In Pictures: Cornbrook receives a makeover

Posted on Sunday 29 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

As part of the continued improvement of the Manchester Metrolink some of the busier stops are enjoying a makeover with Shudehill having already gone through this work. Attention has now turned towards the important interchange at Cornbrook which, because of its vital role allowing passengers to change between routes, will not see an extended closure over a number of weeks as per Shudehill. Included amongst the works will be an extended and enhanced canopy roof providing a better waiting environment for passengers. In the recent closure of the line (the weekend of 20th/21st September) a start was made on the preparation work for the new canopies as seen in the below photos from Steve Hyde.

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Picture in Time: Docklands Light Railway 64

Posted on Saturday 28 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

We head to the Docklands Light Railway again for this edition of Picture in Time with a view taken some 24 years ago.

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In Pictures: Southampton Tram Project update

Posted on Saturday 28 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Earlier this month the Southampton Tram Project had to cancel their planned open day in their workshop situated adjacent to one of the Cruise Terminals in the city because of access problems but unperturbed by this cancellation (and having already booked to stay in the city), British Trams Online reader Robert Blackburn contacted the group directly and was kindly given a private behind the scenes tour and update by Nigel Smith. The following report and photos are from Robert giving an update on recent progress and the future.

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In Pictures: More old track found in Sheffield

Posted on Saturday 28 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

As work around Sheffield City Centre continues yet more old tram track has been discovered, some 60 years since it was last on the surface in use for its original purpose. When many towns and cities abandoned their tramway rather than rip up the old track they remained in situ and were then covered not only for ease but also to strengthen the new road surface and judging by the amount of track found in Sheffield recently they did that a lot!

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FTT approach their target to fund overhaul of Coronation 304’s compressor

Posted on Friday 27 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

The Fylde Transport Trust are an organisation who don’t seem to want the grass to grow under their feet as no sooner have they seen the launch of one of their trams into service (Standard 143 if you missed the news!) then they are continuing with plans to help another one back onto the tracks. That tram is one of the ever popular Coronation Cars, 304 – the only one still fitted with its original VAMBAC equipment.

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In Pictures: Supertram 110 loses its adverts

Posted on Friday 27 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Although not a full advertising livery, Stagecoach Supertram 110 had been carrying side and window adverts for Sheffield College since October 2018 but has now been spotted in full fleet livery with these now having been removed. The tram was still running with the adverts on 20th September but by 23rd September they had been removed. Ryan Hartley captured the below image for us.

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Volunteer Recruitment Day at Seaton Tramway

Posted on Friday 27 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Have you ever wanted to volunteer at the Seaton Tramway but not known how to go about it? Well, if you have why not pop along to the new Seaton terminus on Wednesday 2nd October for a special Volunteer Recruitment Day.

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In Pictures: 25 leaves just 33 in magenta on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Thursday 26 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

There are now no trams available for service on the West Midlands Metro featuring magenta in their livery with 25 the latest to receive the full blue vinyls – complete with adverts for OLA. The tram first ran in service on Monday 23rd September as a peak extra before it was then allocated to service the following day.

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Revised service announced for Nottingham’s Goose Fair

Posted on Thursday 26 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

The annual Goose Fair in Nottingham will again be taking place on The Forest recreation ground between 2nd and 6th October with this being a very busy period for Nottingham Express Transit, necessitating a slightly revised service operating to ensure everyone can get to enjoy all the fun of the fair.

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Picture in Time: Sheffield 264

Posted on Thursday 26 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Today’s main edition of Picture in Time is back at Crich for another look at the 1973 Transport Extravaganza with another tram featured which is no longer part of the operational fleet – Sheffield 264.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Standard 143

Posted on Thursday 26 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

In the second of our special Picture in Time article we again take a look today at Blackpool Standard 143 in the early days of its extensive restoration.

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Douglas Bay Horse Tramway ends season early

Posted on Wednesday 25 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Its been a stop start year for operations on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway and now it has been announced it is over to enable the Prom reconstruction works to continue throughout the remainder of the year and beyond.

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In Pictures: Trafford Park line wiring connected at Pomona

Posted on Wednesday 25 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Another important milestone was reached for the Trafford Park line on Manchester’s Metrolink network was achieved over the weekend of 20th and 21st September with the wiring between the line and the current route to Eccles at Pomona connected. This was achieved during a weekend shutdown which also included improvement works at Cornbrook, similar to those already seen at Shudehill (see more on these works in a future article). Steve Hyde took a trip down to Pomona to see the newly connected wire.

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In Preview: Blackpool’s September Spectacular – 28th and 29th September

Posted on Wednesday 25 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Another weekend and another special tram event is on the cards over the weekend of Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September with Blackpool the location this week for their big September Spectacular event with plenty of trams in action over the course of weekend, indeed all serviceable heritage trams and B fleet Balloons will run in service at some point over the weekend – not only will this include the first public use of Standard 143 (on both days) but also the return to service of Balloon 707 for the first time after its repaint in Millennium Green and Cream but also Centenary 642 which will run for the first time since failing in January. Read on to find out about the full plan, including photo line-ups at Rigby Road Depot.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Standard 143

Posted on Wednesday 25 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

With Blackpool Standard 143’s restoration now over and the tram officially launched back into service we take a look at the early days of the tram being in the ownership of the Lancastrian Transport Trust, now the Fylde Transport Trust – and it would be fair to say the tram has come a long way since then!

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Heaton Park Tramway hit by overhead wire theft

Posted on Tuesday 24 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

When writing this website a lot of what I get to write is positive as new developments are announced and come through but unfortunately not all is positive and it is sad to report that the Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester has been forced to close indefinitely after a section of overhead wire was stolen.

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Blackpool Standard 143 launched back into service

Posted on Tuesday 24 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

After very nearly 62 years, Blackpool Standard 143 has carried passengers once more following its official launch back into service with a special trip and buffet during the evening of Monday 23rd September 2019. The restoration – started by the then Lancastrian Transport Trust back in 2005 – is the culmination of a long-standing, high-quality project to return this tram back to the rails and what a sight it is to see an open platform, open balcony tram back on Blackpool Prom!

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In Pictures: Yorkshire takes centre stage as Crich celebrates 60 years

Posted on Tuesday 24 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

The annual enthusiasts event at the Crich Tramway Village this year took place over two days on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the site at Crich for the siting of a planned tramway museum. It was January 1959 that the first inspection of the site had taken place and now 60 years later it was time to celebrate that a home was found for a tramway museum, and a museum which has gone from strength to strength in the intervening years.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 627 and more

Posted on Tuesday 24 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Another trip to Blackpool’s Rigby Road Depot in the 1970s for today’s Picture in Time image as we take a look at some trams not required for service on this day.

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In Pictures: High above the West Midlands Metro

Posted on Monday 23 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

With the same trams, running on the same lines, year after year we are often looking for new ways to see and photograph the vehicles operating services on tramways in the British Isles and that is exactly what Roland Bull did on the very last day of May. In this short pictorial we take a look at some of the trams on the West Midlands Metro (as they looked at the time with livery changes very much in evidence since!) in the vicinity of the stop at St Chad’s including some views of the closed old terminus at Snow Hill.

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