A fond farewell for Manchester Metrolink’s T68s

Posted on Wednesday 28 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Spring Bank Holiday Monday, 26th May was a milestone day in the history of Manchester’s public transport, and indeed the history of British trams in the general, as it marked the final operation of one of the original batch of light rail vehicles purchased to inaugurate the Metrolink system. The T68 class are generally considered to have been the first modern trams to run in the UK, and after just over two decades, their time of serving the people of Manchester came to an end on this day with a special enthusiast tour.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, Manchester Metrolink | 14 Comments

Funding boost takes Beamish into the ‘fifties!

Posted on Wednesday 28 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, made a very exciting announcement on 27th May 2014, confirming that a bid for finance from the Heritage Lottery Fund has been successful. The hugely popular open-air museum has been awarded an initial grant of £603,800 to progress its plans to create a new 1950s-themed area as part of a massive proposed expansion planned to be implemented over the next 12 years.

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Posted in Beamish Tramway | 2 Comments

The cat that got the tram!

Posted on Tuesday 27 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The recent Spring Bank Holiday weekend saw a diverse range of events taking place at tramways across the country, and the Seaton Tramway in Devon was not to be left out. On Bank Holiday Monday 26th May, Seaton 12 was unveiled in a brand new livery during an extravagant ceremony at the Seaton terminus. Although the tram has retained its familiar red livery, this has been used as the basis for advertising vinyls to promote the well-known national charity, Cats Protection.

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Boating concludes the Blackpool Bank Holiday

Posted on Tuesday 27 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

After two days of rather changeable, and at times very wet, weather conditions, the third and final day of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend saw a vast improvement in the weather at Blackpool, allowing open trams to dominate the heritage service. Originally no heritage trams were due to run on this day, so it was extremely fortunate that an anonymous local businessman generously offered to fund their operation for what turned out to be the most successful day of the whole weekend!

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In Pictures: Blackpool Pantograph cars reunited

Posted on Tuesday 27 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The second day of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, Sunday 25th May, once again saw a three-car heritage service operating in Blackpool with visiting ‘Pantograph’ car 167 once again stealing the show. The opportunity was also taken to operate the illuminated Western Train 733+734 on this day, due to 734 being created from ‘Pantograph’ car 174 and still bearing a close resembelance to its original appearance. This allowed for a very rare photo opportunity to be set up with the duo being posed side by side, which was arguably the highlight of the whole weekend!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Blackpool Brush car 634 arrives in the North East

Posted on Monday 26 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Friday 23rd May saw yet another tram arrival at the North East Land, Sea & Air Museum at Washington, near Sunderland. As reported previously, the North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust have arranged a long-term loan deal involving privately owned Blackpool Brush Railcoach 634, and on this day the tram made the long journey by road from Northamptonshire to its brand new home. Although many Blackpool trams have resided in the North East over the years – some permanently, others for short visits – 634 has become the first Brush car to move to this part of the country.

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Posted in North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 3 Comments

Blackpool 167 visits old haunts and makes new friends

Posted on Sunday 25 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

One of the most anticipated tram events of 2014 occurred on Saturday 24th May, when Blackpool ‘Pantograph’ car 167 made its debut on the heritage tram service in Blackpool. Having last run in its former home town in 2010 – when it infamously only managed a single day of use before failing – the return of this tram on loan from Crich resulted in this day being very well attended by enthusiasts, which helped to make up for poor weather conditions.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 13 Comments

British Trams Online this week

Posted on Friday 23 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

Unfortunately there will be no main site update of British Trams Online this week. I won’t bore you with the details yet again but suffice to say longer than usual hours at work have meant I haven’t been able to dedicate enough time to the website this week (not only with Photos Galleries etc but also the normal news uploads). I am “hopeful” (although every time I think I am catching up with work something drastic seems to happen!) that next week will be a bit more normal and I will be able to catch up a bit then so please bear with us whilst we get back on track. When we do return to normal we will have photos saying goodbye to the Manchester Metrolink T68As and the Best of Sheffield event at Crich amongst others. And if you have recently sent an email to me and you either haven’t had a reply or what you have sent hasn’t appeared on the website I’m not ignoring you it will appear as soon as possible. Sorry!

Gareth

Posted in Site News | 2 Comments

Heritage Trams this week

Posted on Friday 23 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

This is your one stop guide to when and where you can ride on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. Another week and more excitement in the heritage tram world with the latest batch of heritage running in Blackpool including the use of Pantograph 167 back on its home tramway, on loan from Crich. Speaking of Crich there is another special event at the home of the National Tramway Museum with “Beside the Seaside” starting a nine day spectacular whilst there will be one final chance to ride on a Manchester Metrolink T68 (OK we’re stretching the heritage aspect this week!) and the Birkenhead Heritage Tramway will be open daily during Half Term.

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Blackpool 167 arrives at Starr Gate!

