Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Newcastle 114 arrives at Crich

Posted on Monday 8 September 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The gorgeous Newcastle 114 arrived at Crich Tramway Village on the sunny afternoon of Monday 8th September aboard a low loader supplied by Scott’s Heavy Haulage, and was unloaded in the period street at the museum. This tram is, of … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Crich Tramway Village | 5 Comments

The end of an era for Douglas horse trams

Posted on Monday 8 September 2014 by Andrew Waddington

When the Douglas horse tramway on the Isle of Man operates for the last time in 2014 on Sunday 14th September, this will be more than just the end of another year for the oldest surviving street tramway in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 3 Comments

End of the line for Southampton 45?

Posted on Sunday 7 September 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Ahead of the hugely anticipated ‘Electric 50’ event at the Crich Tramway Village, comes some less welcome news from the home of the National Tramway Museum, with the announcement that Southampton 45 is due to be withdrawn from service immediately … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 3 Comments

Finishing touches for Balloon 701

Posted on Friday 5 September 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The second stage of Blackpool Balloon car 701‘s repaint back into its fondly remembered red and white ‘Routemaster’ style livery is now almost complete. Following its debut in an incomplete version of the paint scheme it previously carried in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 11 Comments

Another threat to the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust

Posted on Friday 5 September 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Just a few days after we reported that the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust will have to re-home the trams it has stored at Kirkham Prison before the end of the year, comes news of a further negative development which could … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 14 Comments

Lost Trams 12: Dundee 2

Posted on Thursday 4 September 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The fact that more than one steam tram trailer from the Scottish city of Dundee survives today when so few of this type of tramcar still exist is quite a remarkable fact, made all the more amazing by the fact … Continue reading →

Posted in Lost Trams | 3 Comments

Crich Event Preview: ‘Electric 50’ – 13th & 14th September

Posted on Tuesday 2 September 2014 by Andrew Waddington

On Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th September, Crich Tramway Village will host one of its most ambitious events ever, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of electric tram operation at Crich. This will see an incredible twenty-five electric trams running in … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village, Event Previews | Comments Off on Crich Event Preview: ‘Electric 50’ – 13th & 14th September

Heaton Park Tramway projects progress

Posted on Tuesday 2 September 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Since the opening of the new Lakeside Depot and the return to service of Manchester 765 in July, volunteers at the Heaton Park Tramway have been keeping themselves busy with work on some other trams in the fleet. This short … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 1 Comment

Let there be light!

Posted on Sunday 31 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

On Saturday 30th August, tours of the Blackpool illuminations by traditional tramcar resumed for the 2014 season with three different trams in operation for this role. Although the illuminations were actually switched on the previous night, part of the promenade … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Let there be light!

Escape from Alcatraz… or not?

Posted on Sunday 31 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust have confirmed that notice has been given to remove the trams from its collection which are currently stored at Kirkham Prison by the end of the year. Far from most announcements of an imminent release … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 14 Comments

Blackpool prepares for the illuminations

Posted on Friday 29 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Friday 29th August will see the Blackpool illuminations switched on for another season by comedian Peter Kay. As has become the norm in recent years, the actual switch-on night itself will not be a good one for the tramway with … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Blackpool prepares for the illuminations

167 bids goodbye to Blackpool

Posted on Friday 29 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The hugely successful visit of Blackpool ‘Pantograph’ car 167 to the Blackpool tramway for summer 2014 finally came to an end on Friday 29th August, when the tram was loaded up onto a lorry on Blundell Street for the long … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Crich Tramway Village | 1 Comment

Blackpool 762 launch date announced

Posted on Wednesday 27 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Following extensive attention in the workshop at Crich Tramway Village, Blackpool Jubilee car 762 is finally set to enter public service at the museum next month. The tram will be launched into the operating fleet at Crich as part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 1 Comment

A bumper Bank Holiday for Blackpool’s heritage trams

Posted on Tuesday 26 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool’s heritage tram fleet enjoyed their final spell of daytime operation during 2014 over the August Bank Holiday weekend, with a very credible total of eleven different historic trams appearing in traffic over the three action-packed days. This included the year … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

In Pictures: Return of the Routemaster Balloon car

Posted on Monday 25 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The August Bank Holiday weekend saw the welcome return to service in Blackpool of Balloon 701, fresh from the Paint Shop following a complete repaint. Gone was the faded and unflattering plain yellow coat of paint it carried when it … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

In Pictures: Blackpool 290’s role in history recognised

Posted on Monday 25 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Work on the repainting of preserved Blackpool Brush car 290 for continued static display near the Pleasure Beach on Blackpool promenade appears to be complete, with the tram now sporting a very smart looking green and cream livery. In addition, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 3 Comments

Bargain hunting at Crich

Posted on Thursday 21 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Crich Tramway Village played host to the popular BBC1 daytime television programme ‘Bargain Hunt’ on Wednesday 20th August, when the show’s charismatic presenter Tim Wonnacott visited the museum to film a segment to feature in a future episode. The programme … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 1 Comment

A Coronation to Fleetwood

Posted on Thursday 21 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Just one day after making a historic test run along Blackpool promenade, Blackpool Coronation car 304 hit the headlines again on Thursday 21st August, when it completed its first run to Fleetwood since 2009! Following the success of the testing … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

In Pictures: Brush car 290 meets an old friend

Posted on Wednesday 20 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Our latest look at the transformation of the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust’s Blackpool Brush car 290 shows the tram in the latter stages of its repaint into a traditional green and cream livery. The gloss coat has now been applied … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 2 Comments

Blackpool Coronation 304 runs on test

Posted on Wednesday 20 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Another small piece of tramway history occured on Wednesday 20th August 2014, when a VAMBAC equipped tramcar operated on the upgraded Blackpool system for the first time. The honour of performing this historic duty went to Coronation car 304 which … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments