In Pictures: Box 40 says farewell with two special tours

Posted on Sunday 3 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we might have mentioned a few times in recent weeks, Blackpool & Fleetwood 40’s time in Blackpool is nearly at an end with its usage on standard Heritage Tram Tours coming to an end on Sunday 24th February. But that wasn’t the end of its running on the tramway as over the past few days there have been two special farewell tours – one on behalf of the Friends of 40 Group and the other a special Farewell Tour where 40 covered the tramway one last time.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Box 40 says farewell with two special tours

Supertram rail replacement work to continue

Posted on Sunday 3 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

The continued project to replace track on Stagecoach Supertram will be back in 2019 with work scheduled to affect Blue and Yellow route services between mid-April and late August. Once again the work will be taking place in phases with five different areas identified for the new track to be installed, replacing track which was originally laid in the 1990s.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on Supertram rail replacement work to continue

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 3 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

We go oll nostalgic this week as we feature photos from the second day of Nottingham Express Transit, 15 years ago this month:

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit, Site News | Comments Off on This week on British Trams Online

Council to be asked to approve contracts for Trams to Newhaven project

Posted on Saturday 2 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

It may not be until 14th March that the final decision will be made on whether to progress with extending Edinburgh Trams to Newhaven but another key milestone will be reached before then with a meeting of the Finance and Resources Committee on 7th March being asked to approve the awarding of two contracts for the projects. This will very much be on the proviso that the project is approved as without this approval the contracts won’t be formally signed.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 1 Comment

Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2542

Posted on Saturday 2 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

One of the features of the early days of the Croydon Tramlink system was the number of advertising liveries carried on the trams and we take a look at one of these today.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2542

Return of Tram Driving Experience to Blackpool

Posted on Saturday 2 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

In the final years of the traditional Blackpool Tramway one of the highlights for many tram enthusiasts was the chance to drive a tram for the day but come upgrade and this was ended with many expecting this to be it for this initiative. But fast forward to 2019 and this has proven to be wrong as Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have announced that it is back!

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Engineering works on Tyne & Wear Metro

Posted on Saturday 2 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

On Sunday 17th February a partial closure of the Tyne and Wear Metro was in place to allow trackworks at the South Gosforth junction between the Airport and Coast lines. During this closure no trains were able to run between Haymarket and Regent Centre and Four Lanes End.

Continue reading →

Posted in Tyne and Wear Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: Engineering works on Tyne & Wear Metro

In Pictures: Promenade road reopens to traffic as extension works continue to progress

Posted on Friday 1 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

Work on extending the Blackpool Tramway along Talbot Road to Blackpool North Railway Station has now reached a stage which has allowed the Promenade road to reopen to through traffic – bringing an end to winter diversions which have continued slightly longer than planned. The road finally reopened on Friday 1st March after the completion of road resurfacing with the new triangular junction between the two tram routes now in place.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Tramlink staff balloted on strike action over pay

Posted on Friday 1 March 2019 by Gareth Prior

Members of ASLEF working on London Tramlink are being balloted on taking industrial action in an ongoing dispute over the latest pay offer which is said not to be acceptable to staff.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | Comments Off on Tramlink staff balloted on strike action over pay

Good news for fans of Blackpool’s Balloon cars

Posted on Friday 1 March 2019 by Andrew Waddington

Whilst the imminent departure of Blackpool & Fleetwood ‘Box’ car 40 from its original native tramway dominates the headlines from the Fylde coast, there has been some more positive news for the Blackpool heritage fleet. Two Balloon cars are set to receive workshop attention shortly, the best news being that ‘Princess Alice’ 706 looks set to have its major overhaul started in the spring.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

New destination blinds for Manchester 765

Posted on Thursday 28 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

When looking at the photos of Manchester 765 returning to action at Beamish following its move on loan from Heaton Park you probably can’t help but notice the lack of destination boxes and blinds. Well, there is a very good reason for this as the boxes are receiving some TLC and the chance is also being taken to update the blinds with the project the latest for destination blind guru, Peter Watts.

Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on New destination blinds for Manchester 765

Trams to Newhaven project to be approved?

Posted on Thursday 28 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

It is now just two weeks until the final decision is made on whether Edinburgh Trams is extended to Newhaven via Leith Walk with the full council due to vote on the issue on Thursday 14th March. The past few days have again seen plenty written and said on the topic with the possible decision seemingly swaying one way and then the other. The Liberal Democrats – holding six seats on the council – have come out against the tram to join with the Conservatives in their sentiments – although for different reasons – but just when you thought that might be a major blow for the scheme the Transport and Environment Committee met and backed the extension!

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 5 Comments

Picture in Time: Seaton 16

Posted on Thursday 28 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

One of three trams at the Seaton Tramway which started off life as a “full size” tram (in this case 3’6” gauge) is no. 16. A former Bournemouth Corporation vehicle this is the tram that features in today’s Picture in the Time.

Continue reading →

Posted in Picture in Time, Seaton Tramway | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Seaton 16

In Pictures: Rare moves around the Exhibition Hall at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 27 February 2019 by Andrew Waddington

On 24th February, a number of trams and other objects were moved around at Crich Tramway Village as part of the project to install new displays in the Great Exhibition Hall. The creation of a new exhibition on the life and achievements of Michael Holoroyd Smith has led to a number of exhibits being moved around, and this resulted in the need for some shunting on this day with some little seen trams appearing in daylight.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: Rare moves around the Exhibition Hall at Crich

Damaged sections of Citylink Tram-Trains head back to Spain

Posted on Wednesday 27 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

The two sections of the Stagecoach Supertram Tram-Trains which were damaged in collisions within five weeks of each in October and November 2018 have departed Nunnery Square Depot for repairs back in Spain. The damaged parts of 399 202 and 399 204 were dispatched on separate low loaders on Thursday 21st February.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on Damaged sections of Citylink Tram-Trains head back to Spain

In Pictures: More from the Blackpool North extension

Posted on Tuesday 26 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

Work is continuing on the parts of the Blackpool North Railway Station extension of the tramway up Talbot Road that it is possible to tackle as these latest photos from Peter Dockerty show. The worksite adjacent to the railway station is starting to become emptier with limited parts now remaining in situ whilst work is also continuing on the first stages of the new tramstop in Talbot Square itself.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: More from the Blackpool North extension

In Pictures: Urbos 3s 26 and 34 stored at the depot

Posted on Tuesday 26 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

In recent months we have reported in passing about the fate of West Midlands Metro 26 following its return from Wolverton where it had been for repairs after suffering a derailment at the depot. The tram was returned to Wednesbury back in March 2018 but despite this it still hasn’t turned a wheel in service and is now stored at the bottom of the yard along with T69 16. The pair have now also been joined by 34 which has been used since December.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: Urbos 3s 26 and 34 stored at the depot

Picture in Time: Blackpool Coronation 662

Posted on Tuesday 26 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

There is no doubt that one of the most popular classes of trams with enthusiasts in Blackpool is the Coronation Cars and we feature a long-gone member of that class today in our regular look back into the archives.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Metrolink 3072’s Total Jobs advert

Posted on Monday 25 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

We first reported back in mid-January that Manchester Metrolink 3072 had received a new vinyl wrap advert for Total Jobs but hadn’t actually illustrated the new look – until now that is! The advert has a different design on each half of the tram with one end seeing a white base with the other a flowery background. Dave Elison captured the following photos.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on In Pictures: Metrolink 3072’s Total Jobs advert

In Pictures: Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours in action

Posted on Monday 25 February 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we have reported in the past 2019 is set to be the biggest year yet for Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours with the largest number of operating days yet – including every weekend throughout the year plus on various weekdays. The early part of the season is set to be dominated by Box Car 40 which is being used most days before it departs for Beamish. One such day was on Sunday 10th February when it was joined by Balloon 717 on the two tram Promenade tour. John Hibbert captured the following photos.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment