In Pictures: Ratchet Car 14 relaunched

Posted on Wednesday 5 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

For the first time since 1978 – by our reckoning that’s 40 years ago! – Ratchet Car 14 has officially carried passengers following its launch back into service on Monday 3rd September as the Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary events continue.

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Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 5 – Wednesday 5th September

Posted on Tuesday 4 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

The week-long celebration of the Manx Electric Railway continues tomorrow as it moves into the second half of the events. Groudle will be centre-stage tomorrow with the Tunnel Cars and Crossbench’s also playing major roles as the excitement just keeps on coming! Read on for more…

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Event Review: ‘Simply Trams’ at Crich Tramway Village, 1st September 2018

Posted on Tuesday 4 September 2018 by Andrew Waddington

For 2018, the annual enthusiasts event at Crich Tramway Village was given a brand new name – ‘Simply Trams’ – and the main theme was that of ‘Birthdays & Anniversaries’, with Blackpool & Fleetwood 2 returning to service for one day only as the star of the show. In addition to this, the event promised the usual mix of an intensive tram service using all available trams, works cars operating, photographic opportunities, a sale of archive materials, working model trams and more. Read on to find out more about what happened on the day…

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 633

Posted on Tuesday 4 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Back to the early 1990s for today’s edition of Picture in Time as we take a look at a Brush Car which looks very different today – 633.

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In Pictures: MER 1 heads to Laxey

Posted on Tuesday 4 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

The big 125th Anniversary of the Manx Electric Railway events kicked off on Saturday 1st September and despite some wet weather it doesn’t seem to have dampened spirits of the assembled enthusiasts with plenty to keep any visitor occupied. On Sunday 2nd September events were centred around Laxey with a special birthday party with a Travelling Post Office on hand to sell special sets of stamps to commemorate the occasion.

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Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 4 – Tuesday 4th September

Posted on Monday 3 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

The halfway point of the Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary events is reached tomorrow and it is hoped that it will be a day of the Crossbench with a special photo evening – weather permitting of course! Read on to find out more on what is scheduled to be taking place…

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In Pictures: Ratchet Car 14 to the rescue!

Posted on Monday 3 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

It was meant to be just a normal test run as final preparations were made ahead of its official launch a few days later but on Friday 31st August Ratchet Car 14 was pressed into service to pick up some passengers from Laxey – the first-time normal fare paying passengers could enjoy a ride on a Ratchet Car since 2000 when 18 last ran!

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Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 3 – Monday 3rd September

Posted on Sunday 2 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

We reach the third day of the MER 125th Anniversary events tomorrow and its a big day as Ratchet Car 14 will be launched into service after its major overhaul by paid staff and volunteers. And there is plenty more on top of that to keep you occupied – read on for more details.

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Get to me to the Register Office on time – by Rainbow tram!

Posted on Sunday 2 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

I think many reading this website will agree that if you have to get married then you might as well get there in style and what better to do so than by tram?! Whilst in Blackpool you can hire a heritage tram to the business the rest of the country isn’t quite as lucky but that didn’t stop a couple in Manchester from managing to hire a M5000 to get them from Stretford to Manchester City Centre for their ceremony.

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Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 2 – Sunday 2nd September

Posted on Saturday 1 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Day 2 of the MER 125th Anniversary events sees the big birthday party at Laxey with the three 1s on display for photos for much of the day along with a chance to see behind the scenes at Laxey Car Sheds. Read on for day two’s preview!

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Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 22

Posted on Saturday 1 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

With the 125th Anniversary events of the Manx Electric Railway now underway where better than the Isle of Man for today’s edition of Picture in Time. We head back to 1979 for this image showing Winter Saloon 22.

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More consultation on the way for Edinburgh Trams extension

Posted on Saturday 1 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Whatever the outcome of the decision on whether to extend Edinburgh Trams along Leith Walk to Newhaven you won’t be able to say there hasn’t been enough consultation – another online consultation will be launched at the start of September, this time looking for views on the proposed support for businesses effected by the construction works. The City of Edinburgh Council have said their proposals are “innovative and exciting” and will total £2.4 million.

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Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 1 – Saturday 1st September

Posted on Friday 31 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

After the build-up of the past year we are finally here – it’s the week-long events to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Manx Electric Railway! As a quick one stop guide each evening (at roughly 2100 each night) we will be bringing you a brief recap of what is scheduled to take place the next day including our “Pick of the Day”. With the event kicking off tomorrow here is the preview for Day 1 – Saturday 1st September.

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In Pictures: Oporto 196 regains its advert boards

Posted on Friday 31 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

For the past few months Oporto 196 has been missing something whilst still being in service at Beamish. That something is its advert boards which have recently been reapplied with the familiar Sunderland Echo and Shop at Binns adverts included on the boards amongst other local companies.

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In Pictures: Rainbow Tram 3071

Posted on Friday 31 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

We featured the first of the two Rainbow Trams adorned for Manchester’s Pride event over the August Bank Holiday previously but in order to complete the picture we now take a look at the other specially liveried trams – 3071. Externally looking identical to 3028, 3071 also features the attractive Rainbow spots on the bodyside along with rainbow stripes on each end.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Thursday 30 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

One more Photo Gallery has been added this week before the main site takes a short break during the next couple of weeks:

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Delays in Blackpool after car crashes through barrier

Posted on Thursday 30 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

Trams were delayed on the Blackpool Tramway for several hours on Wednesday 29th August after a car crashed through the barriers close to Cavendish Road tramstop. The BMW – which must have been travelling at a fair speed judging by the damage caused – ended up on the tracks having crashed through the concrete barriers which protect the tramway at this point with no trams able to travel between Bispham and Cabin for three hours.

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In Preview: Simply Trams at Crich

Posted on Thursday 30 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

Its nearly time for one of the highlights of the tram calendar with Simply Trams (a new title for 2018) taking place on Saturday 1st September at the Crich Tramway Village. We have seen over the past few years this event go from strength to strength with plenty of trams in service alongside some unique photo opportunties featuring both operational and static trams. But that’s in the past – just what will be happening in 2018? The theme for 2018 is Birthdays and Anniversaries with the star attraction likely to be the previously announced use in service of Blackpool & Fleetwood Rack 2 but that isn’t all that will be happening. Read on for an Event Preview containing everything you should need to know about the event if you’re planning a visit – and probably plenty you don’t!

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Around the World in Trams: Frankfurt 537

Posted on Thursday 30 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

Germany is the location for today’s photo from around the world as we feature a tram from Frankfurt.

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Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 1 moves to Laxey

Posted on Wednesday 29 August 2018 by Gareth Prior

The preparations for the 125th Anniversary of the Manx Electric Railway events – which start on Saturday 1st September and continue through until Saturday 8th September – are continuing on the Isle of Man with another key piece of the jigsaw now in place with Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 1 now ensconced at Laxey ahead of its starring role on Sunday 2nd September.

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