Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Block party at Heaton Park

Posted on Wednesday 23 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The latest progress on the construction of the new Lakeside Depot at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway, has seen the laying of breeze blocks around the perimeter of the building. Having only begun this task at the start of this week, … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 1 Comment

Crich General Manager resigns

Posted on Tuesday 22 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Tramway Museum Society have released a shock announcement this evening that Tony Hill, the General Manager of Crich Tramway Village, has resigned from his position. This has come as a major blow to the museum as Mr Hill had … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 33 Comments

Meerkats descend on Blackpool promenade!

Posted on Tuesday 22 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The presence of meerkats in Blackpool was, once upon a time, confined to those residing at Blackpool Zoo. In recent times, children (and some adults) clutching soft toy meerkats riding on trams has become increasingly common, no doubt boosted by … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Red Oktober day at Crich

Posted on Sunday 20 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Sunday 20th October was ‘Red Oktober’ day at Crich Tramway Village, with the museum site playing host to numerous Eastern European vehicles, as well as re-enactors in period costume. The trams themselves were not left out however, with the highlight … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 9 Comments

Beamish trams get TLC

Posted on Friday 18 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A number of the trams at Beamish Museum are currently undergoing workshop attention, in order to return them to a serviceable condition. Whilst it is pleasing to see work has finally commenced on Sunderland 16 after this tram had spent … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | 2 Comments

Corrie’s Croppers ride an open topper

Posted on Thursday 17 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool took centre stage in a special hour-long episode of ITV’s Coronation Street on Wednesday 16th October, and as expected this included an appearance by ‘Princess Alice’ 706. Determined to make the most of their remaining time together, popular character … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Railgrinder returns to use

Posted on Wednesday 16 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool 752, the Heaton Park Tramway’s dedicated works car, is back in action following some minor remedial attention, including the re-fitting of the large snowploughs at each end of the car on Tuesday 15th October. It will be recalled that … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 2 Comments

More track laid at Manchester and Sunderland

Posted on Monday 14 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The past week has seen significant progress in track laying work from not one, but two heritage tram preservation groups in the UK. In addition to the ongoing works at the Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester, it is equally pleasing … Continue reading →

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

Blackpool trams visit the Crich workshop

Posted on Monday 14 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Two iconic Blackpool streamlined trams preserved at the National Tramway Museum have recently spent some time in the Crich workshop, for very different reasons. The appearance of Blackpool Brush Railcoach 298 in the works recently led to a great deal … Continue reading →

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Halle 902 to star at Crich event

Posted on Monday 14 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The annual ‘Red Oktober’ event will be held at Crich Tramway Village on Sunday 20th October 2013, and for the second year running this will include a rare outdoor appearance from Halle 902. It is planned to display this elusive … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 4 Comments

2014 – a year of change for Crich

Posted on Sunday 13 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Tony Hill, the recently appointed General Manager of the National Tramway Museum at Crich, has confirmed that there will be a number of small but potentially significant changes made at the Crich Tramway Village in 2014, to enhance the visitor experience. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 14 Comments

Trams on TV

Posted on Saturday 12 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

On Wednesday 9th October, the Wirral heritage tramway’s Liverpool 762 made a star guest appearance on the third episode of BBC4 series, ‘A Very British Murder’, which had been filmed in May. Not to be outdone however, one of Blackpool’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

In Pictures: Heaton Park trackwork update

Posted on Thursday 10 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The laying of rails connecting the present Lakeside terminus of the Heaton Park Tramway to the new tram depot is continuing to make impressive progress. Members of the volunteer track gang are currently working on site up to four times … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 1 Comment

The case of the disapearing Facebook page

Posted on Wednesday 9 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

On the evening of Monday 7th October, the Lancastrian Transport Trust’s Facebook page was mysteriously deleted. Despite a previous period of inactivity, the page had actually been updated less than an hour before it ceased to exist, adding a rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Fylde Transport Trust | 1 Comment

Work continues on Brighton 53 despite funding snub

Posted on Tuesday 8 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

It has been some time since British Trams Online carried news on the project to restore Brighton 53, the last surviving passenger tramcar from this seaside town. Its custodians, the Brighton Tram 53 Society, have recently been looking at potential … Continue reading →

Posted in Brighton Tram 53 Group | 5 Comments

The sun shines on Birkenhead’s event

Posted on Monday 7 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The annual Wirral Bus & Tram Show was held at Birkenhead on Sunday 6th October, and was blessed by fine weather, prompting many transport enthusiasts to visit the Birkenhead tramway to enjoy the attraction’s best event of the year. As … Continue reading →

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Blackpool Standard 143 and Railcoach 279 go home

Posted on Monday 7 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Monday 7th October turned out to be another exciting day for Blackpool’s heritage tram fleet, with the return of two more tramcars previously acquired for preservation by the Lancastrian Transport Trust to Blackpool Transport’s own premises at Rigby Road. Following … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 3 Comments

First tram to North Station

Posted on Sunday 6 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following the recent exciting news regarding the offer of a substantial amount of the funding required to extend the Blackpool tramway to serve North Station, there has been no shortage of speculation regarding this ambitious project. Naturally the main aim … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Opinion | 9 Comments

Eventful end to the MER season on November 2nd

Posted on Friday 4 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The second annual ‘Winter Photography’ event on the Manx Electric Railway is set to take place on Saturday 2nd November, with an exciting package of events designed to encourage many tram enthusiasts to visit the Isle of Man as the … Continue reading →

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What does the future hold for Cardiff 21?

Posted on Thursday 3 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The latest issue of the Tramway Museum Society Journal contains a brief but potentially interesting snippet of information regarding Cardiff 21. This double-deck horse tram has been on loan to the museum at Crich from the Nantgarw Collection Centre in … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 3 Comments