Author Archives: Gareth Prior

Still Standing! Ashton-under-Lyne Horse Tram Depot

Posted on Tuesday 14 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

In this edition we go way back to the horse tram era for a structure which was originally opened for trams in 1881 by the Manchester Carriage and Tramways Company in Ashton-under-Lyne.

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Work continues on Railcoach 279

Posted on Monday 13 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

It would appear that the lack of motivation after the Christmas break doesn’t extend to the Fylde Transport Trust as less than two weeks in and there is another update on the restoration of Railcoach 279 with more progress being … Continue reading →

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Where are they now? Barrow Corporation Tividale trams

Posted on Monday 13 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

Following the closure of Barrow Corporation Tramways in 1932 six Tividale design trams were sold on further use as holiday accommodation before some were then sold on for possible preservation. The question mark in the headline is very much a … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Snaefell Mountain Railway 4

Posted on Sunday 12 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

With 2020 marking the 125th anniversary of the Snaefell Mountain Railway we step across to the Isle of Man for this edition of “Picture in Time” and head up to the summit some 60 years ago.

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In Pictures: Beamish starts another year

Posted on Sunday 12 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

Similarly to Blackpool, there isn’t much of a closed season for the UK’s hardest working heritage trams at Beamish with the museum open all year round (although at this time of year it is closed every Monday and Friday). 2020 … Continue reading →

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Fares to increase on Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Sunday 12 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

The latest tram company to announce revised (increased!) fares for 2020 is Edinburgh Trams with their new fares structure due to start on 2nd February. This will be the first increase in fares since 2018 and will not affect those … Continue reading →

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Heaton Park Tramway win Tramway of the Year as Isle of Man also wins big in Tram of the Year

Posted on Sunday 12 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

There can be no denying that 2019 was a challenging year for the volunteers at the Heaton Park Tramway with the theft of overhead wires in September bringing a temporary halt to operations but following on from industry help and … Continue reading →

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 12 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

The quiet start to the year continues on British Trams Online this week as we move the Advent Calendars into the Gallery:

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15% rise in passenger numbers on Luas

Posted on Saturday 11 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

2019 saw a rise for the third consecutive year in passenger numbers on Ireland’s only tram system, Luas. 48.1 million journeys were recorded which was an increase of 15% on the previous year’s figure.

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Around the World in Trams: Potsdam 409

Posted on Saturday 11 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

Passport packed and we’re off around the world again! As we resume our look at trams from outside of the British Isles we stop off for the next few weeks in Potsdam, Germany where trams having been operating since 1880.

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Ian Longworth back in charge at Isle of Man Transport

Posted on Saturday 11 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

At the end of 2018 it was announced that Isle of Man Director of Transport Ian Longworth would be stepping down from his role as he started to prepare for retirement with a reduced hours job to manage Department of … Continue reading →

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More Edinburgh Trams extensions on the horizon?

Posted on Friday 10 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

More of the originally planned Edinburgh Trams could be built in the future if “radical new plans” are approved by the Council. The Draft City Mobility Plan (CMP) has just been released which could see the tram extended to Granton … Continue reading →

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Metro first with new safety standard

Posted on Friday 10 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

West Midlands Metro has become the first tramway in the UK to achieve a new international standard recognising health and safety procedures it has been announced. The tram network was assessed on the way it manages the safety and wellbeing … Continue reading →

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Plans revealed for new halt on the Seaton Tramway

Posted on Thursday 9 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

There could be a new stop on the Seaton Tramway if plans for a halt adjacent to Seaton Wetlands are approved by the council. It has been an aspiration for a while to give better access to Seaton Wetlands and … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Construction work underway in Edinburgh

Posted on Thursday 9 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

It may still be a long time before we see trams running up Leith Walk and to Newhaven but November 2019 saw the start of the first phase of works on the Edinburgh Trams extension with the first signs of … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 703

Posted on Thursday 9 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

We return to the Blackpool tram photo archives tonight as we head back to the 1980s and a take a look at one of the iconic Balloon Cars.

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Dinosaurs on a tram!

Posted on Wednesday 8 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

The new year may only be a mere few days old but we already have our first new vinyl wrap advert of 2020! Manchester Metrolink M5000 3089 is the tram which has received the wrap with the advertiser being Dippy … Continue reading →

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They ran in 2019…

Posted on Wednesday 8 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

Bringing 2019 to a close – its all looking forward from here on in! – we take one final look at those trams which ran on heritage tramways during the year. As far as we know this is a complete … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Black Country Living Museum, Blackpool Tramway, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, East Anglia Transport Museum, Great Orme Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, National Tramway Museum, Seaton Tramway, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Summerlee Museum Tramway, They Ran in 2019 | 4 Comments

Another year starts for Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours

Posted on Tuesday 7 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

There is no such thing as a closed season for Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours! No sooner had 2019 finished than the 2020 season was up and running on Saturday 4th January with the first day of the revised timetables in … Continue reading →

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Make a date! Tyne and Wear Metro on TV

Posted on Tuesday 7 January 2020 by Gareth Prior

Having initially been announced over a year ago it has now been confirmed that the ITV documentary on the Tyne and Wear Metro will be screened from Tuesday 14th January at 1930 – that’s just a week away!

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