Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Lytham 43 takes shape

Posted on Friday 27 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

It has been a while since we provided an update on the restoration of the last surviving Lytham St Annes tramcar, so to rectify that here is some news on how the project has been progressing – although really it … Continue reading →

Posted in Lytham 43 | 1 Comment

Blackpool 680 arrives at Heaton Park

Posted on Tuesday 24 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Some five years after it was acquired for preservation by the Manchester Transport Museum Society, Blackpool Ex-Towing car 680 finally arrived in Manchester for the very first time late on the night of 23rd March. This follows a highly successful … Continue reading →

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Blackpool Balloon 726 joins Facebook!

Posted on Tuesday 24 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Balloon 726 has become the latest of a select few trams to be given its very own Facebook page! A new page has recently been created to provide updates on what is described as a ‘fun restoration’ project to … Continue reading →

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Helping the Hovertram

Posted on Monday 23 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust have launched an online appeal to assist with the cosmetic restoration of one of the most distinctive preserved Blackpool trams in existence today – the illuminated Hovertram 735. The iconic feature car was transported … Continue reading →

Posted in North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 1 Comment

Totally Transport cancelled

Posted on Monday 23 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

On the evening of 23rd March, it was announced that the annual Totally Transport event in Blackpool would not be taking place in 2015. The New South Promenade based transport event has been a popular part of the Fylde events … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 8 Comments

East Anglia on track for a great season

Posted on Monday 23 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville near Lowestoft, is gearing up for the start of its 2015 operating season on 1st April (this isn’t a joke – the museum does actually re-open on April Fools Day!). During the … Continue reading →

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Centenary car 648 goes back in time

Posted on Monday 23 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The latest member of the Blackpool heritage fleet to be fitted with replica period-style destination blinds is Centenary car 648. During yet another visit to Blackpool over the weekend of 21st & 22nd March, Peter Watts – who is supplying … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Conductor training in Blackpool

Posted on Monday 23 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The process of recruiting volunteer conductors to work on Blackpool’s heritage trams during the 2015 season culminated in a training exercise on Sunday 22nd March, when eleven successful candidates were taken out for a day of intensive training on ‘Princess … Continue reading →

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A Hull of a delay

Posted on Thursday 19 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Some slightly disappointing news comes from the Heaton Park Tramway, where delays to the completion of restoration work on Hull 96 has forced the Manchester Transport Museum Society to postpone its planned return to use. A special launch day had been planned … Continue reading →

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Riding and dining in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 19 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Transport’s latest venture from its highly succesful Heritage Tram Tours commenced operation on Wednesday 18th March, when the first ever ‘Ride & Dine Wednesday’ event took place, featuring restored Balloon car 717. This also marked the beginning of the … Continue reading →

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The tiger gains its stripes

Posted on Tuesday 17 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Efforts to recreate one of the best-loved advertising liveries in the history of the Blackpool tramway have been completed recently, in a most unusual location. Now based at Anchorsholme Academy, Blackpool Brush Railcoach 622 has now received the full external … Continue reading →

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Rack 2 gets stuffed

Posted on Sunday 15 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

As expected, Blackpool & Fleetwood ‘Rack’ 2 has now taken up residence in the Great Exhibition Hall at Crich Tramway Village. This tram has been a popular member of the running fleet at Crich almost constantly since the commencement of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 28 Comments

Date confirmed for 680’s Heaton Park debut

Posted on Friday 13 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The much-anticipated entry into service of Blackpool Ex-Towing car 680 (currently known by its earlier identity of 280) at its new permanent home, the Heaton Park Tramway, has been confirmed to take place on 26th April. Having just made its … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

An eventful early season weekend at Beamish

Posted on Thursday 12 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Beamish Museum staged two days of enhanced tramway activity on the weekend of Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th March, with all of the currently operational tramcars in service and others displayed prominently for photographic opportunities, plus some bonus evening events … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | 6 Comments

More chances to support the Blackpool Heritage Trust

Posted on Tuesday 10 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Fans of Blackpool’s heritage trams are being offered the chance to purchase a unique souvenir and by doing so, help to raise vital funds to help with the preservation and restoration of these vehicles. A strictly limited edition framed ‘destination … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Sunderland 16 dedicated to a Beamish stalwart

Posted on Monday 9 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

As part of the Beamish tramway’s enhanced activities on the weekend of 7th & 8th March, a plaque was unveiled which has been installed inside Sunderland 16 in memory of Tony Wickens, who was a founder member of the Beamish … Continue reading →

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Liverpool 43 on the move again!

Posted on Monday 9 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

In order to free up space in the Pacific Road building at Birkenhead, the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society’s beautifully restored horse tramcar Liverpool 43 has recently been returned to the main tram depot at Taylor Street. This means that, for … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 1 Comment

Details of Blackpool’s first ‘Ride & Dine’ event announced

Posted on Tuesday 3 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The Blackpool Heritage Trust have confirmed details of the first of their new monthly ‘Dine & Ride’ ventures, featuring a circular tour aboard one of the heritage trams followed by a meal at a town centre restaurant. The new event … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 18 Comments

Picture in Time: Halle 902’s arrival at Crich

Posted on Monday 2 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Last month, the tenth anniversary of Halle 902‘s arrival at the National Tramway Museum – and indeed, in the United Kingdom – passed by largely unnoticed. However, by way of a belated acknowledgement, here are a couple of images showing … Continue reading →

Posted in Picture in Time | 8 Comments

Heritage tram driver training steps up in Blackpool

Posted on Friday 27 February 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The last week of February 2015 was an interesting one in Blackpool, thanks to the appearance of several members of the retained traditional tram fleet being noted out and about on the tramway. This was part of a concerted effort … Continue reading →

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