Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Blackpool heritage running days for 2017 revealed

Posted on Wednesday 21 December 2016 by Andrew Waddington

There may be a little bit of 2016 left, but that has not stopped the operators of Blackpool’s Heritage Tram Tours from planning ahead with a full schedule of planned operating dates for 2017 now available on their website. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

Rigby Road roof repairs

Posted on Tuesday 20 December 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Whilst plenty of finance and man hours have been devoted to the ongoing preservation of Blackpool’s heritage trams, their home – Rigby Road depot – has been somewhat neglected in the recent past. Happily, this is now being put right … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

703’s road trip fully funded – in a day!

Posted on Monday 12 December 2016 by Andrew Waddington

No sooner had the Blackpool Heritage Trust announced its intention to repatriate Balloon car 703 from Beamish Museum – where it has resided in Sunderland guise since 2010 – then an appeal for funds to cover the costs of transporting … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Blackpool Tramway | 9 Comments

Blackpool Brush car 621 returns home

Posted on Thursday 8 December 2016 by Andrew Waddington

In an unexpected development, Blackpool Brush Railcoach 621 has been gifted to the Blackpool Heritage Trust, and returned ‘home’ to Rigby Road after a five year absence on Thursday 8th December. The tram had previously been in the care of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Unusual moves in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 8 December 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Winter in Blackpool traditionally means work on the infrastructure, and this has been true so far of winter 2016/17. Some track repair works on Monday 5th December meant that, for a few hours, single-line working was enforced between North Pier and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 9 Comments

A cunning plan for Glasgow 488

Posted on Thursday 8 December 2016 by Andrew Waddington

It has been a while since we mentioned progress on the restoration of Glasgow Standard 488, which is being renovated in Wales before joining the collection of the East Anglia Transport Museum near Lowestoft. In truth, this hasn’t been much … Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | 5 Comments

When is a horse bus, not a horse bus?

Posted on Tuesday 6 December 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Followers of the Heaton Park Tramway may well be aware that, a few years ago, the Manchester Transport Museum Society acquired a partially restored horse-drawn bus from Beamish Museum, where it had been declared surplus to requirements. The idea was … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 2 Comments

Ballooning in Winter

Posted on Friday 2 December 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The final ‘gold’ operating weekend for Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours took place on Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th November, and as usual each day featured a regular service operated by six trams. Understandably for the time of year, the weather … Continue reading →

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Brush car 621 left out in the cold (** updated with photos**)

Posted on Wednesday 30 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Whilst the expansion of the tram fleet at Beamish Museum has been a generally positive development, it has placed great pressure on the available depot space. The recent addition of Oporto C65 to the ranks following its transfer from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | 3 Comments

Blackpool Brush car 637 under threat

Posted on Sunday 27 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The future of Blackpool Brush Railcoach 637 is currently in some doubt after its private owner was given notice that a new home must be found for the tram after Christmas. 637 is at present stored at a compound on … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 1 Comment

Blackpool tramway extension gets Council approval

Posted on Saturday 26 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Its more good news for the proposed extension of the Blackpool tramway up Talbot Road to North Station – which has been approved by local Councillors at their latest meeting held on November 23rd. This is in spite of some … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 11 Comments

Warning, snow clearing!

Posted on Wednesday 23 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The Blackpool tramway usually prepares for winter by fitting two Balloon cars with snowploughs, just in case a rare heavy snow fall should occur in the resort. For the last few years, cars 701 and 723 have been used in … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Who said winter in Blackpool was quiet?

Posted on Monday 21 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The illuminations might have been switched off for another year and the peak summer timetable has come to an end, but the Blackpool tramway is still a great source of interest. This was particularly evident over two days in November, … Continue reading →

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More illuminating events ahead

Posted on Monday 14 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The Blackpool illuminations may have been switched off for another year, but that certainly doesn’t mean the end of the activity for the illuminated tram fleet. An extra running day has been confirmed to coincide with the switching on of … Continue reading →

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Liverpool 762 goes out of service

Posted on Thursday 10 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

With Wallasey 78 already out of action with a number of problems currently being rectified, there has been further bad news for the Birkenhead heritage tramway with Liverpool 762 also now out of service. The tram was withdrawn in late … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 1 Comment

Crich versus mould

Posted on Tuesday 8 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

For many years, there have been concerns regarding the ability of the main depots at Crich Tramway Village to protect their valuable contents. Condensation has been an issue in the past and, with increasingly mild and wet winters, the depots … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 4 Comments

A spectacular end to the season at Crich

Posted on Monday 7 November 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Another busy operating season at Crich Tramway Village has now come to an end. Although 2016 may not have had quite as much as excitement as some previous years with no ‘new’ trams joining the running fleet, it has still … Continue reading →

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Positive reaction to 272 incident

Posted on Thursday 27 October 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Following the report submitted in regard of the previously reported fire on board Blackpool Towing car 272 last month, it is pleasing to confirm that the Railway Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) have decided not to conduct any further investigation as … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

Glasgow 22 returns to service

Posted on Tuesday 25 October 2016 by Andrew Waddington

As an unexpected late season bonus, Glasgow 22 has made a surprise return to use at the Crich Tramway Village. The tram has received a heavy overhaul and was undergoing testing for the last few weeks, ready for an expected … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 2 Comments

An unexpected Balloon Bonanza for half term!

Posted on Tuesday 25 October 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Saturday 22nd October was a remarkable day for Blackpool’s Balloon cars, when an impressive seven of the type ran on a variety of duties. This included 719 making its first appearance carrying passengers this year, having previously been used for … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 6 Comments