Who said winter in Blackpool was quiet?

Posted on Monday 21 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The illuminations might have been switched off for another year and the peak summer timetable has come to an end, but the Blackpool tramway is still a great source of interest. This was particularly evident over two days in November, when two local events and a series of interesting private charters involved winter outings for three heritage trams.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 20 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

This week we bring you another two Photo Galleries at different ends of the tram and light rail spectrum:

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In Pictures: Final preparations underway at Edinburgh Gateway

Posted on Sunday 20 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

Some two and a half years after Edinburgh Trams opened final preparations are now underway for a new stop to be opened with the first trams due to stop at Edinburgh Gateway within the next month. Edinburgh Gateway is located between the public stops at Gyle Centre and Gogarburn and will provide an interchange with Scot Rail services on the Fife Circle supposedly providing easier access to the Airport for passengers travelling from the east of Scotland. In this photo update we take a brief look at the current site with photos from Alasdair McFarlane.

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Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1004

Posted on Saturday 19 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of Picture in Time we head back to 1992 and the newly opened Manchester Metrolink system for a duo of images of T68 1004, a tram which arrived in the UK on 27th November 1991.

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Full Tramlink service resumed

Posted on Friday 18 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

London Tramlink services are once again running through Sandilands to New Addington, Beckenham Junction and Elmers End after the completion of repairs on the curve at Sandilands junction following last weeks tragic derailment. As a result of recommendations from the RAIB a new speed restriction has been placed on trams not only at this location but also three other places.

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Major increase in passenger numbers in Douglas

Posted on Friday 18 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway enjoyed a successful season with a 42.7% increase in passenger numbers in comparison to the 2015 season. The operating season in 2016 may have been longer than it has been for several years but even taking this into consideration the takeover of operation by Isle of Man Railways has been a huge success.

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NET services to be suspended during lights switch on

Posted on Friday 18 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit services will be suspended through Old Market Square for around an hour on Thursday 24th November as the Christmas lights are switched on by Paralympians Ollie Hynd and Charlotte Henshaw. Services will run as normal before and after the event but no trams will run between Royal Centre and Nottingham Station for an hour from 1800. During this time all trams from Hucknall and Phoenix Park will terminate at Royal Centre with those from Toton Lane and Clifton South will be turned at Nottingham Station.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 709

Posted on Thursday 17 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

Over the years many trams in Blackpool have seen all over adverts applied; some have received adverts pleasing to the eye whilst others have been, shall we say, a bit less attractive. Today’s focus of Picture in Time is one of those trams which has carried many liveries over the years – Balloon 709 with this being one of the designs for Sealife.

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RAIB release interim report into Sandilands derailment

Posted on Wednesday 16 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

One week after the tragic derailment at Sandilands junction the Rail Accident Investigation Branch have released an interim report into the incident. Initial indications had suggested that the derailment had been caused by the excessive speed the tram was travelling at and this has been confirmed by this interim report with the on-tram data recorded (OTDR) showing that 2551 was travelling at a speed of approximately 70kmh (43.5mph) – more than three times the speed limit on the curve.

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In Pictures: Stagecoach Supertram 118’s revised look

Posted on Tuesday 15 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

Not previously reported on these pages is the return to service on Stagecoach Supertram of 118 following the completion of accident repairs. You may remember that 118 was involved in a collision with 120 at Shalesmoor on 22nd October 2015 which saw the best parts of both trams amalgamated as 120 for a swift return to service whilst the other sections remained confined to depot whilst repairs were undertaken.

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In Pictures: Midland Metro Urbos 3s receive window vinyls…

Posted on Tuesday 15 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

…But don’t worry they don’t block the whole window! As has become the norm on many public transport vehicles – buses as well as trams – many of the Urbos 3s which operate the service on Midland Metro have, over the past couple of months, received window vinyls advertising the service frequency enjoyed on the network.

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NET Phase Two up for national civil engineering award

Posted on Tuesday 15 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

Earlier this year Nottingham Express Transit Phase Two was named as the winning project at the Institution of Civil Engineers’ East Midland’s Merit Awards for large projects and as a result has now been put forward for the ICE People’s Choice Award. 12 projects have been nominated for this award which can now be voted for by members of the public online.

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More illuminating events ahead

Posted on Monday 14 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The Blackpool illuminations may have been switched off for another year, but that certainly doesn’t mean the end of the activity for the illuminated tram fleet. An extra running day has been confirmed to coincide with the switching on of the town’s Christmas lights on Saturday 19th November, when two feature cars will be in use.

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Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 6

Posted on Monday 14 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

We are on the Isle of Man again for today’s Picture in Time image as our archive finds itself in 1977 for a view at Derby Castle.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 13 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

This week we bring you another Photo Gallery:

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American Boats 2: Californian Boats

Posted on Sunday 13 November 2016 by admin

Completing our look at the Blackpool Boat Cars which have found a new home in the USA today Blackpool destination blind guru Peter Watts reports on a recent visit to California where he was again using his skills for new sets of blinds…

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Tram removed from derailment site as investigation continues

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

London Tramlink CR4000 2551 has now been removed from Sandilands junction following Wednesday’s derailment as the investigation into what happened continues with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) set to release an interim report next week. The clear up of the accident site continues as the identities of those who tragically lost their lives in the derailment start to be released by the Police.

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American Boats 1: Blackpool Boat 606

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

This weekend we will be taking a look at the Blackpool Boat Cars that escaped the UK for the United States of America. Tomorrow we take a look at the Californian Boats but first up we head to Maryland to take a look at Boat Car 606 which has now been in the US for 16 years.

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Enthusiast tour raises over £1,000 for children’s charity

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

When you think of enthusiast Private Hires you probably think of the Blackpool Tramway but recently the London Transport Museum Friends hired a tram on Nottingham Express Transit for a full system tour with over £1,000 being raised for local children’s charity When you Wish Upon a Star.

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Double win for Seaton at Devon Tourism Awards

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2016 by Gareth Prior

Seaton Tramway are celebrating after winning two awards at the Devon Tourism Awards 2016 which took place this week in Exeter. Having being shortlisted in two categories Seaton were presented with a Silver Award for Large Attraction of the Year and a Bronze Award for Artistic, Cultural and Learning Experience.

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