Tynwald approves Strathallan Depot reconstruction plans – and future of the horse trams secured too

Posted on Thursday 22 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Strathallan Depot – home of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway trams – future is secure following the approval by Tynwald of the reconstruction of the structure to a condition that will closely replicate the original 1902 building. At the same debate in Tynwald an amendment was submitted which sought approval for the Department of Infrastructure to continue to operate the line from 2019 and beyond; this was also voted through seemingly securing the future of the tramway in the future.

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Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2546

Posted on Thursday 22 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Croydon is the location for today’s instalment of Picture in Time as we take a look at one of the early advert liveries on CR4000 2546.

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A new arrival at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 21 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Its been a busy few days for Crich as following hot on the heels of yesterdays news about the formal acquisition of the Barnsley & District bus comes the arrival of a new tram on site. However, this tram will not ever be seen in service as it has been acquired to give an example of a grounded body – a fate which befell many trams following the closure of their networks – and a major part of tramway history. The tram in question – which won’t become part of the national collection – is Nottingham 45 which was previously stored at the Great Central Railway (North).

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

Trams revealed for Blackpool’s last Gold service of 2018

Posted on Wednesday 21 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

It may be only be around a month until Christmas but that doesn’t mean its time for Blackpool’s heritage trams to take a break just yet as the final Gold weekend of 2018 takes place on 24th and 25th November (and not forgetting Santa Specials on the first three Saturdays of December). Six trams will be in service on each day of Winter Gold with the planned allocations now released for both days (subject to the usual availability caveats).

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1913 bus secured for Crich collection

Posted on Tuesday 20 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

The 1913 Leyland “Combination Car” motorbus which operated in Barnsley will now become part of the Crich Tramway Village collection after the conclusion of a successful fundraising campaign. The bus is of a key historic significance and shows the bridge between trams and buses which many towns and cities across the UK experienced in the early part of the twentieth century.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 11 Comments

Picture in Time: Graz 225 & Brussels 9062

Posted on Tuesday 20 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today we are back at Summerlee for the conclusion of a look back to the early days of the tramway to mark 30 years of operations. We look at two trams in this article, both of which are no longer part of the collection – Graz 225 and Brussels 9062.

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Metrolink stops receive Safer Tram Stop Award

Posted on Monday 19 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Ten stops across the Manchester Metrolink have been recognised by a special industry standard award over the safety and security of the stops. The Safer Tram Stop Award aims to prevent crime and the fear of crime and provide guidance to operators on how to create and maintain safe environments.

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Fleet livery returns for a couple M5000s

Posted on Sunday 18 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Whilst on systems such as Blackpool and Nottingham advert liveries are applied and then remain in place for several years (even after the expiry of their contracts!) the situation on Manchester Metrolink is very different with short-term vinyl wraps not uncommon. And another two trams have proven this point with 3052 (ex-Easy Jet) and 3058 (formerly in Catch the Moment branding) both recently returning to standard fleet colours.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 18 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

There are another couple of Photo Galleries now added to the website, with the theme of systems which can easily be reduced to three letter acronyms!

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Tyne & Wear Metro promotes itself as cycle friendly

Posted on Saturday 17 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

The Tyne & Wear Metro has just extended the areas of the system you can take a bike on board the trains off peak as they continue to promote themselves as a cycle friendly system. Bikes can now be taken on board the trains between Callerton Parkway and Jesmond, Manors and Jesmond via Whitley Bay and Gateshead Stadium and South Shields/South Hylton on weekdays from 1000-1500 and 1900 until the end of service as well as all day at weekends.

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Around the World in Trams: Kagoshima 602

Posted on Saturday 17 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today we feature a photo from Japan as we continue our look at trams from outside of the British Isles.

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More heritage trams in Blackpool for 2019

Posted on Saturday 17 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

If you enjoy a ride on a heritage tram in Blackpool then you can start planning your trips for 2019 with the operating dates now announced – and Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours will be running more than ever so there will be plenty of opportunities! Trams will be running at least every weekend throughout the whole of 2019 whilst each Gold Weekend (with the exception of Winter Gold) will be preceded by a Friday of Heritage Tours too.

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Ashton line service frequency set to increase

Posted on Friday 16 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Passengers travelling between Etihad Campus and Ashton-under-Lyne are set to enjoy an improved service frequency in early 2019 with the extension of the MediaCityUK to Etihad Campus service being made permanent following trials earlier this year. This will see trams running every six minutes all the way through to Ashton-under-Lyne – instead of the current 12 minute frequency.

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In Pictures: Upper Douglas Tramway flywheel

Posted on Friday 16 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

A few weeks ago we reported on the plan to display a surviving flywheel from the Upper Douglas Tramway in the Bottleneck car park and this has now been put into place, including information panels on the significance of the artefact. This is the only surviving piece of machinery from the tramway which last operated in 1929 and was discovered in 2000 during excavation works.

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New monsters on the way at Metrolink

Posted on Thursday 15 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

The popular Metrolink Monsters marketing and social media campaign is be relaunched including some new “monsters” ahead of a warning that passengers displaying nuisance behaviour on the trams could be hit with fines of up to £1000. The previous campaign – which ran in March and April this year – concentrated on annoying behaviour but the aim this time will start to look at illegal behaviour.

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Picture in Time: Docklands Light Railway 66+41

Posted on Thursday 15 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

In this instalment of Picture in Time we are off to London’s Docklands once again as we take a look at another all over advert carried on the trains of the DLR over the years.

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In Pictures: Metrolink advert update

Posted on Wednesday 14 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

We’ve reported on all of the following livery changes for various Manchester Metrolink M5000s previously but haven’t necessary featured images of them and so to remedy that below we feature photos of 3052, 3058, 3085 and 3103 (if only to enable us to link to a photo from our fleet list!) Photography from Roland Bull.

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Relive the 125th Anniversary of the Manx Electric Railway

Posted on Wednesday 14 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

At the start of September this year the Manx Electric Railway celebrated its 125th anniversary with a week long special event held including the return of Ratchet Car 14, special tram tours and a Cavalcade. The event may start to becoming a dim and distant memory but you can now relive the best of the action with the release of a new DVD for Bob Hodges Transport DVDs. Manx Electric Railway 125 is 76 minutes long and is presented in wide screen with subtitle and no commentary. It can be purchased directly from Bob Hodges Transport DVDs at www.bhtransportdvds.co.uk and costs £12.50. An extended trailer of what you can expect from the DVD is available on YouTube.

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In Pictures: Christmas arrives in Manchester

Posted on Tuesday 13 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink are getting ready for Christmas with the decorations being put on a few trams with Noel the Elf back as part of Transport for Greater Manchester’s bid to encourage travellers to use public transport this festive season. Using a limited amount of vinyls on tram windows – not covering the whole window – images of Noel the Elf are also featured on the trams which retain standard fleet livery in all other respects. So far 3021, 3050, 3092, 3097 and 3109 have all received the branding. Confirmation of 3088’s identical to 3040 Talk Talk advert is also shown below with thanks to Dave Elison.

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Picture in Time: Great Orme Tramway 4

Posted on Tuesday 13 November 2018 by Gareth Prior

We are heading back 25 years in today’s archive image with Llandudno’s Great Orme Tramway the subject.

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