Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Blackpool tramway affected by severe storms

Posted on Thursday 5 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Much of the country has been severely affected by adverse weather conditions on Thursday 5th December, and the Fylde coast was no exception. Despite the multi-million pound investment in a new sea wall for Blackpool’s promenade over the past decade, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

Tram depot construction works in North East and North West

Posted on Tuesday 3 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

As the latter stages of construction work on the Heaton Park Tramway’s second tram depot are reached, another tramcar preservation group have reached a major milestone in their own project to provide suitable covered storage space for its own vehicle … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Blackpool Balloon 721 restoration progress

Posted on Tuesday 3 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Restoration work on the interior of Blackpool Balloon car 721 by members of its owning group, the North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust, is continuing to make good progress. Recent developments have included the removal of the interior lining panels on … Continue reading →

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‘Box’ 40 set for brief return to Crich

Posted on Friday 29 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Tramway Museum Society have announced that Blackpool & Fleetwood ‘Box’ 40 will be returning to Crich for a major special event in 2014, celebrating 50 years of electric tramcar operation at the museum. The car – which remains owned by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Crich Tramway Village | 4 Comments

Liverpool 245 sees green!

Posted on Monday 25 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

As well as organising two recent events – a 24 hour ‘Tramathon’ in aid of Children in Need, and an event marking 80 years since the closure of the Wallasey tram system – the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 3 Comments

Heaton Park Tramway end of year review

Posted on Monday 25 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Stockport 5 brought the curtain down on the 2013 operating season for the Heaton Park Tramway, with the final passenger journey of the year on Sunday 24th November. Blackpool 623 and Manchester 765 were also used on this day, meaning … Continue reading →

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NEETT November update

Posted on Sunday 24 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

After a very busy year, the North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust are now making the final preparations for the construction of their brand new tram shed at the North East Land, Sea & Air Museum in Sunderland. The first two … Continue reading →

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Night boat to Fleetwood

Posted on Saturday 23 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

During the 2013 season, every operational member of the Blackpool heritage tram fleet had visited the tramway’s northern terminus at Fleetwood, with just one exception. ‘HMS Blackpool’, the illuminated Frigate 736 stuck rigidly to the Pleasure Beach to Little Bispham … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

Further events announced for Crich 2014

Posted on Thursday 21 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following the initial announcement in regard of the planned special events programme for Crich Tramway Village, what is apparently a full list of events for 2014 has now been released. Although it was generally expected that the number of major … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 4 Comments

LTT trams to be re-homed

Posted on Wednesday 20 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A representative of the Lancastrian Transport Trust has recently confirmed that this organisation is planning to cease its tram-related activities completely in the near future, in order to focus its resources on their remaining historic bus collection. The expected transfer of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 12 Comments

Heaton Park end the season in style

Posted on Monday 18 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Despite being scaled back in format, the Heaton Park Tramway’s Autumn Gala event, held on Sunday 17th November turned out to be an absolutely fantastic occasion, with the tramway’s volunteers pulling out all the stops to put on a great … Continue reading →

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Beamish Town crossover back in use

Posted on Monday 18 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The little-used tramway crossover in the centre of the tram line through Beamish Museum’s period town area, has recently been brought back into regular use for the first time in a number of years. This crossover has been rarely used since the completion … Continue reading →

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Open top trams on the move

Posted on Sunday 17 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

At the same time as announcing the imminent visit of Blackpool Railcoach 680 to Beamish Museum (see separate news story), the Manchester Transport Museum Society also confirmed that no less than three open-top double-deck trams will be moving to and … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway | 7 Comments

Blackpool Railcoach 680 to run at Beamish!

Posted on Sunday 17 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Plans for the official launch into service of preserved Blackpool Railcoach 680 have been changed once again, in a move which should be welcomed by tram enthusiasts. Instead of being launched at Heaton Park in February 2014, as was previously … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway | 11 Comments

Heaton Park announce events schedule for November 17th

Posted on Friday 15 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

As announced previously, the Heaton Park Tramway’s Autumn Gala on Sunday 17th November has been scaled back somewhat, due to the fact that work on the new Lakeside Depot is not sufficiently complete for trams to be accommodated within, and this … Continue reading →

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LTT update: the truth about Brinwell Road

Posted on Thursday 14 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

After recently publishing a news story on the move of Blackpool Brush car 622, British Trams Online was contacted by Theo Dunne, who is the Managing Director of Heatons Engineering Group. This company purchased the Brinwell Road premises occupied by … Continue reading →

Posted in Fylde Transport Trust | 17 Comments

First tram enters new Heaton Park depot

Posted on Thursday 14 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

On Tuesday 12th November 2013, a small but very significant step towards the completion of a second tram depot at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway occurred, when Blackpool Railgrinder 752 became the first tram to enter the new building. Although the … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 5 Comments

Blackpool’s heritage trams commence winter hibernation

Posted on Monday 11 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A highly successful season of operation for Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram fleet has now come to an end, co-inciding with the final night of the 2013 illuminations on Sunday 10th November. That evening saw just two trams operate on illumination … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

All change at Crich this winter

Posted on Sunday 10 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A number of developments are taking place at Crich Tramway Village over the winter period, in an attempt to offer an improved experience for visitors to the attraction from next year. Although most of these don’t directly involve the trams … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 7 Comments

Crich announce ‘Electric 50’ event for 2014

Posted on Saturday 9 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

On 5th July 1964, a huge piece of transport preservation history was made, when Blackpool & Fleetwood 2 became the first electric tramcar to operate in public service at the Crich Tramway Museum. Not only was this a massive leap … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 2 Comments