London Tramlink Engineering Works: 25th October to 2nd November

Posted on Friday 24 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

London Tramlink services will be suspended between Mitcham Junction and Ampere Way from Saturday 25th October until Sunday 2nd November in connection with double tracking work on the Wimbledon branch in the Beddington Lane area. During the work a replacement bus service will run between the two stops calling also at Beddington Lane and Therapia Lane. Tram services will run as normal between Wimbledon and Mitcham Junction, New Addington and Ampere Way, Elmers End/Beckenham Junction to West Croydon.

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Burton & Ashby 14 up for auction

Posted on Friday 24 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The future of Burton & Ashby 14 has been thrown into some doubt, following the surprising revelation that this unique open top tramcar is being offered for sale as part of a large auction after being deemed surplus to requirements by its present owners. The tram was exported to America many years ago and for a while it delighted visitors to a tourist line in Detroit, but has since languished in storage for some time after this tramway closed down a decade ago.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 21 Comments

In Pictures: Glasgow 488 restoration progresses

Posted on Thursday 23 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

It’s not often that when you think of a tram restoration you think of it as taking place in Wales, but that is, of course, exactly where the major restoration of Glasgow 488 – repatriated from France last year – is being undertaken. More specifically the work is being done by the renowned Boston Lodge workshops at the Ffestiniog Railway and a recent Behind the Scenes weekend at the railway allowed David Mee to provide us with this update on recent progress on restoring the tram to operational condition.

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Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | 2 Comments

Heritage Trams this week

Posted on Thursday 23 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

It’s that time of the week again as we round-up just when and where you can ride on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. Although many places across the country only have a little over a week until they end operation for the year things aren’t going to end quietly! It is the busiest week of the year for the Illumination Tours in Blackpool as October Half Term arrives with up to 5 trams in service during between 24th October and 2nd November whilst at Crich there will be a rare chance to ride on the tram after dark during the Starlight Specials. Meanwhile Seaton will be celebrating Halloween and on the Isle of Man the season ends with a Winter Photography event on the Manx Electric Railway. Hopefully there will be something to keep everyone happy in the next week or so and don’t forget if you do visit any of these events we would gladly receive any photos!

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Enhanced heritage output for half-term in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 23 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

As expected, it has been confirmed that there will be additional trams operating in Blackpool on illumination tours during the forthcoming school half-term week, commencing from Friday 24th October and running until 2nd November inclusive. This period should see four or five trams in use on tours each evening, although as usual this will be subject to staff availability.

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Crich depot conditions to be assessed

Posted on Thursday 23 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

It is well known that the conditions in the main running sheds at Crich Tramway Village are less than ideal for housing a priceless collection of vintage trams, in their current condition. Now, a serious effort is being made to assess the temperature and humidity in the depots as well as the Exhibition Hall, the library and at the off-site Clay Cross store.

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Picture in Time 23: Southampton 45 celebrates ‘Electric 30’

Posted on Thursday 23 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Having just recently celebrated the milestone 50th anniversary of electric tram operation at the National Tramway Museum at Crich, we turn the clock back two decades to look at one of the trams which was chosen to star in the events marking the 30th anniversary of the museum’s public electric tram service. Southampton 45 has often been selected for key roles in major events at Crich, having been the first tram to be acquired by founder members of the Tramway Museum Society and this was one such occasion.

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T68A 2005 goes for scrapping

Posted on Tuesday 21 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

On Wednesday 15th October the second of the once six strong class of T68A LRVs on Manchester Metrolink departed Trafford Depot for scrapping in Rotherham. 2005 was moved directly into the cutting area at Booths scrapyard and is now well underway to becoming just a piece of history.

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Crich reveal first event plans for 2015

Posted on Monday 20 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The first few dates for special events at Crich Tramway Village have now begun to appear on the museum’s official website, with a definite theme of wars apparent in what has been announced so far. The usual two 1940s-themed events have been joined by an expanded Edwardian weekend, which for 2015 will last for a whole week and be largely focussed on the First World War.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 2 Comments

Manchester 765 to revisit the city centre!

Posted on Sunday 19 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Following on from a high profile event to celebrate its 100th anniversary year, Manchester 765 is set to enjoy another day in the limelight before the year is out. On November 4th, the tram is due to be displayed outside Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square, which will make it the first traditional Manchester tram to appear in the city centre since the closure of the first generation tramway.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 7 Comments

Blackpool heritage trams need your help!

