Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Progress replaces history on Blundell Street

Posted on Thursday 3 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The site of Britain’s oldest surviving section of street tramway along Blundell Street and Princess Street in Blackpool has undergone further changes recently, following the removal of further overhead wires along this historic section of tramway. This is part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

The Boat 233 saga goes on… and on…

Posted on Wednesday 2 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Just when we thought the fuss around the controversial sale of Blackpool Boat car 233/605 to America by the Lancastrian Transport Trust was finally beginning to die down, the story of its departure has now been reported in the wider … Continue reading →

Posted in Fylde Transport Trust | 5 Comments

Pop star versus tram conductor!

Posted on Wednesday 2 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A bizarre war of words took place on Twitter during the evening of Tuesday 1st October as the result of a seemingly minor dispute between a tram conductor and a passenger in Blackpool. This may not seem especially noteworthy, however … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

No rest but plenty of sleepers at Heaton Park!

Posted on Monday 30 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The weekend of 28th & 29th Saturday was an extremely busy one for volunteers at the Heaton Park Tramway, with work to extend the track beyond the current Lakeside terminus into the new tram depot now getting underway. In just … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on No rest but plenty of sleepers at Heaton Park!

Crich trams enter unfamiliar territory

Posted on Monday 30 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Saturday 28th September may have seemed like a normal day to visitors of Crich Tramway Village, but after most paying guests had left the site, two trams which are not part of the museum’s current operating fleet came out to … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 2 Comments

Leeds 6’s last hoorah

Posted on Saturday 28 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

On Saturday 28th September, a private party was held at the Heaton Park Tramway for the birthday of one of the tramway’s most dedicated volunteer tram conductors. As the MTMS member in question hails from the city of Hull, it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on Leeds 6’s last hoorah

Heritage Trams this week…

Posted on Saturday 28 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Slightly later than usual, here is our weekly guide to what’s going on at the various heritage tramways in the UK and Isle of Man over the next week or so. All the information here is given in good faith … Continue reading →

Posted in Support our Heritage Tramways | Comments Off on Heritage Trams this week…

East Anglia restoration update

Posted on Friday 27 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The September 2013 issue of the East Anglia Transport Museum’s quarterly newsletter is a ‘restoration special’, focussing largely on some of the long-running projects which are keeping volunteers at Carlton Colville occupied. The front cover features a striking image of … Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | 1 Comment

Blackpool Transport support preserved trolleybuses!

Posted on Friday 27 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

When the East Anglia Transport Museum’s restored Portsmouth trolleybus 313 suffered a defect earlier this year, it was feared that this vehicle would have to miss the remainder of the 2013 operating season. However, help came from an unlikely source … Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | 4 Comments

Heaton Park update: your depot needs you!

Posted on Thursday 26 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The construction of the new Lakeside Depot at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway is now at a very advanced stage, with the ground inside the new structure being levelled out earlier this week in readiness for the laying of the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on Heaton Park update: your depot needs you!

In Pictures: More from the Rocket!

Posted on Wednesday 25 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following on from the recent report about Blackpool’s illuminated Rocket tram 732 – which has now received further enhancements in the shape of a troop of astronauts on the Gynn Square roundabout – we are pleased to bring you more photos of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 4 Comments

The tram with an identity crisis

Posted on Monday 23 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Ex-Blackpool Replica Vanguard 619 has beem known as Heaton Park 7 since adopting a new red and white livery in 2011, at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway. However, the tram is now set to be renumbered yet again, when it reverts … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on The tram with an identity crisis

Revised appearance for Heaton Park trams

Posted on Saturday 21 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Manchester Transport Museum Society have now revealed exciting plans for some of the vehicles within the fleet at the Heaton Park Tramway. Not content with the expected increase in the number of trams on site when the new Lakeside … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 1 Comment

Bon voyage to Boat 233

Posted on Thursday 19 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Thursday 19th September saw the dreaded day arrive, when Blackpool Boat car 233/605 finally left Beamish Museum to begin its long journey to San Francisco, after being sold by its previous owners, the Lancastrian Transport Trust. All attempts to block … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 18 Comments

Blackpool trams on track for return to North Station

Posted on Thursday 19 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A welcome injection of cash will hopefully turn the dream of an extension of the Blackpool tramway to serve the town’s main railway station into a reality. Transport bosses announced that they would be providing over £16 million towards the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 22 Comments

Leicester 76 to star in private photo shoot

Posted on Wednesday 18 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following the surprise appearance of Leicester 76 outside the Exhibition Hall at Crich Tramway Village during the enthusiast event held on September 14th, it has been decided to make more use of this tram whilst it is easily accessible. Therefore, … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | Comments Off on Leicester 76 to star in private photo shoot

Water issues cause problems at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 18 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Crich Tramway Village was forced to remain closed to the general public on Tuesday 17th September, due to a lack of water on site. This was caused by three burst water pipes in the local area, which left the museum … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | Comments Off on Water issues cause problems at Crich

Blackpool Jubilee car to return to Rigby Road?

Posted on Wednesday 18 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

In an unexpected but extremely welcome development, the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust have announced plans to return their preserved Blackpool Jubilee car 761 to the Rigby Road tram depot, following a lengthy period of outside storage. Although it is believed … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 11 Comments

Blackpool Twin set visits Starr Gate

Posted on Tuesday 17 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Twin set 272+T2 has recently become the latest member of Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram fleet to visit the multi-million pound Starr Gate depot, duly becoming the first Twin car to do so. The pair were seen standing over one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

Friends in high places for the Rocket

Posted on Monday 16 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

During the past week, further attention has been lavished on the illuminated Rocket tram 732, still marooned on the roundabout at Gynn Square as part of the annual illuminations display. Following some remedial work on the giant astronaut suspended above … Continue reading →

Posted in Fylde Transport Trust | 1 Comment