Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

In Pictures: 50 years at Carlton Colville celebrated in style

Posted on Monday 13 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

2015 marks 50 years since the start of the East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville near Lowestoft, with the site first being acquired for use as a fledging transport museum, and the arrival of the first vehicles on site. … Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: 50 years at Carlton Colville celebrated in style

In Pictures: 675 goes solo

Posted on Tuesday 7 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Recent work in Blackpool Transport’s Rigby Road workshops on returning Twin set 675+685 to a serviceable condition has focussed on the trailer car, which has spent several weeks in the Paint Shop. However, attention is expected to turn towards its … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

NELSAM gets accredited

Posted on Tuesday 7 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Some recent positive news from one of our newer names in the tramcar preservation movement comes from the North East Land Sea & Air Museum (NELSAM) which has recently been awarded accredited museum status by the Arts Council England. This … Continue reading →

Posted in North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 3 Comments

MER trailer topples over at Laxey

Posted on Tuesday 7 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The title of this report is not an exaggeration, unfortunately. On the morning of Tuesday 7th July, a serious accident occured on the Manx Electric Railway when Winter Trailer 58 derailed during a shunting move near Laxey Station, resulting in it … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | 3 Comments

More details on Metrolink derailment incident

Posted on Tuesday 7 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

As investigations continue, more details have now emerged regarding a serious incident which occured on the Manchester Metrolink system late on Friday 3rd July. It has now become clear that two trams were affected; one which derailed, and another which … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 11 Comments

A chance to visit Fleetwood’s tram graveyard

Posted on Sunday 5 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The open storage site at Fleetwood fish docks which is occupied by a large number of Blackpool tramcars is normally strictly off limits to members of the general public, but at 1230 on Saturday 18th July a limited number of … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 4 Comments

Vandals derail Metrolink tram

Posted on Saturday 4 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Saturday 4th July has seen considerable disruption for Manchester’s Metrolink network after a tram derailed late the previous night at St Werburghs Road. As a result of the incident, said to have been caused by an act of vandalism, services … Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 11 Comments

Going for a ride…

Posted on Friday 3 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

It is time again for us to take our weekly look at just where in the UK you can enjoy a ride on a traditional tramcar over the next seven days. With the summer now definitely here and the school … Continue reading →

Posted in Going for a ride | Comments Off on Going for a ride…

A bridge for Beamish

Posted on Thursday 2 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Although not directly relevant to trams, a recent addition to the massive collection of historic objects at Beamish Museum seemed interesting enough to warrant mention here. The museum has recently obtained a bridge dating from 1863 which was donated by … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | 1 Comment

Things that go bump in Cleveleys

Posted on Thursday 2 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

A road traffic collision involving a tram and a motor car at Cleveleys Square caused considerable disruption to tram services in Blackpool on Thursday 2nd July. Whilst the emergency services attended to the incident the tram service was terminated at … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 18 Comments

Bolton 66 gets the blues

Posted on Tuesday 30 June 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Bolton 66 is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive trams in Blackpool, and for summer 2015 the tram has a new look thanks to some recently applied adverts for a brand new sponsor. Having last operated sans adverts as recently … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Blackpool 680 on the move again

Posted on Monday 22 June 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Despite having only arrived in Manchester at the end of March following a period of operation at Beamish Museum, Blackpool Ex-Towing car 680 will soon be leaving the Heaton Park Tramway for another loan period. This time, the car is … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway | 10 Comments

Starr Gate to Fleetwood by heritage tram

Posted on Monday 22 June 2015 by Andrew Waddington

On Sunday 21st June, a specially amended gold timetabled operated with the Blackpool heritage tram fleet. This day should have witnessed the Totally Transport event which had been held annually on New South Promenade since 2005, but which was sadly … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 6 Comments

675+685 go green and cream

Posted on Saturday 20 June 2015 by Andrew Waddington

A tantilising glimpse of the next exciting project set to be unveiled by the Blackpool Heritage Trust and Blackpool Transport’s workshops has been given, in the shape of a preview of the work undertaken so far on Twin set 675+685. … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

All trams stop at Starr Gate on 21st June!

Posted on Saturday 20 June 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Somewhat later than expected, Blackpool Transport have announced details of plans for their gold heritage tram running day tomorrow (Sunday 21st June). Unfortunately no detailed timetable has been released this time, but details are now available regarding the planned tram … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

A sign of development at Crich

Posted on Thursday 18 June 2015 by Andrew Waddington

As promised some months ago, information on the tramcar collection at Crich Tramway Village is being made more readily available to visitors, with the addition of interpretive signs to the trams housed in the depots. Although there have been detailed … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 3 Comments

Liverpool 869 comes back to life

Posted on Wednesday 17 June 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Whilst most visitors to the Crich Tramway Village were enjoying the London-themed activities taking place on Sunday 14th June, another exciting development was taking place in the depot yard. There, Liverpool 869 was making its first tentative moves under its … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | Comments Off on Liverpool 869 comes back to life

More plans revealed for the ‘Merseyside four’

Posted on Saturday 13 June 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Just a few days after four Blackpool trams previously owned by Merseytravel were transported by road from Knowsley to Fleetwood fish docks for storage after being sold to a new owner, details have been released regarding the future plans for … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 4 Comments

Heaton Park Tramway to remain closed this weekend

Posted on Friday 12 June 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The Manchester Transport Museum Society have released a short statement confirming that no tram service will operate this weekend (13th & 14th June) on the Heaton Park Tramway. It is hoped that normal service will resume the following weekend, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 5 Comments

Beamish Balloon goes off the rails – literally!

Posted on Thursday 11 June 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Following its withdrawal from service earlier this year, Blackpool Balloon car 703 – or Sunderland 101 as it is now known in its new home at Beamish Museum – has now been moved off the tracks in the tram depot … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | 4 Comments