Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Sheffield 264 is back on track!

Posted on Saturday 12 December 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Another milestone in the major overhaul of the Preston tramcar Sheffield 264 at Beamish Museum has now occurred, with the tram making its first tentative moves under power since restoration work began on 10th December. However, an even greater moment … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | 4 Comments

Santa Claus is coming to the tramways!

Posted on Thursday 10 December 2015 by Andrew Waddington

As is the norm for this time of year, Father Christmas has been very busy not only preparing presents for the big day itself, but also meeting youngsters at various tramways across the UK. As well as the previously advertised … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Blackpool Tramway, East Anglia Transport Museum, Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on Santa Claus is coming to the tramways!

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours get bigger and better for 2016!

Posted on Friday 4 December 2015 by Andrew Waddington

After a hugely successful 2015, the Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours team have already planned for an even more ambitious operating schedule next year! After a few years of cutbacks and a general air of uncertainty, 2015 has been a massive … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Sheffield 264 progress update

Posted on Wednesday 2 December 2015 by Andrew Waddington

It has been a little while since we provided an update on the major overhaul of Sheffield 264 at Beamish Museum, with our last update on the project concerning the reunion of top and bottom decks. Since this milestone achievement … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Heaton Park’s Autumn Gala

Posted on Tuesday 1 December 2015 by Andrew Waddington

On Sunday 15th November, the Heaton Park Tramway staged one of their popular gala days offering an enhanced tram service as well as a few unusual photographic opportunities. The event was slightly scaled back from what was originally planned but … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 2 Comments

Adverts rule in Blackpool

Posted on Monday 30 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The application of external advertising to Blackpool’s fleet of modern Flexity2 trams has stepped up a gear since the end of this year’s illuminations, with cars 007 and 009 recently being adorned with colourful banner adverts encouraging organ donations. These … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Western Train visits Fleetwood

Posted on Monday 30 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Saturday 21st November was another exciting day for Blackpool’s heritage trams, in spite of the fact that none were due to operate in passenger service on this date. However, three trams were required for private hire duties, the undoubted highlight … Continue reading →

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Winter work at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 25 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Crich Tramway Village may be closed to the visiting public for winter, but that certainly doesn’t mean that the activity on site has ceased – far from it, in fact! Around the museum preparations are already underway for re-opening in … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: A Centenary car reunion

Posted on Monday 23 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

A welcome bonus in the placing of pioneer Blackpool Centenary car 641 on the display siding at Pleasure Beach, has been the possibility of creating some photo opportunities with members of this often undervalued class. With both 642 and 648 … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 5 Comments

Tramway to Fleetwood under threat?

Posted on Friday 20 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

It cannot be argued that the Blackpool tramway has been a resounding success in terms of passenger numbers, with many records being broken during 2015 and October being the busiest month on the tramway for many years. It is therefore … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 24 Comments

A cable car for Crich

Posted on Tuesday 17 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

It isn’t very often that the National Tramway Museum gets the opportunity to fill a gap in its extensive collection of trams, in either technological or geographical terms – yet a new addition to the national collection actually satisfies both … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 15 Comments

Farewell to two old friends at Crich

Posted on Thursday 12 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Almost a week after the last paying guests of 2015 left Crich Tramway Village, the museum staged a special open day for Tramway Museum Society members and invited representatives of other closely associated organisations on Saturday 7th November. As well … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 11 Comments

114’s birthday goes with a bang!

Posted on Thursday 12 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Beamish Museum’s final enhanced transport weekend event held on 7th & 8th November saw a number of activities taking place around the vast museum site, with the resident fleet of trams and buses taking centre stage. The star of the … Continue reading →

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Santa goes to the seaside

Posted on Wednesday 11 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Following a highly successful experiment last year, ‘Santa Specials’ are set to return to the Blackpool tramway on three consecutive Saturdays next month. On 5th, 12th and 19th December a half-hourly heritage tram service will operate between Pleasure Beach and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

Blackpool’s soggy end to the season

Posted on Monday 9 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The final weekend of the 2015 Blackpool illuminations, and with it the end of the resort’s peak season, was marked by an enhanced heritage tram service operating on both Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th November. Both days saw six heritage … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 10 Comments

Crich – on the right track to the future?

Posted on Wednesday 4 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The Tramway Museum Society’s 2015 Annual General Meeting was preceded by a discussion regarding plans for the future development of Crich Tramway Village and a series of interesting proposals to improve the visitor offer. A number of these will hopefully … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 21 Comments

In Pictures: Half-term heritage in Blackpool

Posted on Tuesday 3 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The October school half-term holidays usually provide the Blackpool tramway with one of its busiest and most interesting weeks of the year, and 2015 was no exception to the rule. As well as the core tram service being boosted by … Continue reading →

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Blackpool’s last hurrah for 2015

Posted on Monday 2 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

As briefly mentioned previously on British Trams Online, the final weekend of the 2015 Blackpool illuminations has been enhanced with an increased heritage tram output now planned. Instead of the basic two car promenade service originally expected to operate, the … Continue reading →

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A ticket to drive Newcastle 114

Posted on Monday 2 November 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The final weekend of enhanced transport activity at Beamish Museum during 2015 is set to take place on Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th November, with focus on some of the passenger-carrying vehicles in the resident fleet. The star attraction will … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | 1 Comment

Frozen fever and starlight surprises at Crich

Posted on Saturday 31 October 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The busy October school half-term holidays saw an expanded Starlight Halloween event take place at the Crich Tramway Village over a period of six days. This event has established itself as one of the museum’s best – but this year … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village, Event Reviews | 2 Comments