London Tramlink Engineering works: 25th August to 3rd September

Posted on Friday 18 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

More track renewal works on London Tramlink will mean that no services will run between Lloyd Park and New Addington from 2230 on Friday 25th August until Sunday 3rd September. Track relaying is due to take place in the Gravel Hill area during this closure with normal services expected to resume from Monday 4th September. Trams will run a normal service to both Beckenham Junction and Elmers End with a service also running from Wimbledon to Lloyd Park. During the work a replacement bus will run from New Addington to East Croydon.

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Nottingham Express Transit service change: 26th August to 30th August

Posted on Friday 18 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

Tram track replacement works on Nottingham Express Transit will mean services are amended over the August Bank Holiday weekend and beyond. Track is due to be replaced on both the northbound and southbound lines at the junction of Mount Hooton Road and Bentick Road on the city side of The Forest tramstop between Saturday 26th and Wednesday 30th August.

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Manchester Metrolink service change: Sunday 27th August

Posted on Friday 18 August 2017 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 27th August will see changes to Manchester Metrolink services before 0800 because of Network Rail works to upgrade the Manchester to Stalybridge via Victoria line. The Bury, Oldham and Rochdale and East Didsbury lines will all be affected.

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Ghostly goings-on in Blackpool!

Posted on Thursday 17 August 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have announced a novel new venture – ‘Ghost Tram’! On a limited number of dates during the autumn, author of ‘Haunted Blackpool’ Stephen Mercer will join passengers for a special spooky experience, riding on a historic tramcar from the Pleasure Beach to Fleetwood and back.

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Trolley troubles and air show delays in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 17 August 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Saturday 12th July was an interesting day in Blackpool in many regards, albeit not a particularly good one for anyone using the tramway as a means of transportation! This was the first day of the annual promenade air show, which always brings hoardes of people to the town, most of whom gather on the promenade adjacent to the tram tracks, which can create some issues.

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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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