In Pictures: Battery trams – and then there were five!

Posted on Friday 2 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

West Midlands Metro are now the proud operators of five battery fitted trams following the return to service of 28. The tram continues to run in the old Network West Midlands livery of Magenta and White – still leaving 31 as the only tram in the new Blue livery – and was first spotted operating in passenger service at the beginning of November.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams carries the Poppy

Posted on Friday 2 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

As has become the norm on most tram networks across the UK, trams on Edinburgh Trams are carrying poppies in their cabs in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday which this year will be marking the centenary of the end of the First World War. In Edinburgh the poppies are being carried prominently inside the trams in the cab windows.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Pinfold Street Metro extension works

Posted on Friday 2 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

With work to extend West Midlands Metro towards Edgbaston continuing, Pinfold Street is a hive of activity with a floating slab being installed to prevent vibration in this narrow street where trams will be running at some point in 2019 as part of the first stage of the extension. Ian Nightingale with the photo.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: Pinfold Street Metro extension works

More engineering works for Supertram

Posted on Thursday 1 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Friday 2nd November will see further engineering works being undertaken on Stagecoach Supertram which will cause a change to services on the Blue and Purple routes. The affected area will be between Sheffield Station and Gleadless Townend with no trams – except for a few very early and late services – running between these stops. The Blue route will be operate either side of the works with the Purple route completely suspended throughout the day.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on More engineering works for Supertram

Picture in Time: Midland Metro 09 & 08

Posted on Thursday 1 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today we are back in the West Midlands for another image from the past featuring two of the original T69 trams on Midland Metro.

Continue reading →

Posted in Picture in Time, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Midland Metro 09 & 08

Now Nottingham suffers as car collides with tram

Posted on Wednesday 31 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

Coming just a couple of weeks after the launch of a new safety campaign warning motorists and pedestrians of the dangers around trams in Nottingham there was disruption for Nottingham Express Transit on Wednesday 31st October following a collision at Meadows Embankment between a BMW and Citadis 226. The impact of the collision caused the front section of the tram to derail.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Now Nottingham suffers as car collides with tram

In Pictures: New Sheffield College adverts for Supertram 110

Posted on Wednesday 31 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

For the second year in a row Stagecoach Supertram 110 has received branding for Sheffield College publicising their forthcoming open days. Carrying limited window vinyls and above window stickers the tram looks set to carry these adverts until at least the start of March 2019 (as that is when the last of the open days takes place). And for 110 this isn’t the only bit of news for the tram as it also made an appearance in Sunday’s episode of Doctor Who (along with another unidentified Siemens Duewag tram and the Park Square bowstring bridge) – is this the first UK tram to have featured in the long running BBC Sci-Fi series?

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Metrolink 3036’s new vinyls

Posted on Tuesday 30 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

The vinyl revolution on Manchester Metrolink is showing no signs of slowing down with the latest tram to receive some being 3036. This is not a full vinyl wrap livery a la many of other all over adverts but has just received full window vinyls on the windows either side of the centre articulation with no changes to the bodyside fleet livery. With the slogan “Hello Manchester” it advertises Lululemon who apparently sell yoga clothes and running gear although the actual advert doesn’t tell you who the advertiser is with just the firms logo!

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on In Pictures: Metrolink 3036’s new vinyls

Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 712

Posted on Tuesday 30 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today our archive photo series is back in Blackpool once again for a late 1970s view of the last of the open top Balloon Cars – no. 712.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

Final decision on Edinburgh Trams extension delayed until early 2019

Posted on Monday 29 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

A final decision on whether to press ahead with plans to extend Edinburgh Trams from the current city centre terminus of York Place to Newhaven via Leith Walk will not be made until early 2019 to allow full evaluations of tenders to take place before the Final Business Case is considered. It had previously been expected that the final decision would be made before the end of 2018.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Open trams in Blackpool

