Trams in Video: Midland Metro – 2011 to 2016

Posted on Sunday 4 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

In this latest edition of “Trams in Video” we are heading back to the West Midlands for some video shot of the Midland Metro line between 2011 and 2016 (and of which can be seen on Bob Hodges Transport DVD “Midland Metro”). We see both the original, and now long-withdrawn, T69s along with the newer Urbos3 trams (pre-batteries!).

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Crich to celebrate 60th anniversary of the last Sheffield Corporation Tram

Posted on Sunday 4 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

On 8th October 1960 the last trams ran in Sheffield – or at least it was thought they did, until Supertram came along! – and now some 60 years later Crich Tramway Village will be marking the occasion with the display of Roberts Car 510 outside the depot for photos.

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Lockdown Walks: Manchester Metrolink 3114

Posted on Sunday 4 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

Once more we are heading to Manchester for another 2020 image of a tram in service on the Trafford Park line.

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What’s New on British Trams Online?

Posted on Sunday 4 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

This week we head to Blackpool for a look at some of the heritage trams in action during the recent 135th Anniversary weekend:

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In Review: Blackpool Tramway celebrates 135 years

Posted on Saturday 3 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

2020 is the 135th anniversary of the opening of the Blackpool Tramway and the last weekend in September was due to be a big celebration of the tramway to mark the occasion with the familiar September Spectacular event due to take place. As we all know, the certain arrival of a global pandemic has put paid to a lot of plans for 2020 but despite a very much scaled down event, Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours were not to put off and a two-day event still took place which included the return to service of the Frigate and a six tram Procession.

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Around the World in Trams: Innsbruck 65

Posted on Saturday 3 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

We continue our look at the trams in Innsbruck today but head back a further 51 years to 1964.

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Supertram rail replacement works come to an end

Posted on Saturday 3 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

The latest stage of Stagecoach Supertram’s rail replacement works will come to an end at the start of October with a normal Blue route service able to resume from Monday 5th October.

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Lockdown Walks: Edinburgh Trams 266

Posted on Saturday 3 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

We head out of Edinburgh City Centre for this latest look at a tram operating during 2020.

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In Pictures: Wilko’s demolition continues

Posted on Friday 2 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

We take another look at the continued demolition of the old Wilko’s store on Talbot Road which will eventually make way for the construction of tramway terminus of the Blackpool North Railway Station extension. With work having got underway at the start of September, towards the end of the month apparent good progress was being made as seen in this pictorial article with images taken on 26th September 2020.

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Final extension to 2020 operating season on the Manx Electric Railway

Posted on Friday 2 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

The Manx Electric Railway is to operate until 1st November 2020 after a further – and final – extension was announced by Isle of Man Transport. The truncated 2020 season has initially been due to end on 13th September but this was previously extended until 4th October and trams will now be running on selected dates all the way up until Sunday 1st November.

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Picture in Time: London Transport 1858

Posted on Friday 2 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

As we continue “Picture in Time” we are again at the East Anglia Transport Museum continuing the story of the early days of the museum.

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In Pictures: Nottingham Express Transit on-board Covid changes

Posted on Thursday 1 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

Throughout the ongoing pandemic there has had to be a fine balancing act between all public transport wanting to carry passengers around but doing it in a safe manner which minimises the risk of spreading the virus to both staff and passengers alike. Changes made on board the trams on Nottingham Express Transit towards the start of the pandemic are still in place as we write which are aimed at trying to ensure that everyone can  keep their social distance.

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Can You Help? Brighton Tram 53 Group seek help for air brake diagram

Posted on Thursday 1 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

The Brighton Tram 53 Group are another of those small groups of enthusiasts dotted around the UK who are seeking to restore a long forgotten tram to help fill the gaps in local transport history and over the past few years they have been making good progress on returning the 1936 built tram to its former glory. But they have now reached a stage where they need some assistance in drawing up an air brake diagram.

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Lockdown Walks: Stagecoach Supertram 121

Posted on Thursday 1 October 2020 by Gareth Prior

“Lockdown Walks” continues today as we go out in Sheffield again.

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In Pictures: Crich with its Covid restrictions

Posted on Wednesday 30 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

The Crich Tramway Village has been open again since Saturday 11th July with the expected Coronavirus restrictions in place to ensure the safety of visitors, volunteers and staff alike in these unprecedented times. As we’ve reported before this has included timed tram travel tickets (with only one ride initially available to all visitors), the closure of depots and restrictions around the exhibitions (including the now obligatory one way system). David Maxwell took a trip to Crich on a relatively quiet midweek September day with the following photos showing what a 2020 visit to Crich looks like.

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Another bridge to be demolished for West Midlands Metro Brierley Hill extension

Posted on Wednesday 30 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

While we’ve reported recently on construction work elsewhere on the West Midlands Metro network, the extension through to Brierley Hill is at a much earlier stage with more concentration on removing redundant structures at this point. The next structure to be removed will be an old railway bridge in Coneygree Road, Tipton.

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Picture in Time: Nottingham Express Transit 212

Posted on Wednesday 30 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

In this instalment of “Picture in Time” we again take a look at one of the Bombardier Incentro trams towards the beginning of their operating careers.

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In Pictures: Blackpool’s Illuminated Frigate returns to service

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool’s Illuminated Frigate, HMS Blackpool, numbered 736 in the fleet has returned to service after a protracted overhaul was completed allowing it to enter service again on Saturday 26th September. The work on the tram has been concentrated on its lighting which because of the harsh coastal environment it has to work in had seen many of the bulb holders suffer damage which meant it wasn’t as easy as just putting a new bulb in.

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Revised timetable to be introduced on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

As from Monday 12th October another revised timetable will be introduced on the West Midlands Metro, offering a slightly reduced frequency to the standard timetable which had been in operation again since the start of September.

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Still Standing! Tram track in Chester

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

It has been over 90 years since the last tram ran in Chester but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still some remaining tramway artefacts, including some track in the vicinity of the old depot.

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