
The site of most concern – The Black Country Museum – will its 3′ 6″ gauge run again?
The site likely to achieve the best comparative progress – NEET???
Returnees – will we ever manage to repatriate some of the other historic cars presently overseas? Who would have thought the Burton car would make it? Can we have some more please? The Embarcadero is a great place to sample cars of the world, and there’s some great beer – but the UK is where some cars definitely need to return to.
2015 should be quite interesting – awra best – Let’s have a good one.
Gareth and Andrew
Well done for a fantastic coverage of 2014 and no doubt even more coming in 2015. What you do is greatly appreciated especially your news on the second generation systems. I just hope that all of the exciting developments due in 2015 are not too overwhelming. Have a good break.
Just to say thanks for all your hard work during 2014 and for the wealth of information available through your excellent listings and web pages.
Best wishes to you for the festive season and continued success with the web site for what I am sure will be a very busy 2015.
Looking forward t another fun packed year but in the meantime have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR.;-)