Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

The Starr Gate snowplough swap

Posted on Tuesday 1 April 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The two Blackpool Balloon cars fitted with snowplough equipment for the winter period have recently switched places, with car 723 returning to Rigby Road following several weeks outstationed at Starr Gate depot. In its place, fellow plough tram 701 has … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Heaton Park Tramway re-opens for business

Posted on Monday 31 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Just one day after the Crich Tramway Village re-opened for the 2014 season, it was the turn of the Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester to resume operating for another year. Sunday 30th March also marked the start of the Great … Continue reading →

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Crich kick off the 2014 season

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The first proper open day at Crich Tramway Village in 2014 was Saturday 29th March, when a three tram service operated, as is scheduled to run every day the museum is open this year. Although a limited open day had … Continue reading →

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Western Train loses its trolley

Posted on Saturday 29 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

One of Blackpool’s best loved trams, the illuminated Western Train 733, has undergone another minor change to its external appearance recently, with the removal of its trolley arm. It may be recalled that over winter, 733 had been fitted with … Continue reading →

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Manchester 765 prepared for Mayoral visit to Heaton Park

Posted on Friday 28 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Ahead of the commencement of the 2014 operating season on Sunday 30th March, the Heaton Park Tramway played host to a very special guest on Friday 28th March, when the Mayor of Manchester paid an official visit to the tramway. … Continue reading →

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More good news for Blackpool’s heritage service

Posted on Thursday 27 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

After starting the year on a low with the announcement of budget cuts which threatened to severely dent this year’s operations, the heritage tram service at Blackpool has been the subject of many positive developments recently, with more running days … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 17 Comments

Liverpool 245 comes back to life

Posted on Thursday 27 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Wednesday 26th March 2014 will go down as a landmark date in history for the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society, as for the first time, Liverpool 245 emerged into the open air under its own power to be photographed in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 4 Comments

Blackpool heritage trams join Facebook

Posted on Tuesday 25 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

A new, official Facebook page has been launched for Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram tours. Titled ‘Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours’ (hmm, that makes sense!) the page will provide information on the plans for upcoming operating dates for the fleet of heritage … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

Up close and personal with… Blackpool ‘Boat’ 606

Posted on Monday 24 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Today on British Trams Online, we have some fantastic photos of a tram which very rarely gets a mention on this website – Blackpool ‘Boat’ 606. For those not already aware of 606‘s story, the tram was shipped to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Trams Up Close | 2 Comments

A rare look at Blackpool Brush car 626

Posted on Friday 21 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Since moving to the Birkenhead tramway in August 2010 after being sold to Merseytravel, Blackpool Brush Railcoach 626 has hardly ever been seen by members of the public, spending most of its time tucked up inside the Pacific Road depot … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 1 Comment

Ambitious target set for LCC 1 launch date

Posted on Friday 21 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The major restoration of London County Council 1, the tram popularly known as ‘Bluebird’, may not have started yet – but that has not deterred its sponsors from revealing a target date for its return to service. The London County … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 10 Comments

More good news for Blackpool’s heritage trams

Posted on Thursday 20 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The good news keeps coming from the Blackpool tramway of late, and following on from the initial disappointment regarding the reduced number of operating days for the heritage fleet this year compared with 2013, another positive step has been taken … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

Vintage trams to Starr Gate

Posted on Wednesday 19 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The tenth annual ‘Totally Transport’ event, held on Blackpool’s New South Promenade, has been enhanced this year thanks to the excellent news that Blackpool Transport will be operating their heritage tram service to Starr Gate for this event. Normally the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Progress for Blackpool Balloon 726?

Posted on Tuesday 18 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust have used their newly revamped website to announce details of their latest project to create a new static display tram, utilising Blackpool Balloon car 726. This tram is one of several which is currently in … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 6 Comments

Looking forwards and back at East Anglia

Posted on Tuesday 18 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

As another operating season approaches for the East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville near Lowestoft, now seems a good time to reflect on the successes of 2013 for this superb museum, as well as looking forward to some of … Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | 2 Comments

Heritage tramways prepare for spring

Posted on Monday 17 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

As the start of the main 2014 season approaches for most of Britain’s heritage tramways, preparations for the onslaught of visitors is now well underway at several different locations across the country. Trams at Blackpool, Crich and Manchester have all … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Crich Tramway Village, Heaton Park Tramway | 6 Comments

Open cars rule at Crich in 2013

Posted on Monday 17 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The annual tramcar mileage figures published by the National Tramway Museum Society always make for interesting reading, and the statistics for the 2013 season which have just been published are particularly fascinating. Thanks to a glorious summer, two of the four … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 2 Comments

Works wagon returns to Manx Electric Railway

Posted on Thursday 13 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

An unusual item of rolling stock has made a welcome return to prominence on the Isle of Man, following a number of years in limbo. The 1897-built Wagon 10 has recently been moved by road back to the Manx Electric … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | 1 Comment

Twin car sighted at Starr Gate

Posted on Thursday 13 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The latest member of Blackpool’s heritage tram fleet to pay a visit to the state-of-the-art tram depot at Starr Gate, is Twin set 272+T2. The pair first visited this building last autumn to rectify some minor defects, and now they … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

Blackpool lights switch-on event to be free

Posted on Wednesday 12 March 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Last year, what is normally one of the busiest weekends of the year for the town of Blackpool was ruined by an attempt to make money out of the annual illuminations switch-on event, which was replaced by two concerts held … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments