Find out about destination blinds with Peter Watts

Posted on Friday 26 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

On 1st September destination blind guru Peter Watts will be presenting the monthly Fylde Tramway Society meeting at Wing’s Club, Victoria Road West, Cleveleys. Titled A Blind Approach: Blackpool tram blinds from 1960 Peter will be covering not only historical information on Blackpool tram blinds from 1960 onwards but there will also be a section on the replica Heritage blinds showing the conception, fabrication and end results. All are welcome.

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Oporto C65 and Bournemouth 85 set to change owners

Posted on Thursday 25 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

One of the most elusive trams of the national collection is set to enjoy a rare period in the limelight ahead of a change of ownership. Oporto C65 was acquired by the National Tramway Museum in 2005 but upon transfer from Portugal was immediately stored at Clay Cross and has not actually been seen in public since. However all that is now set to change with news that the tram is set to move to Beamish but not before it is one of the stars of Tram Day on Saturday 10th September.

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Posted in Beamish Tramway, National Tramway Museum | 15 Comments

Picture in Time: Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 21

Posted on Wednesday 24 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

After a summer break Picture in Time is back! Continuing our current Douglas Bay Horse Tramway theme we head to the Isle of Man for this instalment as we feature one of the Toastracks still plying its trade along the Prom today, although it looks different from this photo taken in 1993.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Picture in Time | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Chesterfield 7 back in service & Models on display at Crich

Posted on Tuesday 23 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

This latest pictorial update from Crich features two recent events. Over the weekend of 20th and 21st August there was a Models Weekend which saw a number of layouts on display in the Great Exhibition Hall. Meanwhile as we reported last week Chesterfield 7 has now returned to service following attention to its paintwork in the Workshop required after the removal of its Recruiting Tram decorations of last year. Photos from Hazel Quarmby.

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Book Review: ‘Bispham to Fleetwood – the Blackpool Tramway since 1960’

Posted on Monday 22 August 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The third and final installment of acclaimed tramway historian Brian Turner’s detailed review of the Blackpool system is finally here, covering the stretch north of Bispham right up to the northern terminus at Fleetwood Ferry. This section of tramway is shown in photographs examining the many changes that have gone on since 1960, in particular chartering the transition from traditional tramroad to modern light rail system.

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Posted in Reviews, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 21 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

We actually have some updates over on the main site for you this week as we add a couple more Photo Galleries:

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on This week on British Trams Online

Welcome to 3119 as 3118 enters service on Metrolink

Posted on Sunday 21 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

The end of new tram deliveries to Manchester Metrolink is in sight with M5000 3119 arriving at Queen’s Road Depot on Saturday 20th August – leaving just one further tram of the current order to make the trip. On the same day that 3119 arrived the previous arrival, 3118, was noted in service (believed to be its first day in passenger action) whilst other changes to the fleet have seen a number of trams lose their yellow spots in favour of rainbow spots ahead of the forthcoming Manchester Pride event.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Metrolink 2CC construction works update

Posted on Friday 19 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

Progress is continuing to be made on the “transformation” works on the Manchester Metrolink Second City Crossing (2CC) as preparations for a return for full services through St Peter’s Square on the original city crossing come to a conclusion. No trams have run through the area since the end of June but from the end of August the distinctive yellow trams will once again be seen in service. In this pictorial update we take a brief look at how things looked on Thursday 18th August. Photos from Keith Chadbourne.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 3 Comments

Man dies after being hit by tram

Posted on Friday 19 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

A man in his 50s has died after being hit by a tram close to the David Lane tramstop on the phase one line to Hucknall. The incident happened shortly after 2300 on Monday 15th August and the Police have said there are no suspicious circumstances involved. Nottinghamshire Police are investigating and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch have been informed.