Posted on Monday 29 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

It may be late October but it has also suddenly become a time for open trams in Blackpool with the recent entry into service of Birkenhead 20 (special priced tours only) and return to service of Boat 227. With the weather still pleasant enough for open tram rides both trams have seen use in Blackpool and the weather was so good on 26th October that the two car daytime service saw 600 join 227 in service. Kevin James with photos taken on 26th and 27th October.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Open trams in Blackpool

TMS to celebrate 60th anniversary of Crich in 2019

Posted on Sunday 28 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

The 2018 operating season may still have one more week at Crich but that doesn’t mean that we can’t look forward to next year with the first special event dates now released. One of the highlights looks set to be a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the acquisition of the now familiar site at Crich with a two-day event due to take place on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September 2019.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 8 Comments

In Pictures: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway marks end of an era

Posted on Sunday 28 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 21st October is a date which will go down in the history of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway as one of those key dates as it was the very last chance that the service would run on double track throughout its entire length between Derby Castle and the Sea Terminal before Promenade reconstruction works started. To mark the occasion a special day of events took place including several runs of double decker 18, the return to service of enclosed saloon 27 after overhaul and an eight tram Cavalcade.

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway marks end of an era

British Trams Online announce Blackpool tram tour for 7th November

Posted on Sunday 28 October 2018 by Andrew Waddington

Further to previous reports, we are delighted to announce that British Trams Online will be hosting a very special tram tour in Blackpool on Wednesday 7th November. This will primarily be to showcase Birkenhead 20 – a tram we have sponsored for its visit to Blackpool – but will also feature, subject to availability, a full system trip with the illuminated Trawler 737.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on British Trams Online announce Blackpool tram tour for 7th November

Tram-Train service launches before collision leads to temporary suspension

Posted on Saturday 27 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

When a much delayed and over budget project finally launches you hope for a smooth start to show everyone that it has been worth waiting for – unfortunately for the UK’s Tram-Train pilot between Sheffield and Rotherham that isn’t what happened after a collision between a Tram-Train and a lorry led to the service being temporarily suspended a few hours after the high profile launch. Even though the collision didn’t really have anything to do with the Tram-Train service per se the publicity it caused in the media will have been the last thing that the pilot needed.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 1 Comment

Around the World in Trams: San Francisco 1006

Posted on Saturday 27 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

Continuing our world tour today as we head over the Atlantic to the far side on the United States of America and San Francisco.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around the World in Trams | Comments Off on Around the World in Trams: San Francisco 1006

Boat 227 named ‘Charlie Cairoli’

Posted on Friday 26 October 2018 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Boat car 227 was re-launched into service on the morning of Thursday 25th October, following completion of extensive overhaul and conservation work. The tram has been named ‘Charlie Cairoli’, honouring the legendary star of the world famous Blackpool Tower Circus for a period of more than four decades.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Boat 227 named ‘Charlie Cairoli’

In Pictures: Nottingham Express Transit August 2018

Posted on Friday 26 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

A small pictorial article looking at some of the trams in action on Nottingham Express Transit during August. Starting off around Old Market Square we not only view the trams but also take a look at the NET shop before we move further afield on the network.. Photos from Hazel Quarmby.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on In Pictures: Nottingham Express Transit August 2018

In Pictures: Nottingham Corporation Tramways 45

Posted on Thursday 25 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

For a system which closed for the last time in 1936 there are a number of Nottingham Corporation Tramways tram bodies which have remained intact in various states. As well as several parts of trams from this network being in the care of the Tramway Museum Society – albeit all stored at Clay Cross waiting their turn for restoration (with the likelihood only one will ever run again and that will be a very long-term project) – there is the lower saloon of a further tram at the Great Central Railway (North) at Ruddington. This is the remains of no. 45.

Continue reading →

Posted in General | 3 Comments

Picture in Time: Dublin Luas 3025

Posted on Thursday 25 October 2018 by Gareth Prior

Heading over to Ireland for Picture in Time today as we feature an image from over 10 years ago on the Luas network.

Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Luas, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Dublin Luas 3025