Birkenhead tramway marks 60 years since Liverpool’s last tram

Posted on Wednesday 20 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

On Saturday 16th September, the much-hyped event to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the closure of Liverpool’s dearly loved tram system was held at the Birkenhead tramway. In fact, the annual anniversary had already been marked two days earlier with the Mayor of Liverpool attending, Liverpool 245 running in passenger service and a number of talks and presentations.

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Picture in Time: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 34 & 1

Posted on Tuesday 19 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Today our archive photo series heads across to the Isle of Man for a view taken at the Strathallan terminus of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway in August 1992 on a wet day which necessitated the use of an enclosed saloon.

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Final preparations for Brush car birthday celebrations

Posted on Tuesday 19 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Ahead of the Blackpool tramway anniversary event this coming weekend, Blackpool’s operational Brush Railcoaches are now being prepared for their starring role over the weekend, in recognition of their 80th anniversary year. This has included the arrival of visiting car 630 whilst the major renovation of pioneer 621 is now almost complete.

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In Pictures: Citylink Charity Tour

Posted on Tuesday 19 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 17th September saw a charity tram tour on Stagecoach Supertram featuring the most extensive use of a Citylink tram yet with 399 202 (the same tram as used on Thursday’s inaugural runs) traversing the entirety of both the Blue and Yellow routes. The tour was all in aid of Sheffield’s Children’s Hospital Charity with anyone wishing to travel asked to donate whatever they felt appropriate with buckets available on board.

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Douglas 45 moves to the MER

Posted on Monday 18 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Douglas 45 has become the latest of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway fleet to be selected for a major overhaul. Last week the tram left its normal home and was moved by road to the Manx Electric Railway’s Derby Castle premises for work to begin on its rebuild.

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In Pictures: Bournemouth 85 & Friends!

Posted on Monday 18 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

As we have already reported on British Trams Online, Bournemouth 85 was the undisputed star of the show at Crich Tramway Village’s ‘Tram Day’ on Saturday 16th September. Bearing this in mind, and because we are rather taken with it, here are some more pictures taken on this day showing 85 in the company of other vehicles in the Crich fleet.

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In Pictures: 267 & 274 receive C R Smith ads in Edinburgh

Posted on Monday 18 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

The addition of more advertising vinyls for C R Smith shows no signs of slowing down with two more trams receiving their new look in the past few days – 267 and 274.

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Event Report: Crich ‘Tram Day’, 16th September 2017

Posted on Monday 18 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

The annual enthusiasts event at Crich Tramway Village – now known simply as ‘Tram Day’ – is commonly regarded as one of the highlights of the year for fans of traditional trams in the UK, and 2017’s event was certainly no exception. Held on Saturday 16th September, this year saw the usual mix of unusual trams displayed in the depot yard, line-ups of trams and an intensive service on the main line. This year’s star attraction was without doubt Bournemouth 85, the latest addition to the museum’s collection.

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In Pictures: Citylink trams debut in Sheffield

Posted on Monday 18 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

As we reported last week there was an unexpected debut for the Citylink tram-trains on Thursday 15th September following the naming of 399 202 at Nunnery Square Depot. The tram ran an additional service on the Yellow route once the naming ceremony had taken place; unadvertised to the general public save for a brief mention on local news in the morning but with the press and local dignitaries present. With thanks to the Railway Herald we can now bring you photos of the first day.

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In Pictures: Brush 630 heads off to Blackpool

Posted on Monday 18 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

No sooner had it played a major role in Tram Day at Crich then Blackpool Brush Railcoach 630 was transferred to the Workshop for preparations to be made for its visit to its old home tramway. Indeed on Monday 18th September the tram was on the road to Blackpool, returning to the resort for the first time in nearly six years.

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Picture in Time: Docklands Light Railway 04

Posted on Saturday 16 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Our modern edition of Picture in Time this week comes from the Docklands Light Railway as we go back to 1994 for a view of P86 04.

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Citylink trams debut in Sheffield

Posted on Friday 15 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

After announcing only a few days ago that members of the public would finally be able to ride on a tram-train in the UK on Sunday 17th September, Stagecoach Supertram then caught us rather by surprise by debuting one of its newest additions in service on Thursday 14th! 399 402 did the honours, performing a number of historic runs on this first day.

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In Pictures: Heritage trams on New South Promenade

Posted on Thursday 14 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Not previously featured on British Trams Online was the operation of Blackpool’s heritage tram service to Starr Gate on both Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th August. This resulted from the partial closure of the promenade on both afternoons for a music event, forcing the heritage trams to terminate at Tower – and so the service was extended to the tramway’s southern extremity to offer some consolation!

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22nd September is ‘Brush car Friday’

Posted on Thursday 14 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

It was already known that the now annual Blackpool tramway anniversary spectacular event – being held this year on 23rd & 24th September – would be dominated by the Brush Railcoach class, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of these historic trams in 2017. However, an additional event, solely featuring the Brush cars, has now been announced for Friday 22nd September when four cars of the type are expected to be in service.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 296

Posted on Thursday 14 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

A tram which looks very different now is the feature of today’s Picture in Time image – it is Blackpool Brush 296.

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In Pictures: Edinburgh 262 in C R Smith advert

Posted on Wednesday 13 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

The C R Smith advertising vinyls are continuing to spread in Edinburgh with 262 another tram to have recently succumbed. This advert has a sporting theme as it is from Dunblane to St Andrews – tennis star Andy Murray is from Dunblane and features on the vinyl along with the R&A clubhouse at St Andrews.

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In Pictures: Bilston Road track replacement

Posted on Wednesday 13 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Three months into the planned six month closure of Midland Metro between Priestfield and Wolverhampton St George’s and progress is continuing with the majority of the southbound track now laid. It is hoped that trams will return in time for Christmas but as well as the northbound track still to be replaced there is work to be done on installing points for the Wolverhampton City Centre extension. Andy Walters provides us with the latest images.

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Lost Trams: Blackpool 144

Posted on Wednesday 13 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Whereas the other trams at the Seashore Trolley Museum which have featured recently in this Lost Trams series are stored with no prospect of a return to service this is not the case for the Blackpool representative in the collection – Standard 144.

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In Preview: Tram Day at Crich Tramway Village

Posted on Tuesday 12 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Tram Day, the annual main enthusiast’s event at the Crich Tramway Village, takes place on Saturday 16th September. We already knew that recently arrived Bournemouth 85 was expected to play a starring role in the day but it has now been announced that the 80th anniversary of the Blackpool Brush Railcoach and the 60th anniversary of Liverpool Corporation Tramways closing will also be themes for the day.

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Picture in Time: Modern Electric Tramways 6

Posted on Tuesday 12 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of Picture in Time we once again venture to Eastbourne for a look at the Modern Electric Tramways operation on the Sussex coast before they moved to the more familiar location today of Seaton. The tram featured is no. 6.

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