Stockport 5 pulled out of Beamish celebrations

Posted on Tuesday 12 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

It is with great regret that we report the news that Stockport 5 will not be visiting Beamish for the events to mark their tramway’s 40th anniversary next month. The cancellation of this loan also means that Blackpool 31 will not be appearing at the Heaton Park Tramway this year either, giving enthusiasts who were looking forward to both tram loans a double blow.

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Sheffield 264 comes out

Posted on Tuesday 12 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Continuing work on installing the live overhead wire over track 4 within the tram shed at Beamish Museum, has recently allowed the elusive Sheffield 264 to enjoy a rare airing. This tram was withdrawn from service due to the poor condition of its bodywork around a decade ago and has only rarely ventured outside since, and on its latest appearance a light dusting of snow around the museum sight added further novelty value to this rare scene.

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Posted in Beamish Tramway | 1 Comment

Another two bite the dust at Crich

Posted on Monday 11 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following on from last week’s shock news that Southampton 45 has been withdrawn from service, it has been confirmed that two more old favourites at Crich Tramway Village have now been sidelined and will not be operating in 2013. The latest two victims are Blackpool & Fleetwood 2 and Johanneburg 60 – neither of which is suffering from any known defects, but are now considered overdue for workshop attention.

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Glasgow 488 – an update

Posted on Monday 11 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

Following last week’s news that Glasgow 488 has returned to the UK (well half of it so far anyway) to be restored for operation at the East Anglia Transport Museum we have now received further information on how the repatriation came about and how it will be funded.

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Plans progress for launch of Leeds Horse Tram 107

Posted on Sunday 10 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

As previously reported on British Trams Online the launch of Leeds Horse Car 107 will take place over the Bank Holiday weekend of Sunday 25th and Monday 26th August at the Middleton Railway in its home city as the centrepiece of the “Leeds Festival of Transport”. This event will not only include the launch of the tram will feature steam and diesel services on the railway, a gathering of Leeds built steam road vehicles and other preserved
buses.

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This week on British Trams Online…

Posted on Saturday 9 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

For those of you who haven’t had a look at the main site yet this week, this is what you are missing!

Gallery 346: East Manchester Line testing to Ashton (http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery346.html) – 16 photos showing trams stabled at Audenshaw and then very early morning gauging runs

Diary of Events (http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/diary.html) – events for 2013 now, finally, added

Plus go to http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/fleets.html) to view all of the latest Fleet List updates.

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New look for 215 as NET start refresh of their fleet

Posted on Friday 8 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

The refurbishment of the Nottingham Express Transit fleet has now commenced with the first example – 215 – being unveiled at Wilkinson Street depot showing off a new livery. The £300,000 project will see all 15 of the trams undergoing the work which includes new LED lights, the installation of new seats and a thorough deep clean.

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Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 1 Comment

Stretch of track handed over to City of Edinburgh Council

Posted on Friday 8 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

The 2.8km section of track between Gogar depot and Edinburgh Airport has been handed over to the City of Edinburgh Council following the completion of the programme of testing by the contractors. This becomes the first section of the tramway to now be in the control of the Council and marks yet another key milestone in the much delayed project to return trams to the street of the Scottish capital.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 5 Comments

In Pictures: T68s and T68As continue to be key on Metrolink

Posted on Friday 8 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

Since the extension of Manchester Metrolink to Rochdale opened it has been necessary for the use of both T68s and T68As to increase again to ensure that a full service can still be operated. This is particularly key for the T68As as in the few weeks leading up to the opening they had become very much last resort choice and some feared may have run their last. Rumours had even suggested they were banned from routes running into Piccadilly Station but judging by recent events this was not so although it is believed it was preferred they weren’t used on journeys here.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 18 Comments

In Pictures: Out and About on Midland Metro

Posted on Friday 8 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

One of the UK light rail systems which doesn’t get an huge amount attention on British Trams Online is Midland Metro which – with the exception of a few major stories such as the upcoming complete system closure – tends to just go about its business without a great deal of fuss. With thanks to BTO reader Michael Averill we are able to bring you an update on a few of the goings on around the system in recent times.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 15 Comments

In Pictures: Rochdale Town Centre Metrolink Extension

Posted on Friday 8 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

Now that the excitement of the opening of the Metrolink line through to Rochdale Railway Station is over we can turn our attention to the latest progress on the Town Centre extension. Tracks are currently been laid on this extension which is due to open to fare paying passengers sometime in 2014 along with the Oldham Town Centre extension.

