Newcastle 102’s fortunes are raised

Posted on Thursday 1 October 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Another step towards a possible return to service for Newcastle 102 occurred on Wednesday 30th September, when the tram was briefly raised off its trucks. As reported previously 102 has been residing in the Crich workshop where its condition is being assessed with a view to potentially restoring it to an operational condition in the fairly near future.

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Cash boost for the Sheffield trams of Crich

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The extensive collection of Sheffield tramcars owned by the Tramway Museum Society look set to benefit from the latest incredible act of generosity by a late tram enthusiast. TMS member Roger Benton who passed away recently, has bequeathed the remarkable sum of £345,000 to be used for the sole purpose of assisting with the restoration of Sheffield trams at Crich.

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Picture in Time: Glasgow 1158

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

We are heading back into the black and white era for today’s Picture in Time image as our time machine lands in Glasgow during 1961 at a time when the extensive Glasgow Corporation Tramways was on the final straight of operation. The tram that got in the way of our photographers camera was Coronation 1158.

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In Pictures: Stadler 2561 arrives in Croydon

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

As we previously reported on British Trams Online Stadler Variobahn 2561 arrived at London Tramlink’s Therapia Lane Depot on Sunday 6th September and we can now show you some images of the tram arriving at its new home courtesy of Ian Buck.

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Nottingham Express Transit Citadis 229 named Viv Anderson MBE

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

229 is the latest Citadis tram to be named in Nottingham with former footballer Viv Anderson MBE the latest recipient following nominations from the public. The naming ceremony took place on Thursday 24th September at Clifton South tramstop and is the eleventh of the new trams to be named (of which four have sporting connections). Viv Anderson made his debut for Nottingham Forest in 1974 before moving to Arsenal in 1984 and then later played for Manchester United. He was also the first black player to be picked for England.

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Last chance to ride the Recruitment Tramcar at Crich

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

There are just two more opportunities to ride on Chesterfield 7 in its Recruitment Tramcar guise at Crich with the tram due to run for the last time with the decorations on Thursday 1st and Saturday 3rd October. 7 has been running as the Recruitment Tram for the majority of the 2015 season to help show how trams were used to help with the Great War recruiting process.

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Trial to be held for overnight parking at Metrolink Park and Ride sites

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

Proposals to allow limited overnight parking at some of Manchester Metrolink’s Park and Ride sites are set to be discussed by Councillors later this week. The idea is that overnight parking would be allowed at 13 sites on a three month trial basis on Friday and Saturday nights only before an evaluation to decide if it was a success.

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In Pictures: East Croydon affected by Connecting Croydon project

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

Platform 3 at East Croydon has been closed temporarily to allow for more works to take place under the banner of the local council’s Connecting Croydon project. As a result all westbound trams travelling through East Croydon are now using the centre platform – platform 2 – with eastbound services unaffected and still using platform 1. Photographs are courtesy of Ian Buck.

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Blackpool celebrates 130 years in style

Posted on Tuesday 29 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

The weekend of 26th and 27th September saw the eyes of tram enthusiasts looking towards Blackpool with the most ambitious period of heritage operations planned since the upgrade of the tramway to help celebrate the 130th anniversary of the tramway. Over the course of the weekend 21 different heritage trams carried passengers (including two members of the “B” fleet) whilst both Rigby Road and Starr Gate Depots opened their doors to a lucky few giving a rare chance to see behind the scenes. The weekend also saw the return to service of Twin Car 675+685 (see separate story here) and Balloon 723 with out of service trams lined up both on Blundell Street and on the fan at Rigby Road.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Event Reviews | 26 Comments

In Pictures: 675+685 return to service for ‘Blackpool 130’ event

Posted on Monday 28 September 2015 by Andrew Waddington

One of the many highlights of the fantastic weekend of events held to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Blackpool tramway over the weekend of 26th & 27th September, was undoubtedly the return to service of Twin set 675+685. The duo last ran in passenger service back in November 2011 and since then their red and yellow Metro Coastlines livery has been replaced by a more traditional colour scheme better suiting their new role in the operational heritage fleet.

