Picture in Time: Rigby Road Depot, Blackpool

Posted on Tuesday 9 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Another image from the front of Rigby Road Depot today as we continue our look at archive images from the Blackpool Tramway.

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Progress continues on returning trailers to service on the MER

Posted on Monday 8 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

One of the highlights of 2019 on the Manx Electric Railway looks set to be the return to service of three trailers – including 54 which last ran in passenger service back in 1971, by our calculation that’s 48 years ago! Also due to return are 37 and 49 which last ran in 2009 and 2008 respectively.

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In Pictures: Sheffield trams rest at Crich

Posted on Monday 8 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

In this short pictorial update we take a quick look around Crich’s tram sheds where two Sheffield trams were stabled side-by-side – one is part of the operational fleet whilst the other has long been withdrawn. We also see Croydon Tramlink 058 out on the mainline. Stuart Cooke provides the photos from a visit on 31st March 2019.

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Around the World in Trams: Giradinetti Railway 106

Posted on Sunday 7 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

From this week we move to the Italian capital city of Rome featuring images of the Giradinetti Railway – which although not a traditional tramway as such is an on street narrow gauge light railway meriting its inclusion on these pages.

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In Pictures: Steam tram engine under restoration at Nene Valley Railway

Posted on Sunday 7 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Amongst all of the trams which have been restored to operational condition across the UK one of the missing pieces of the jigsaw is a steam tram locomotive. Whilst John Bull was restored and did operate for a time in the 1980s it is now a static exhibit only at Crich it has remained a wished for project by many enthusiasts to see an operational steam tram again with MBRO 84 a possibility in the future (with plenty of funding required!). But there is a chance that there may be a steam tram engine running in the future although more akin with “Toby the Tram Engine” from the Thomas stories with restoration underway at the Nene Valley Railway in Peterborough.

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Local MP visits Seaton to congratulate on awards success

Posted on Sunday 7 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

The Seaton Tramway are celebrating another awards win with an accolade from Visit England in recognition of the excellent customer service given at the tramway. To mark the occasion local MP, Neil Parish (Tiverton and Honiton) paid a visit to congratulate the tramway on not only their recent award wins but also the new Seaton terminus.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 7 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

We head off to Manchester for two Photo Galleries from Metrolink this week:

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Edinburgh Trams raise money for local charity

Posted on Saturday 6 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Employees at Edinburgh Trams, and topped up by donations from the public at recent sporting and music events in the city, have raised £6,500 for the MS Therapy Centre Lothian during a series of fundraising events.

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Picture in Time: Stagecoach Supertram 102

Posted on Saturday 6 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

We move forward in the history of the South Yorkshire Supertram this week as we enter the era of operation by major transport company Stagecoach.

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In Pictures: A look inside the shed at NELSAM

Posted on Saturday 6 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we’ve reported previously whilst there is a more high profile collection in the north east of England the area is also home to the North East Electrical Traction Trust who are based at the North East Land Sea and Air Museum. With a mainly Blackpool based collection of trams all the vehicles are stored inside the tram shed – which they share with a number of buses – although limited progress seems to have been made towards the restoration of the trams in recent times. Trevor Hall made a visit to NELSAM on 30th March with the following photos taken.

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In Preview: Great North Steam Fair at Beamish

Posted on Saturday 6 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

After a couple of years when tram involvement has been confined to the resident fleet, the 2019 Great North Steam Fair at Beamish looks set to change that with not one but two on loans due to be in service – Blackpool & Fleetwood 40 and Manchester 765.

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In Pictures: Haymarket Yards gets a platform – kind of!

Posted on Friday 5 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

It is not only Blackpool where a new platform has been installed, and just like Blackpool the new structure in Edinburgh won’t be seeing passengers any time soon – although for different reasons! The new low platform is at Haymarket Yards alongside the short three track layout at this location.

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In Pictures: Track work at Beamish

Posted on Friday 5 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Tuesday 2nd April saw some pre-planned track maintenance work at Beamish which meant that trams were unable to travel between the depot and the town. This led to trams reversing at each end with the unusual sight of tram crews having to reverse the trolley throughout the day. A two-tram service was once again in operation with Sunderland 16 and Blackpool 31 the chosen pair. Trevor Hall with the photos.

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Major track replacement work in Gateshead

Posted on Friday 5 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Services on the Tyne and Wear Metro will be amended over three weekends over the next month as part of a project to replace 1.6km of track between Gateshead Stadium and Felling. The first closure will be over the weekend of 13th and 14th April with further closures over the Easter and May Day Bank Holiday weekends.

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Standard 147 regains its name

Posted on Thursday 4 April 2019 by Andrew Waddington

It may be recalled that Blackpool Standard 147 ran for several years with the name ‘Michael Airey’. It was named after the former Body Shop manager at Blackpool Transport who managed the project to repatriate 147 from the USA and restore it to operational condition. However, the late Mr Airey’s name was removed from the tram during its last repaint as part of the work to return it to a more authentic 1930s appearance – but now it has returned!

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In Pictures: Metro 34 back out on test

Posted on Thursday 4 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

Having not been seen in service since 11th December 2018, West Midlands Metro 34 is on the comeback trail having recently seen workshop attention and started testing on the mainline. With the hoped for return to service of the tram – which has not had batteries fitted during its time out of use – this should improve reliability on the line with a continued tram shortage seen at times.

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Picture in Time: Great Orme Tramway 4

Posted on Thursday 4 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

We head to the year 2000 for this week’s traditional tram archive image with another visit to the Great Orme Tramway in Llandudno.

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Satisfaction remains high on (some) English tramways

Posted on Wednesday 3 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

The latest Transport Focus Tram Passenger Survey has shown that passengers continue to be satisfied on four different English tramways – although for West Midlands Metro there has been a fall in satisfaction between 2017 and 2018. The Blackpool Tramway and Stagecoach Supertram are leading the way with 97% of passengers satisfied whilst the fourth tramway to be included is Manchester Metrolink which has remained at the same level when compared to 2017.

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Seeing double with 707 & 718!

Posted on Wednesday 3 April 2019 by Andrew Waddington

Since the inception of Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours, no two trams have ever been outshopped in identical liveries – but that is set to change imminently with the news that Rebuilt Balloon car 707 is being painted in the ‘Millennium’ style of green and cream which it received when first rebuilt with flat ends in 1998. This will be the same as that worn by similar 718, giving an almost matching pair of modernised Balloons!

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Extra engineering works for Supertram

Posted on Wednesday 3 April 2019 by Gareth Prior

On top of the forthcoming rail replacement project there will be a small closure of Stagecoach Supertram on Sunday 7th April with no trams able to run between Sheffield Station and Fitzalan Square due to track works. This will affect trams on both the Blue and Purple routes with a replacement bus service in operation between Granville Road and Fitzalan Square or for the more able there is always the option of walking the closed section. There will be minor changes to the Blue route timetable from Fitzalan Square to Malin Bridge on this day but the same service frequency will be in place whilst the Purple route will only run between Herdings Park and Sheffield Station.

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