Fire causes problems for Metrolink

Posted on Friday 13 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Services on Manchester Metrolink’s Eccles line have been affected by a fire at Ladywell tramstop early on Tuesday 10th September which first saw no trams able to run beyond Weaste and then once the initial fire was sorted nothing was able to call at the stop whilst full repairs were undertaken.

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In Pictures: New advert for Metrolink 3073

Posted on Thursday 12 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

We reported at the start of the week on two adverts now removed from trams in Manchester and now we can bring you news of a new advert with 3073 having recently received vinyls advertising Clarks shoes. This advert is very dark in colour and does once again see the extensive use of contravision on the windows.

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No change for Tyne and Wear Metro performance

Posted on Thursday 12 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

It’s as you were on the Tyne and Wear Metro following the release of the latest performance statistics. This period stretches between 21st July and 17th August with 85% of trains reported as arriving on time during these four weeks – the exact same percentage as the previous period and just one percent higher than the corresponding period in 2018.

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Picture in Time: Sheffield 15

Posted on Thursday 12 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

For the next few weeks we are off to the East Midlands for some more archive images taken at Crich, and we start off with a very early image from the museum.

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In Pictures: Volk’s Electric Railway in operation

Posted on Wednesday 11 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Riding on open cars during the summer along the seafront – what’s not to like (unless of course its raining!) One of the seaside lines we feature on these pages is the unique Volk’s Electric Railway which runs along the seafront at Brighton between the Palace Pier and Black Rock – and this one really does run along the seafront! In this pictorial we take a look at the trains running on this line at the end of August 2019 when a two train service was running with 9 operating singly and usual pair 7 and 8 also in action. David Maxwell paid a visit.

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In Pictures: Works continues in Wolverhampton

Posted on Wednesday 11 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

It may be 2020 before we see any trams running into Wolverhampton City Centre but it is hoped that the bulk of the work – save for that at the railway station, which awaits the conclusion of the redevelopment there before it can start – will be completed within the next few weeks. Many businesses along Piper’s Row and other areas affected have been vocal in the local press about the disruption the work has caused with the Midland Metro Alliance saying most work is done and it shouldn’t be too long before the barriers are removed and some normality can return.

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Berlin 223 006-4 to celebrate its birthday at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 11 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

An extra event has been announced at Crich with Access Tram, Berlin 223 006-4, set to take centre stage on Monday 30th September. The day will be a 50th anniversary celebration of the entry into service of the tram in its home city and will see 223 006-4 allocated to service as one of the main service cars at Crich rather than just performing its regular morning and afternoon access tram trips.

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In Pictures: More old tram track uncovered in Sheffield

Posted on Tuesday 10 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Track has been a key word in Sheffield this summer with the rail replacement work around Hillsborough having now finished having taken place for several months whilst elsewhere various old tram track – from the first generation tramway – has been discovered as a result of other roadworks. The latest old tram track to be uncovered has been on Bridge Street – track which last saw trams run across it in 1960.

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In Video: Parallel departures from Victoria

Posted on Tuesday 10 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

For a few weeks during August and September it was all change at Victoria because of a fault with the points just outside the station. This meant that Manchester Airport trams were having to run onto 2CC and those for East Didsbury and Rochdale were running on 1CC. One of the by-products of this is that for a time it was possible to see parallel departures into the city from Victoria, as seen in the below video from Philip Gay.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool OMO 9 & Engineering Car 753

Posted on Tuesday 10 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

We stay looking at the Blackpool Tramway during the illuminations in the 1970s this week but this time there isn’t an illuminated tram in sight as we take a look at Little Bispham loop during the day with two very different trams in position.

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In Pictures: Box 40 back at Crich

Posted on Monday 9 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we reported at the weekend, Blackpool & Fleetwood 40 is now back at Crich following the conclusion of its loan periods at both Blackpool and, more recently, Beamish. Arriving back during the afternoon of Friday 6th September the tram was soon moved into the workshop for a start to be made on its commissioning. The following images captured it still in the workshop on Sunday 8th September, courtesy of Hazel Quarmby.

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In Pictures: And still there’s more blue on the West Midlands Metro

Posted on Monday 9 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Or what headline can you use when the same thing keeps happening! Yes, the “blue revolution” on West Midlands Metro is continuing with 24 the latest tram to receive the new livery, completed with OLA adverts – 24 is the 13th fully blue tram and the third to receive the OLA adverts.

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In Pictures: Trams return to fleet livery in Manchester

Posted on Monday 9 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Recent weeks have seen a couple of trams lose their vinyl wrap adverts and return to standard fleet livery on the Manchester Metrolink network. Both 3094 (Olivia Burton) and 3116 (Cheshire Oaks Outlet) have seen their advertising contracts come to an end with both trams now running in standard fleet livery once more.

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Around the World in Trams: Prague 9218

Posted on Sunday 8 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Our time in Prague is nearly at an end but not before we can take a look at one further tram running in the Czech capital.

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Box 40 returns to Crich

Posted on Sunday 8 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

After the end of its successful six month loan spell in the north eats at Beamish, Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40 is now safely back at the Crich Tramway Village; the first time it has seen Derbyshire for a little under five years. 40 touched down on Crich metals during the afternoon of Friday 6th September after its transport down from Beamish during the day.

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In Pictures: Now American Express go for two adverts in Edinburgh

Posted on Sunday 8 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

What is it this year about companies deciding to have at least two adverts on trams? Well, whatever it may be there is another occurrence in Edinburgh with American Express now advertising on both 264 and 270. The advert applied to 270 is identical to that on 264 using the same colours and wording.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 8 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

There is another full site update now online and we have another couple of Photo Galleries included:

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Lisbon 360 on the move?

Posted on Saturday 7 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

23 years ago a tram was purchased for possible use on the Manx Electric Railway but once delivered it was decided it would be too wide to travel on the line – and now it looks as if its current life on the Isle of Man may be coming to an end as it is in the way of the Ballasalla bypass. Lisbon 360 was purchased in 1996 (arriving in the Isle of Man in the May of that year) but was destined never to run and eventually was sold to a private individual who proceeded to convert it to a bar in his back garden!

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Picture in Time: Nottingham Express Transit 209

Posted on Saturday 7 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

When Nottingham Express Transit opened in 2004 some of the trams in the fleet started off not in fleet livery but instead carried full vinyl wrap adverts, one of which was 209 and it is that tram which is featured in today’s archive photo.

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In Pictures: Latest images from Birmingham Westside extension

Posted on Saturday 7 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we saw last week the first tram has now been tested on the West Midlands Metro Birmingham Westside extension and further work is now underway to complete the infrastructure ahead of services beginning “by the end of 2019”. Ken Jones paid a recent visit to see what was going on.

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