Posted on Saturday 18 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The Blackpool Heritage Trust are appealing for volunteers to help sell copies of a booklet produced to help raise vital funds to preserve the town’s tramway heritage. The Trust are hoping to station volunteers at Pleasure Beach to offer books for sale to people who are queuing for a tour of the illuminations, in order to capitalise on the busiest weeks of the season which are almost upon us.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 16 Comments

First tram with passengers on board travels onto Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge

Posted on Friday 17 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

Another major milestone in the history of Phase Two of Nottingham Express Transit was reached on Friday 17th October when the first tram with passengers onboard went past the buffer stops at Station Street to take a special party to the new stop above the railway station. The occasion for the tram to make this journey was a visit by officials from Karlsruhe who are visiting Nottingham to acknowledge the increasing important commercial links between the two cities.

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Heritage Trams this week

Posted on Friday 17 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

It’s that time of the week again (well it’s a day later anyway as I seemed to forget to do it yesterday!) as we round-up just when and where you can ride on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. The end of the 2014 season is now rapidly approaching but that doesn’t mean all the fun has finished just yet! In Blackpool up to five trams a night will be used on the Illumination Tours between 27th October and 2nd November whilst the same week will see the Starlight Specials at Crich with Seaton also getting into the Halloween action. And then as November arrives there will be the Winter Photography event on the Manx Electric Railway.

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In Pictures: NET Citadis 217 named Carl Froch

Posted on Friday 17 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

As previously reported on Thursday 16th October the second Nottingham Express Transit Citadis was named with 217 receiving the name Carl Froch. The ceremony took place at The Forest before the tram ran to Royal Centre with a special party including competition winners. Carl and the special party then moved into the Royal Concert Hall where the honour of Freeman of the City was bestowed upon him.

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In Pictures: New interchange at Malin Bridge

Posted on Friday 17 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

As we reported last week the Supertram Link bus service from Malin Bridge now runs from a new bus stop alongside the tram terminus with this opening from Monday 13th October and now provides a better connection of passengers. With thanks to Stuart Cooke we bring you photos of the new interchange.

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And another T69 departs

Posted on Thursday 16 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

You will never guess what happened on Midland Metro today (Thursday 16th October)? Well another of the withdrawn T69s departed Wednesbury Depot for storage at Long Marston with 07 the latest to make the trip, becoming the first Network West Midlands liveried tram to leave the West Midlands.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

Good and bad news from the Crich workshop

Posted on Thursday 16 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

There have been a few interesting developments going on within the confines of the Crich workshop, as overhaul work nears completion on London County Council 106 and gets seriously underway on Liverpool 869. Unfortunately, it has come to light that 869 is suffering from some previously undetected corrosion on its axles, but on a lighter note, the work on 106 is nearing the point where the tram can be commissioned for test running.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 3 Comments

T69 15 latest to move to Long Marston

Posted on Wednesday 15 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

Wednesday 15th October dawned on Midland Metro and for the third day in a row the depot at Wednesbury was visited by a low loader with the second T69 of the week loaded and transferred to Long Marston. This time it was tram 15, which was not withdrawn until the start of this month, which was to make the trip away from the West Midlands – the fifth of the T69s to now reside at Long Marston.

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Urbos3 31 arrives at Wednesbury

Posted on Tuesday 14 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

It seems as though barely a day goes by nowadays without a low loader arriving at Midland Metro’s Wednesbury Depot and Tuesday 14th October it was the turn of two to arrive carrying the two sections of the latest Urbos 3 arriving from Spain. 31 – the 15th of the CAF built trams to be delivered to the UK – arrived shortly before 1300 and was swiftly moved into the depot complex where it was soon unloaded. As with all previous deliveries 31 arrived in two sections and was then temporarily attached to allow it to be moved into the workshops where full commissioning will be undertaken. So far eight of the Urbos 3s have carried passengers (18–24) with 25, 26 and 27 also having made appearances on the mainline undergoing mileage accumulation/driver training/testing.

Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Approval sought for Ballure repairs

Posted on Tuesday 14 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

As the end of another season on the Manx Electric Railway starts to creep ever closer it has been revealed that Isle of Man Transport are hoping to undertake major repairs to Ballure Viaduct, subject to funding from Tynwald.

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway | 1 Comment