Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 702

Posted on Thursday 17 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of Picture in Time we are once again in Blackpool with the tram featured being one of the iconic Balloon cars – 702.

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In Pictures: Aberdeen Surburban Tramways no. 11

Posted on Wednesday 16 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

The following article has been updated with further and corrected information on the provenance of this vehicle. Thanks to Keith Jones for providing this info.

Continuing our tour of tram survivors in the north of Scotland we come to an oddity – a former tram rescued and restored as a carriage on the Alford Valley Railway in Aberdeenshire.

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In Pictures: Birkenhead 20’s maiden voyage in Blackpool!

Posted on Tuesday 15 August 2017 by Andrew Waddington

The first appearance of Birkenhead 20 on Blackpool’s promenade occurred on the morning of Tuesday 15th August, just short of four weeks after the open-top tramcar made its journey by road from Birkenhead to Blackpool. This was a test run, to assess the car’s performance on what is a very different system from what it is used to, although naturally this stunning little tram caused plenty of heads to turn!

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In Pictures: Miniature Tram at Tinkers Park

Posted on Tuesday 15 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

At the recent Tinkers Park Bus and Railway event a miniature tram was discovered – a tram which hasn’t previously featured on these pages (as far as we can remember!) and which we don’t actually have any information on! Ken Jones provides the pictures.

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In Pictures: More from Crich WWII Home Front Event

Posted on Tuesday 15 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

We reported at the weekend how Leeds 345 had received wartime additions as part of the WWII Home Front event which was taking place at Crich but that wasn’t all that was happening during the event. A regular tram service was in operation throughout both days alongside wartime re-enactors and some other visiting vehicles. Photos from Hazel Quarmby.

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Picture in Time: Conwy Valley Railway Museum

Posted on Tuesday 15 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

A Picture in Time with a difference today as we take a trip to North Wales but it isn’t the Great Orme Tramway which takes our attention but rather a miniature tram which used to run alongside the main railway line.

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All change for next Blackpool ‘Gold’ weekend

Posted on Monday 14 August 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Significant changes are to be made to the August Bank Holiday ‘Gold’ timetable operated by Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours. This is due to a series of concerts taking place on the promenade over that same weekend, which will result in a split service operating on the tramway for parts of each day. This could so easily have resulted in the heritage service being cancelled altogether but happily a compromise is to be reached so that those who had planned to visit and enjoy a weekend of tram action should not be disappointed.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 13 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

More photos for you to enjoy this week…

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Services resume on Snaefell Mountain Railway

Posted on Saturday 12 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

Trams are once again running on the Snaefell Mountain Railway between Laxey and the summit following trials of trams running at reduced speeds on the line. When we last reported on the issue the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate had suspended all services as the lower speed limit imposed was not being adhered to at times however now that speed monitoring equipment is being used they have agreed to a resumption of services.

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In Pictures: Leeds 345 goes to war

Posted on Saturday 12 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

As part of the World War II Home Front event taking place this weekend at the Crich Tramway Village (including tomorrow, Sunday 13th August if you’re at a loose end!) Leeds 345 has received war time additions with blackout curtains, headlamp hoods and white fenders.

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In Pictures: First Purple Tram Friday at Crich

Posted on Saturday 12 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

Friday 11th August saw the very first Purple Tram Friday at Crich with Blackpool Jubilee 762 in service as part of a standard three tram service. 762 carries an all over advert for Nickelodeon Land at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach and is a popular tram with many children thanks to the numerous images of cartoon characters such as Spongebob Squarepants contained on the ad. In order to try and tap into this market these Purple Tram Fridays have been advertised so those who want to see 762 in action can plan their visit accordingly.

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Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2539

Posted on Saturday 12 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

Today Picture in Time takes a trip to Croydon for an image taken in 2000 showing one of the original CR4000 trams.

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Another makeover for Centenary car 641

Posted on Friday 11 August 2017 by Andrew Waddington

The Fleetwood Heritage Trust are enabling another static display utilising one of their collection of historic Blackpool trams. Centenary car 641, which has been in situ on the display siding within the Pleasure Beach turning circle for the last few years, is now in the early stages of being transformed by ‘Horizon Blackpool’ ahead of the 2017 illuminations.

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Snaefell Mountain Railway services suspended

Posted on Thursday 10 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

The Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate on the Isle of Man have ordered all service on the Snaefell Mountain Railway to be suspended in light of last week’s overrun incident on the line. Services had been running on the line – although at reduced frequencies – since the incident on Friday 4th August but after some trams failed to comply with the reduced speed which had been imposed the decision was made to stop all services until further notice.

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Official update released on Tram-Train project

Posted on Thursday 10 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

Network Rail have announced that further work will be undertaken on the Tram-Train project in the coming weeks, warning rail passengers of disruption whilst it takes place. The second phase of work to assist in linking the Supertram network to the national rail network is now underway and will be completed on the weekend of 19th August.

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In Pictures: 259 & 266 in new adverts

Posted on Thursday 10 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

The first two trams to receive the advertising vinyls as part of the multi-tram deal with C R Smith on Edinburgh Trams have now entered service. The two trams (the first of 18, each to receive unique designs) to receive the adverts are 259 and 266 which both first ran in service in this guise on Wednesday 9th August.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 637

Posted on Thursday 10 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

Another trip into the Blackpool archives for Picture in Time today as we go back to 2004 again for an image of a long withdrawn tram – Brush Railcoach 637.

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Plans considered again for Edinburgh Trams extension

Posted on Wednesday 9 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

A report into extending Edinburgh Trams from the current city centre terminus at York Place to Newhaven is set to be considered by councillors to look into the feasibility of completing line 1A of the system. The report will be considered in September before a final decision is made in autumn 2018.

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First commercial advertising deal secured for Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Wednesday 9 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

The day has finally come – commercial advertising is here for Edinburgh Trams! A two year deal has been signed with C R Smith – an east Scotland double glazing/window manufacturer – which will see an incredible 18 trams wrapped in what is being described as a “highly visual campaign”. The first of the trams has already entered service in its new look with 266 receiving vinyls and being seen in use for the first time on 9th August.

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Rail Map Online now featuring trams

Posted on Wednesday 9 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

Rail Map Online – an online resource of past and present railway maps – have recently started to add some tram routes to their website at http://railmaponline.com/. Recent additions have seen tram routes for the West Midlands now available along with the tramway in Rochester but there is so much more available to view.

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