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Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1013

Posted on Sunday 27 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today’s Picture in Time comes from Manchester Metrolink once again as we feature some images of 1013 during April 1992.

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Final preparations in place for ‘Blackpool 130’

Posted on Friday 25 September 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Many enthusiasts are currently descending on Blackpool, ready for the weekend’s spectacular events to celebrate 130 years of the famous promenade tramway. A full provisional list of which trams are due to run on both days has now been published online, and one of the surprise stars of the show has also been confirmed – Balloon 723, which will be making its first appearance in passenger service since 2013!

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Picture in Time: Rigby Road Open Day 2010

Posted on Friday 25 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

With this weekend’s Blackpool 130th anniversary events including a double depot open day today’s Picture in Time selection goes back five years to the last time there was an open at Rigby Road during the 125th anniversary. We take a look at a selection of images from that day including some of the displays on the depot fan, inside the depot building and in some of the varying workshops.

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Going for a ride…

Posted on Thursday 24 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

As we take our regular look at just when and where you can enjoy a ride on a traditional tram in the British Trams Online it would be fair to say that this weekend looks set to be a busy one! Of course there is the high profile Blackpool 130th anniversary events (26th and 27th September) but if Blackpool is not your thing don’t worry as you can also make the trip to the East Anglia Transport Museum for their End of Season Gala (26th and 27th September).  And if you don’t fancy going to a special event there are still trams running at 10 other locations in England, the Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales. Read on to find out where…

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New hope for old friends to run again at Crich?

Posted on Wednesday 23 September 2015 by Andrew Waddington

As most readers of this website will be aware, the queue of trams awaiting attention in the Crich workshops is a very long one, and some cars have been waiting for a considerable amount of time to receive the work they require to run again. For one tram however, that wait could be nearly over – after spending fifteen years out of action, Newcastle 102 has entered the works so that its condition can be fully assessed, with a view to possibly returning it to service.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 8 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Wednesday 23 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

We have just the one Photo Gallery for you as part of this week’s main site update but it is a comprehensive photo review of last weekend’s TMS 60 event at the Crich Tramway Village which you have probably got bored with us of saying by now included a spectacular open top tram line-up:

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Picture in Time: Sheffield 510 & Blackpool 49

Posted on Tuesday 22 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

In 1968 the Tramway Museum at Crich held their very first Transport Extravaganza. As previously reported in “Picture in Time” Prague 180 arrived during the build-up to this event but that was only one of the stars of the event and today this series features an image of two of the other trams involved: Sheffield 510 and Blackpool 49.

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In Pictures: M5000 3103 enters service as 3104 arrives

Posted on Monday 21 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

There has been more movement with the M5000s on Manchester Metrolink with 3103 – which seemingly snuck into Manchester without us noticing! – entering service on Saturday 19th September running as part of a double unit on the Eccles route. Meanwhile the same day saw 3104 delivered to Queens Road Depot for a start to be made on its own commissioning and mileage accumulation ahead of an entry into service.

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Norbreck North tramstop will return

Posted on Monday 21 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool Council have confirmed that a new tramstop will be built at Norbreck North following an extensive campaign by local residents following the removal of a stop at this location as part of the upgrade of the tramway. Local residents and councillors had claimed that the removal of this stop caused them great inconvenience as there was a 1km gap between stops at Norbreck and Little Bispham.

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Metrolink’s Airport line wins award

Posted on Monday 21 September 2015 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink’s Airport line has won the “Civil Engineering Achievement of the Year” award at the annual National Rail Awards which took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London last week. The Airport line – which is the latest part of the Metrolink jigsaw to be in place – was praised for opening a year ahead of schedule as well as for having strong environmental management and had engaged and communicated effectively with communities.

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