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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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 2 Comments

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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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 4 Comments

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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Tram passenger injured following car v tram collision

Posted on Thursday 8 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

A passenger on board a tram was taken to hospital following a collision between a car and a tram on Wilford Lane. Eyewitness reports suggest the car drove into the side of the tram at approximately 1400 on Monday 5th September. The driver of the car reportedly suffered no injuries but one passenger on board the tram had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

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Oporto C65 gets ready for the weekend

Posted on Wednesday 7 September 2016 by Andrew Waddington

As previously reported, Oporto C65 – a coal tram – is set to be the star attraction at ‘Tram Day’, the main annual enthusiast event being held at Crich Tramway Village on Saturday 10th September. The tramcar has now arrived at Crich for the very first time, ahead of its big day when it will be featuring in two line-ups during the event.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 2 Comments

Let there be light!

Posted on Tuesday 6 September 2016 by Andrew Waddington

As most seaside resorts see their custom decrease, Blackpool steps up a gear for the annual illuminations. After the preview event a few days earlier, this year’s ‘lights’ were officially switched on by Dame Barbara Windsor on Friday 2nd September, signalling the start of one of the most busy and interesting periods of the year for the town’s tramway.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 14 Comments

Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 33

Posted on Tuesday 6 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

Our latest visit to the archives sees us arrive on the Isle of Man once again; this time the year is 1998 and we find ourselves on the Isle of Man Steam Railway but don’t let that location put you off as we very much feature a tram in the form of no. 33.

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Can you help identify these photos?

Posted on Tuesday 6 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

We have recently been contacted by Elaine Clarke who has discovered a discarded old album of photos which included images of tram lines being laid in a mystery location. The album also contained pictures of Wentworth Castle suggesting a possible location of the Sheffield/Doncaster area however the photos don’t have any obvious landmarks allowing an easy identification. The photos are included below and if anyone can help to identify the location Elaine would be grateful – you can either leave a comment or alternatively email gareth@britishtramsonline.co.uk and we will pass all suggestions on.

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Posted in General | 16 Comments

Full details announced for Tram Day

Posted on Monday 5 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

One of the most anticipated events at Crich this year, Tram Day, takes place on Saturday 10th September and following the announcement last month that Oporto C65 would be on display during the day full details have now been released including the tram allocations and photographic opportunities on offer.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 4 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 4 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

Just the one Photo Gallery for you this week as we head back to the Isle of Man once again:

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, Site News, Snaefell Mountain Railway | 1 Comment

Event Report: Isle of Man Heritage Transport Festival and preceding charters by the Isle of Man Fifty Group, 20th July – 1st August

Posted on Sunday 4 September 2016 by Gareth Prior

The Isle of Man is an heritage transport jewel in the middle of the Irish sea. On an island barely 38 miles long and 13 miles wide you can experience three different steam railways, vintage bus, commercial vehicle, car and of course motorbikes, plus three wonderful and very different tramway’s. These tramway’s comprise a seventeen mile long electric tramway with interurban, country and coastal sections; a five mile long mountain tramway and the worlds last regularly operated Horse Tramway along the impressive Douglas waterfront.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Event Reviews, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | 1 Comment

Another busy Bank Holiday for Blackpool’s heritage trams

Posted on Friday 2 September 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The August Bank Holiday weekend saw the latest period of intensive operation for Blackpool’s heritage tram tours which was largely blessed with fine weather. This slightly belated report summarises the events of the long weekend, including which trams ran on each day, starting with the now established Friday evening ‘warm-up’ event.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 10 Comments

Heaton Park Tramway suspend a Saturday service

Posted on Friday 2 September 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The Heaton Park Tramway have stated that the planned Saturday service will not operate on 3rd September. However, the trams will be running on Sunday 4th September with a three-car service expected to coincide with the annual Trans Lanc Rally taking place in the grounds of the Manchester park.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 19 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 632

Posted on Wednesday 31 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

We are off to Blackpool in 1973 for today’s Picture in Time as we take a look at Blackpool Brush Railcoach 632.

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New Midland Metro DVD out now

Posted on Tuesday 30 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

The latest DVD from Bob Hodges Transport DVDs is out now and features 75 minutes of action from Midland Metro, including the latest city centre extensions. As usual there is no commentary to get in the way of the sounds of the trams and surroundings with footage filmed between 2011 and 2016. A sneak peek of what to expect from the DVD is available on YouTube and you can an order a copy of the DVD directly from Bob Hodges Transport DVDs.

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In Pictures: T69 16’s name lives on…

Posted on Tuesday 30 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

The one remaining T69 at Wednesbury Depot is the last to have run in service – 16. 16 was named Gerwyn John in November 2005 but as with all withdrawn T69s it soon had its nameplates removed but it has never been worked out just where the plates went. Well one of the plates from 16 has now resurfaced – being used as part of a headboard at the Severn Valley Railway!

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Tuesday 30 August 2016 by Gareth Prior

It may be Tuesday but that doesn’t mean we have forgotten about this week’s main site update as it is now online and includes three more Photo Galleries:

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink, Manx Electric Railway, Site News, Snaefell Mountain Railway, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on This week on British Trams Online