John & Fletcher retire from Douglas Bay Horse Tramway

Posted on Wednesday 21 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

We often report on trams being withdrawn from service but rarely do we run a story on when horses are retired from active duty – until now! Recently two of the trammers who are the key to the success of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway have been retired to the Isle of Man Home of Rest for Old Horses – John and Fletcher have both made the trip across from Summer Hill Stables where they will now have a relaxing life without having to worry about keeping to timetable anymore.

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Service changes ahead for NET

Posted on Wednesday 21 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

Two events taking place in Nottingham over the next few weeks will see changes to Nottingham Express Transit services. Both the Robin Hood Half Marathon (Sunday 25th September) and the Goose Fair (Wednesday 5th to Sunday 9th October) will see service amendments in place.

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Heaton Park Tramway – A clarification

Posted on Tuesday 20 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

In our recent news article on the forthcoming closure of the Heaton Park Tramway we may have suggested that the tramway was due to be open to the public throughout the winter; this was not the intention. The tramway was always due to be closed from December 2016 until February 2017 but the closure period has been extended to include all of November and the early part of December to enable the works to take place ahead of the 2017 season. The closure period has also meant that the previously planned Autumn Gala has now been cancelled. We apologise for any confusion the original article may have caused.

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, Site News | 1 Comment

In Pictures: New advert for NET 206

Posted on Tuesday 20 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit Incentro 206 has recently received new advertising vinyls for Jet2.com, replacing the previous long standing advert for e-on. The tram has retained its red base but has been covered in vinyls for Jet2.com – and we mean covered – with extensive use of contravision on the windows. This is the second advert livery that 206 has carried in Nottingham.

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Taking coals to Newcastle…

Posted on Saturday 17 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

Well a Coal Tram to Beamish anyway! The latest acquisition for the tram fleet at Beamish – Oporto Coal Tram C65 – has now arrived at its new home following its transfer from Crich. C65 was spotted outside the depot at Beamish on Friday 16th September having completed its road trip from Crich earlier in the week.

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Metrolink suspended after storm

Posted on Friday 16 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

Tuesday 13th September was a bad night for Manchester Metrolink following a major storm which saw lightning strikes on two substations and flooding in the city centre. At one stage all lines were completely suspended but as the evening progressed services started to resume on most lines although both the Altrincham and Bury lines remained suspended throughout the evening.

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Consultation launched on future of Supertram

Posted on Friday 16 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

The South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) are to launch a consultation on the future of the Supertram network from 19th September to “help shape long-term plans for the system”. It is hoped to find out what people think of Supertram, how the network could be developed or improved and how services could fit with other transport.

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Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | 8 Comments

In Pictures: 3119 enters service in Manchester

Posted on Friday 16 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

Whilst we still await the delivery of the last of current order of Manchester Metrolink M5000’s the penultimate arrival – 3119 – has now entered service. The tram was first noted in passenger use on Wednesday 14th September running on the Shaw & Crompton to East Didsbury service. Steve Kemp provided us with these photos from its second day of use.

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Bull Street to be Metro terminus for Birmingham BikeFest

Posted on Friday 16 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

All Midland Metro services until 1800 on Sunday 18th September from Wolverhampton St George’s will terminate at Bull Street due to the Birmingham BikeFest taking place in the city. The 2km family bike ride will see a number of roads closed in the city centre and once the event is concluded protective material has to be removed from the roads.

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British Trams Online Statement

Posted on Wednesday 14 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

It will probably not have escaped your notice that over the past week or so there have a few controversies regarding some of the news stories which have appeared on this website especially in regard to the Heaton Park Tramway. This statement seeks to clarify our position on the news we cover.

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Oporto C65 stars at Tram Day

Posted on Wednesday 14 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

Over the past few years the main enthusiast event at Crich has given us on loan trams and trams displayed outside from the on site collection but for 2016 Tram Day – as it has now been christened – a first was achieved with a tram from the Clay Cross store the star of the day in its only public appearance at the Crich Tramway Village ahead of a move to Beamish. That tram was Oporto coal tram C65 which was posed on the depot fan both alone and with some friends old and new throughout the day. But Tram Day was so much more than just the one tram and the day also saw many other rare occurrences.

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Posted in Event Reviews, National Tramway Museum | 5 Comments

All track now in place for Second City Crossing

Posted on Wednesday 14 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

This week has seen a major milestone in the construction of Manchester Metrolink’s Second City Crossing with the last of the track now having been laid. It is anticipated that all other major civil engineering works – including the installation of the overhead – will be completed by the end of the year allowing the line to open in early 2017.

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Oporto coal tram on the road again

Posted on Monday 12 September 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Less than a week after it arrived at Crich Tramway Village for the first time ever, Oporto C65 left Crich for good early on the afternoon of Monday 12th September. The coal tram is bound for Beamish Museum, having been officially handed over to that organisation where it is expected that it will be returned to running order.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Illuminated Rocket 732

Posted on Sunday 11 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

With the Illuminations now in full light in Blackpool it seems an opportune moment to return to the north west coast for another view from the archives of one of the Illuminated Feature Cars. This time it is the distinctive Rocket which features in a 1962 image.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 4 Comments

Heaton Park’s winter work forces three month closure

Posted on Friday 9 September 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The Heaton Park Tramway have an ambitious workshop programme planned for winter 2016/17 and beyond, and to allow the scarce volunteer resources to be focussed accordingly, it has been decided not to operate a tram service this winter. This also means that the Autumn Gala, previously advertised to go ahead on 3rd November, has been cancelled.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 32 Comments

Amended schedule for Crich ‘Tram Day’

Posted on Friday 9 September 2016 by Andrew Waddington

With a fairly depressing weather forecast, organisers of the ‘Tram Day’ at Crich on Saturday 10th September have made a few tweaks to the previously advertised programme of events. The main photographic line-ups will still take place as planned, although it is possible that some vehicles may not appear if the weather is too bad. The main changes concern the vehicle allocations for the day’s service.

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In Pictures: What to do with a mock-up tram?

Posted on Thursday 8 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

When Edinburgh Trams was being constructed a mock-up tram was displayed in the city centre to show would be passengers what they would soon be enjoying. Once the construction was finally completed and real working trams were in the city operating the mock-up became redundant but remained in Edinburgh waiting for a new role – a new role which has now been found at Edinburgh Airport. The mock-up was installed at the Airport earlier this year and has now been branded as an Information Lounge. John Hampton has provided us with these photos.

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Midland Metro Alliance appoint Director

Posted on Thursday 8 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

Midland Metro Alliance – the body set-up to oversee the expansion of Midland Metro – has appointed a new Director. Alejandro Moreno, currently Managing Director for Scandinavia for Colas Rail, is the man who has been tasked with leading this body as Midland Metro prepares for a period of major expansion.

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Douglas horse trams on the move!

Posted on Thursday 8 September 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The first two of the recently sold Douglas horse trams have now left their home system, following the recent auction to sell off six redundant tramcars. Both 33 and 34 have already left Strathallan depot, although both are set to remain on the Isle of Man for the foreseeable future.

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Heaton Park trams star at Trans Lanc Rally

Posted on Thursday 8 September 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The annual Trans Lanc Rally day, staged by the Greater Manchester Museum of Transport, sees a huge array of historic vehicles displayed in the vast grounds of Manchester’s Heaton Park. To compliment the event, an enhanced tram service operates through the park and usually provides the tramway with its busiest day of the year – and 2016 was no different with three different cars in service over an eight hour period.

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