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Coronation 304 back in Blackpool – but still outside

Posted on Friday 8 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Coronation car 304‘s extended stay at Beamish Museum finally came to an end on Thursday 7th March, when the tram was loaded up for transportation back to Blackpool. The Lancastrian Transport Trust owned tram arrived back on the Fylde the next day – but an unfortunate chain of events culminated in it being dumped in outside storage once again, dashing hopes of an improvement in the fortunes of this celebrity car.

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Posted in Beamish Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 6 Comments

Glasgow Standard car set for East Anglia!

Posted on Wednesday 6 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The UK tram preservation movement is known for throwing some very welcome surprises at enthusiasts on occasion; something which seems to have become more common over the last few years, with tram loans and increasingly ambitious events taking place on our museum tramways. However, a recent development has come as one of the biggest shocks involving a British tram for many years, and it concerns a very unexpected new acquisition by the East Anglian Tranpsort Museum!

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Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | 12 Comments

Snaefell Mountain Railway readies itself for 2013 season

Posted on Tuesday 5 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

Provided that Isle of Man Transport don’t see the need to run a special bus strike service on the Snaefell Mountain Railway before then the 2013 season is due to commence on Wednesday 27th March – during the Easter holidays. A 30 minute frequency will operate to the summit on this first day and fully rebuilt mountain car no. 1 will make its debut passenger journeys in the stunning original blue and cream livery.

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Posted in Snaefell Mountain Railway | 1 Comment

NET Park and Ride sites amongst safest in country

Posted on Tuesday 5 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

The Phoenix Park Park and Ride site has become the latest site on Nottingham Express  Transit to receive a prestigious safety mark – the fourth such site on the network to have received it. The award in question is the Park Mark® Safer Parking Award and is part of an initiative developed by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the British Parking Association.

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Southampton 45 withdrawn

Posted on Monday 4 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

An unexpected, and unwelcome development at Crich Tramway Village has seen Southampton 45 withdrawn from service and placed on static display inside the Great Exhibition Hall. 45 has always been a very popular tram in the fleet, mostly due to it being the preservation of this tram which started the ball rolling for what was to become the National Tramway Museum.

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Metrolink continue further towards Ashton-under-Lyne

Posted on Monday 4 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

The early hours of 4th March saw further gauging runs on the East Manchester Line between Audenshaw and just short of the terminus at Ashton-under-Lyne utilising M5000s 3059 and 3061 which had remained at Audenshaw over the weekend.

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One tram, rather battered, now available to a good home!

Posted on Monday 4 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

If you have ever fancied having a tram body in your back garden now could be your chance as one is to be made available to a good home due to redevelopment. The body is believed to be of a Bournemouth tram and is currently on private property in Milford-on-Sea in Hampshire where it has been ravaged by years although the interior is still largely intact.

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Posted in General | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Testing starts beyond Droylsden on East Manchester Line

Posted on Saturday 2 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

Just when you think things might be calming down a bit on Manchester Metrolink you have to think again as the early hours of Friday 1st March saw the first trams run beyond Droylsden on the East Manchester Line. M5000s 3059 and 3061 ran coupled and having passed Droylsden they went as far as Ashton Moss. From here they returned to Audenshaw where they were stabled in the MPT construction compound waiting for further use. This is the start of the initial testing programme for this section of line which will see trams gradually get closer to the Ashton-under-Lyne terminus.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 16 Comments

MER to come to rescue again as bus strike resumes

Posted on Saturday 2 March 2013 by Gareth Prior

The Manx Electric Railway is to operate special services for the third time this winter as a result of the ongoing dispute between involving bus drivers and their concerns over changes to their terms and conditions. Two two hour strikes will take place which will see a limited MER services will run during the early morning and late afternoon periods on Wednesday 6th March to cover for the Douglas-Ramsey no. 3 bus route – again making a mockery of our preview of the 2013 operating season uploaded last week!

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