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About the Tram of the Year |
Conceived as a bit of fun at the end of the year the British Trams Online Tram of the Year originally sought to find the tramcar which had done something "special" over the previous 12 months. There has never been a full definition of what "special" actually means in this case but over the years tramcars which have won have had a repaint, entered service after a repaint or gone on loan away from their home tramway to name but there examples. In 2012 the contest was expanded to include two new categories - Event of the Year and Tramway of the Year - and then in 2014 a fourth category was voted for the first time - Light Rail Vehicle of the Year. At the end of November each year nominations are opened for a week to allow anyone to put forward suggestions for each of the categories before our "expert panel" (which is probably neither expert nor a panel!) convene to make a decision of what should be on the final shortlist, with each category normally having around five items to vote on. Voting takes place for approximately six weeks from the start of December until mid January and we then name the lucky winners. |
British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2018 |
Tram of the Year: And the winners are... |
To be fair it was always likely to be a case of how big the win would be in the British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2018 and so it turned out with the Manx Electric Railway winning three of four categories (indeed the only categories it qualified for!) whilst the other award saw a retention of sorts with a second Stagecoach Supertram Tram-Train securing the most votes. On the traditional side of things 2018 was a year which was dominated by the Manx Electric Railway and so it turned out in the voting for Tram of the Year. Ratchet Car 14 which only returned to action in September after a three-and-a-half-year restoration, a restoration which was completed not only be staff from Isle of Man Railways but also a team of dedicated volunteers, was far and away the most popular tram with voters with its winning margin being one of the largest we have seen since the contest began. Birkenhead 20 came in a distant second place whilst the list was completed by two Blackpool cars Standard 147 and Rack 2, an incredibly rare position for Blackpool which has traditionally dominated this category in one form or another over the years. The Modern Tram of the Year was Stagecoach Supertram 399 203 which won almost 64% of the total votes, thanks to it starting off the Tram-Train services to Rotherham Parkgate in October. This was a retention of sorts as 2017 has seen sister Citylink vehicle 399 202 walk away with the accolade. The second tram in the list was the first battery fitted tram on West Midlands Metro, no, 18. The other two categories were also dominated by the Manx Electric Railway with both of them seeing big victories. On the Tramway of the Year front almost 82% of voters thought the MER had the best ahead of Stagecoach Supertram and first time nominee Luas whilst Event of the Year was the Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary week. This now means that for five of the six years of this category the event which has won has been linked to an anniversary! With over 77% of you voting for this incredible week of events it meant that Crichs Simply Trams event came into second with the Doors Open event at Gogar Depot in Edinburgh taking the bronze. And so another Tram of the Year is over the fifteenth! and we are sure you agree that they are all worthy winners. The symbolic trophy of the main Tram (Traditional) of the Year award remains on the Isle of Man for the second year in a row will anything elsewhere in the British Isles see it heading off the island in 2019? Weve got a lot of time to think about that and with plans for a number of trams to return to service at various places this year there are bound to be plenty of trams, tramways and events vying for the honours once again. Nominations will open again towards the end of November 2019 dont forget to keep a note of anything you think may be suitable for the shortlist! |
Tram of the Year: The Results |
Tram (Traditional) of the Year
1. Manx Electric Railway 14 288 votes (67.45%) 106 votes rejected due to multiple votes (caused no change to ranking)
Tram (Modern) of the Year
1. Stagecoach Supertram 399 203 203 votes (63.64%) 61 votes rejected due to multiple votes (caused no change to ranking)
Tramway of the Year
1. Manx Electric Railway 338 votes (81.84%) 103 votes rejected due to multiple votes (caused no change to ranking)
Event of the Year
1. Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary 325 votes (77.38%) 104 votes rejected due to multiple votes (caused no change to ranking)
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Tram of the Year (traditional): The Shortlist |
Birkenhead 20 Blackpool Standard 147 Blackpool & Fleetwood Rack 2 Manx Electric Railway 14 |
Tram of the Year (modern): The Shortlist |
Stagecoach Supertram 399 203 West Midlands Metro 18 |
Tramway of the Year: The Shortlist |
Luas Manx Electric Railway Stagecoach Supertram |
Event of the Year: The Shortlist |
Crich Tramway Village - Simply Trams Edinburgh Trams - Doors Open at Gogar Depot Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary |
Previous Contests |
2017 Tramcar - Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 36 LRV - Stagecoach Supertram 399 202 Tramway - Statfold Barn Railway Event - Statfold Barn Railway: Burton & Ashby 14 launch |
2016 Tramcar - Blackpool Marton 31 LRV - Manchester Metrolink 3120 Tramway - Douglas Bay Horse Tramway Event - Douglas Bay Horse Tramway: 140th Anniversary |
2015 Tramcar - Liverpool 245 LRV - Manchester Metrolink 3100 Tramway - Blackpool Tramway Event - Blackpool Tramway: 130th Anniversary |
2014 Tramcar - Blackpool Pantograph 167 LRV - Manchester Metrolink 1007 Tramway - Crich Tramway Village Event - Crich Tramway Village: Electric 50 |
2013 Tramcar - Blackpool Boat 227 Tramway - Heaton Park Tramway Event - Rejuvenation of Blackpool Heritage Service |
2012 Tramcar - Blackpool Brush 623 Tramway - Blackpool Event - Glasgow 50 at Crich |
2011 Tramcar - Blackpool Marton VAMBAC 11 |
2010 Tramcar - Liverpool 762 |
2009 Tramcar - Blackpool Western Train 733+734 |
2008 Tramcar - Blackpool Balloon 717 |
2007 Tramcar - Blackpool Brush 623 |
2006 Tramcar - Leeds 345 |
2005 Tramcar - Trampower Tram |
2004 Tramcar - Blackpool Illuminated Frigate 736 & Nottingham Express Transit 203 (joint winners) |
2003 Tramcar - Leeds 602 |
This page was last updated on Sunday 13th January 2019 |
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