BALLOON 715 ENTERS PRESERVATION…& YOU CAN OWN A SHARE!
Lancastrian Transport Trust – Sunday 24th January 2010
Blackpool Balloon 715 has become the latest tram to enter the Lancastrian Transport Trust’s collection, but this time with a twist. The LTT are offering enthusiasts the chance to own a share in the tram with half shares going for £250 and full shares at £500.
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THREE LOAN TRAMS FOR HEATON PARK IN 2010
Heaton Park Tramway – Sunday 24th January 2010
The Heaton Park Tramway have announced their plans for 2010 and along with a 30th Birthday celebration on 28th March and a Blackpool Day on 21st November (see separate story) they have revealed that three trams will be on loan at some point during the year – including one tram for one day only!
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TRAMLINK WORKS CAR 058 ARRIVES AT CRICH
Crich Tramway Village – Sunday 24th January 2010
Tramlink Works Car 058 arrived at the Crich Tramway Village on Tuesday 19th January. The vehicle is a rail mounted crane and was deemed surplus to requirements by Tramlink. It has been repainted in its original red Tramlink livery and was delivered by Scott’s. Photos of the vehicles arrival at Crich can be seen on the official Crich blog and also Richard Lomas’ unofficial one.
Source: Crich Tramway Village News Blog
WESTERN TRAIN WINS TRAM OF THE YEAR 2009!
Tram of the Year – Sunday 24th January 2010
Blackpool Western Train 733+734 is the runaway winner of the British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2009 beating off the challenge of Manchester Metrolink 3001 and Cardiff 131. The Western Train becomes the fourth Blackpool tram, and the second Illuminated one, to win the accolade since the contest’s launch in 2003.
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STARR GATE DEPOT GIVEN GO-AHEAD
Blackpool & Fleetwood Trawmay – Sunday 24th January 2010
The new tram depot for the upgraded Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway at Starr Gate has been given the go-ahead again, despite fears that a public inquiry may have been required.
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HEATON PARK TRAMWAY 2010 EVENTS ANNOUNCED
Heaton Park Tramway – Sunday 24th January 2010
The Heaton Park Tramway have revealed their special event plans for 2010 – including a 30th Birthday celebration in March and a Blackpool Day in November. They will also be operating on several Saturdays in May and June and for part of the year all passenger services will be run by on loan trams (see separate story)!
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SEATON ANNOUNCE 2010 EVENTS DIARY
Seaton Tramway – Sunday 24th January 2010
The Seaton Tramway – who celebrate their 40th anniversary this year - have announced their list of special events for 2010 including a Fantastic 40th Birthday Celebration on Saturday 5th June followed by the 16th Classic Car Show and Green Transport Gathering the following day. There will also be a 70’s Weekend Bonanza from Friday 27th to Monday 30th August along with all the usual events such as the Bird Watching Trips. For full details of the events please visit the official Seaton Tramway website (link below). Details will also be added to our Diary of Events in due course.
Source: Seaton Tramway
CABLE & HORSE TRAM FOR NEW ISLE OF MAN TRANSPORT MUSEUM AT JURBY
Jurby Transport Museum – Sunday 24th January 2010
The Manx Transport Trust are reporting that they are to take cable tram 72/73 and horse tram 22 to their new transport museum at Jurby on the Isle of Man during the next month. It is planned that 22 will become the Museum shop. The Museum is due to open in a formerly disused hangar at Jurby on the island at Easter. Photos of a recent visit by members of the Manx Transport Trust to inspect the trams at Douglas can be found here.
Source: Manx Transport Trust Fotopic (with thanks to Andrew Hazlehurst for pointing it out!)
PROGRESS ON NEW CRICH EXHIBITION HALL DISPLAY
Crich Tramway Village – Sunday 24th January 2010
The Crich Tramway Village might be closed but that doesn’t mean there is nothing going on at the moment with major progress being made on redoing the Exhibition Hall. The exhibition which ended the 2009 season had been in place since the Exhibition Hall was opened in 1992 and after funding from a couple of sources was gained the decision was made to change the exhibits to coincide with the 150th anniversary of trams in the UK.
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UNOFFICIAL BLACKPOOL TRAMWAY 125 WEBSITE LAUNCHED
Blackpool Tramway 125 – Sunday 24th January 2010
An unofficial website celebrating 125 years of the Blackpool Tramway was launched earlier this month – a joint venture between British Trams Online and Tramways Monthly. The website can be found at http://www.blackpooltramway125.co.uk and aims to provide all the latest news and updates as the tramway prepares for 125th Anniversary celebrations in September.
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HAPPY (BELATED) NEW YEAR! AND AN APOLOGY
Site News – Sunday 24th January 2010
Happy New Year to all British Trams Online readers as we finally have an update in 2010. Please accept my apologies for the lack of updates since the start of the year but I am currently in the process of moving home and I have discovered that it is quite difficult to do this and write a website update at the same time.
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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BLOGS!
General – Sunday 24th January 2010
It seems that any self respecting tramway museum or preservation group has to have a blog these days with the Crich Tramway Village, Heaton Park Tramway and the Lancastrian Transport Trust all following in the footsteps of Beamish Transport in having one. Click below for a full list of blogs available with all the latest news.
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NET 30 DAY TICKET PRICE CUT FOR JANUARY
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 24th January 2010
The 30 days tram ticket valid on Nottingham Express Transit services has had its price cut by 20% in January from £31.50 to £25 – meaning daily travel works out at 83p! The ticket can be purchased in advance from nearly 340 local PayPoint retailers and the offer is valid between 4th and 31st January 2010 inclusive.
Source: Nottingham Express Transit
METROLINK NEWS ROUND-UP
Manchester Metrolink – Sunday 24th January 2010
We take a look at the latest updates from the Manchester Metrolink system – this update includes news on the new Metrolink LRVs in service and other LRV updates.
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GRITTER BREAKS DOWN & CAUSES SUPERTRAM DELAYS
South Yorkshire Supertram – Sunday 24th January 2010
On Tuesday 12th January a gritting lorry broke down during the late afternoon just below the inbound tram stop at Hillsborough causing delays and alterations to Supertram services. All trams were reversed at this point with 109 trapped immediately behind the gritter and 111 a further 200 yards back on Middlewood Road. Click below for a photo.
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SUPERTRAM DELAYS AFTER BUS BREAKDOWN
South Yorkshire Supertram – Sunday 24th January 2010
For at least two hours during the late afternoon of Friday (22nd January) a First bus broke down as it was leaving Hillsborough Interchange blocking the inbound tram line. 112 and 108 were trapped immediately below the incident at Hillsborough tram stop and 107 held at the outbound stop. This is the second First bus to breakdown at Hillsborough in a few weeks. Click below for photos.
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