Posted on Friday 23 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

On Friday 23rd May, Blackpool 167 made the short journey along its native tramway to the Starr Gate depot, ahead of its highly anticipated debut on heritage tour duty the next day. Having been hidden away since arriving back in its former home town a few weeks ago, the work to prepare 167 for service on the upgraded Blackpool tramway is now complete and on this day it was moved from Rigby Road to Starr Gate, with a few representatives from the National Tramway Museum on board to sample its first outing on the promenade since 2010.

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Two Metrolink T68s to be preserved

Posted on Thursday 22 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Following a huge amount of speculation in recent months, we are delighted to confirm that Metrolink have announced that not one, but two of the withdrawn T68 trams are set to be preserved, with a third also set to survive in the short term at least in a new role. It has also been confirmed, as had been rumoured for some time, that one of the trams is destined to be preserved by the Manchester Transport Museum Society, to join the expanding collection of historic vehicles based at Heaton Park.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, Manchester Metrolink | 8 Comments

Liverpool 245 launch date confirmed for July

Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The long-awaited launch into passenger service of the newly restored Liverpool ‘Baby Grand’ 245 at the Birkenhead heritage tramway will take place on Saturday 19th July, with special commemorative tickets being sold for the tram’s historic inaugural run. It had previously been hoped that 245 would be launched earlier in the year, but a few unforseen delays have meant that enthusiasts have had to wait a little longer than expected to ride on this particular tram for the first time since 1957, although the wait should of course be extremely worthwhile!

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Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 9 Comments

Up close and personal with Sheffield 189

Posted on Tuesday 20 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The ‘Best of Sheffield’ event held at Crich Tramway Village to celebrate the return to service of Sheffield 510 provided visitors with a rare opportunity to not only see Sheffield 189 out in the open air, but also to have a look inside the tram. Whilst the lower deck was used to publicise the activities of the Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation, the upper deck was not and that is the subject of the rare photo we have published below.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum, Trams Up Close | 29 Comments

In Pictures: Metrolink T68 1008 latest to depart for scrap

Posted on Friday 16 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink T68 1008 became the fifth T68/T68A to leave the north-west for scrapping when it departed on the back of a low loader at 0915 on Friday 16th May. It has been expected that the LRV would depart the previous day but the low loader had not arrived and so the movement was delayed by a day. The heavily graffitied vehicle had spent time in the workshops at Trafford Depot before departure where it was stripped of any reusable and useful parts before the Allelys low loader arrived to take it on its final journey to Booths in Rotherham where it is likely now to be well on the way to becoming a collection of scrap metal. It is expected that 1019 will be the next LRV to be scrapped and its departure could be as early as the start of next week.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 19 Comments

Midland Metro welcomes another new tram

Posted on Friday 16 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

There are now seven CAF Urbos3 trams at Midland Metro’s Wednesbury Depot following the arrival of number 23 early on Tuesday 13th May. 23 was the first arrival in Birmingham for over a month (22 having arrived back on 9th April) and joins the other six trams in being stored in the depot yard awaiting full commissioning, testing and driver training. Full driver training has yet to commence but it shouldn’t be too far off if a summer entry into service is confirmed.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 4 Comments

Tragedy strikes as Douglas Horse Tramway re-opens

Posted on Friday 16 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

Albert, a 17 year old horse, has died after collapsing whilst pulling a tram on the Douglas Horse Tramway. The tragic incident happened on Tuesday 13th May, just the second day of the 2014 season, and it is believed that Albert suffered a stroke.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 3 Comments

Heritage trams this week

Posted on Friday 16 May 2014 by Gareth Prior

This is your one stop guide to when and where you can ride on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. This week sees another special event taking place at the Crich Tramway Village with the launch of Sheffield 510 featuring as part of the “Best of Sheffield” event which takes place between 17th and 23rd May. As soon as that event finishes Crich is off and running with “Beside the Seaside”, a nine day event between 24th May and 1st June and at the same time it is the next Blackpool heritage operations including Blackpool Pantograph 167.

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Sheffield 330 gets ready for the weekend

Posted on Friday 16 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Preparations for this week’s Sheffield-themed event taking place at Crich Tramway Village are now well underway, with the various trams which will be taking centre stage being readied for the big occasion. As reported previously, works car Sheffield 330 is being reactivated for use at the event and was extracted from the back of the depots ahead of its starring role.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

In Pictures: A look around Lakeside Depot

Posted on Thursday 15 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

During a visit to the Heaton Park Tramway on 11th May, British Trams Online writer Andrew Waddington was treated to a tour of the new depot at Lakeside. Currently home to five tramcars and a few other bits and pieces, these pictures show most of the current residents of the building, as well as giving a glimpse of how the depot itself has changed in recent months.

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Blackpool Event Preview: Spring Bank Holiday Heritage Tram Operation

Posted on Wednesday 14 May 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The upcoming Spring Bank Holiday weekend will see the welcome return of heritage trams to service in Blackpool for their third spell of operation this year. From May 24th to 26th inclusive, a selection of historic tramcars will grace the tracks and provisional details of the planned output for the weekend are now available. As expected, visiting Blackpool Pantograph car 167 will be the star attraction and is scheduled to run on all three days, whilst an added bonus will be a surprise daytime appearance in normal passenger service from the illuminated Western Train 733+734.

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