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Man dies after being hit by tram

Not long to go – Metrolink getting ready for cross city services once again

Posted on Thursday 18 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

For first time in 14 months a full Metrolink service is set to run through St Peter’s Square with the transformation works on the original city crossing coming towards a conclusion. It was the end of June 2015 when the line was closed through this key stop and although for much of the period a single line has been open for services there has been major disruption for passengers, no more so than at the start and end of the works which have seen complete closures. Full services are due to resume at the end of August and once again a revised service pattern will be introduced from this time.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 6 Comments

In Pictures: Yorkshire Day at Crich

Posted on Thursday 18 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

Monday 1st August was Yorkshire Day and to celebrate the occasion a low key special event was held at the Crich Tramway Village. All three trams in service on the day were from Yorkshire with Leeds pair 345 and 399 joined by Sheffield 510 whilst fellow Sheffield car 189 was displayed on the Traverser. There was also a visiting coach from Sheffield which travelled down the street to collect disabled passengers. Photos from the day by Hazel Quarmby.

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In Pictures: Nottingham Classic Tour at Crich

Posted on Thursday 18 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

On Sunday 31st July the latest in the series of car rallies to be held at the Crich Tramway Village took place. This time it was the Nottingham Classic Tour organised by the Carlton and District Motor Club who brought with them a variety of different vehicles which were on display around the Museum site, once again providing unique photographic opportunities alongside the resident trams.

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Chesterfield 7 rides again

Posted on Wednesday 17 August 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Following some remedial attention to its paintwork, Chesterfield 7 made a belated year debut in passenger service at Crich Tramway Village on 17th August. This was the tram’s first outing since having its First World War recruitment posters and decorations removed, which were carried for much of the 2015 operating season.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

Douglas horse tram set for Wales?

Posted on Tuesday 16 August 2016 by Andrew Waddington

With the auction of six surplus tramcars from the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway imminent, this development continues to dominate the news as a number of interested parties come forward to inspect the trams and consider potential options for their future. It has come to light that the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway have shown interest in a tram with bulkhead crossbench car 37 believed to be their first choice.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 19 Comments

More details revealed for Douglas Horse Tram sale

Posted on Monday 15 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

Following the news at the end of the week that Douglas Borough Council were to make six surplus trams available for sale by auction further details have now been released including confirmation of which six trams will be up for grabs. As mentioned previously any individuals or groups who are interested in purchasing one of the trams are required to show that they are seriously interested in preserving the vehicles and not just to purchase them without a plan.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 4 Comments

An illuminating Bank Holiday ahead

Posted on Sunday 14 August 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The August Bank Holiday weekend is now looking even more colourful than it did for the Blackpool tramway, with the announcement that the weekend’s heritage tram action will be book-ended by appearances from the illuminated feature cars. On Friday 26th August there will be a rare chance to ride two of them to Fleetwood, whilst on Tuesday 30th they will be out again for the popular annual ‘Ride the Lights’ event.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway celebrates 140 years

Posted on Friday 12 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

It was an anniversary which it was feared may be celebrated without any trams running but on Sunday 7th August the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway was the centre of attention on the Isle of Man as 140 years of operation were celebrated. The highlights of the day included a nine tram cavalcade, the use of two horses hauling double decker no. 18 and trams on display outside the depot at Strathallan.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 3 Comments

Horse trams for sale!

Posted on Friday 12 August 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Despite recent positive developments regarding the future of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway – which is currently looking more secure than it has done all year – there remains an unavoidable fact that the current tram fleet is far larger than is required. Bearing this in mind, it has been confirmed that six trams have been declared surplus to requirements and are to be sold at auction later this month.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 9 Comments

Advert livery changes north and south

Posted on Friday 12 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

Both London Tramlink and Manchester Metrolink have seen some advertising livery changes in the past couple of weeks with the former seeing the application of a new vinyl wrap whilst in Manchester we won’t be thanking Crunchie any more!

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Posted in London Trams, Manchester Metrolink | 6 Comments

Report released into Supertram collision

Posted on Friday 12 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

In one of the speedier releases from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch a report has recently been released on the collision at Shalesmoor on Stagecoach Supertram between trams 118 and 120 which took place on 22nd October 2015. The main causes of the collision have been put down as 120 not being “driven in a manner appropriate for the conditions”and of the brakes on the tram not providing the “level of braking the driver expected”.

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