Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Retro look for Blackpool Brush car 631

Posted on Saturday 4 May 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The highly-anticipated debut of Blackpool Brush Railcoach 631 following its heritage makeover and a repaint back into a traditional green and cream livery. The car had spent most of the winter under attention at Starr Gate before transferring to Rigby … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Michael Portillo visits Birkenhead tramway

Posted on Friday 3 May 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Former Transport Minister turned TV presenter Michael Portillo paid a visit to the Birkenhead heritage tramway on Wednesday 1st May. The star was filming for a future episode of his BBC television series ‘Great Railway Journeys’, and the filming session featured appearances … Continue reading →

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Fleetwood trams on the move again

Posted on Thursday 2 May 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust have been exceptionally busy of late, making plans for the future of its collection of Blackpool trams. Whilst many of these plans involve the Trust’s ultimate aim of creating a new transport museum in Fleetwood, … Continue reading →

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Fylde Coast preservation groups to join forces?

Posted on Thursday 2 May 2013 by Andrew Waddington

In a development that is likely to be welcomed by many fans of Blackpool’s historic tramcars, it has now been confirmed that discussions are taking place between representatives of the Lancastrian Transport Trust and the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust, to … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust, Fylde Transport Trust | 4 Comments

Diamond Jubilee Brush car staying put!

Posted on Wednesday 1 May 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust have announced that its preserved Blackpool Brush Railcoach 290, which was repainted as a static feature for the 2012 illuminations season, will be remaining on display in its current location throughout 2013. However, the tram … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time 5: Lisbon 730 at Seaton

Posted on Wednesday 1 May 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Lisbon 730 has recently been basking in glory thanks to a short but highly succesful period of operation at Beamish Museum. Having now returned to its home tramway at Birkenhead, we take a look back to an earlier time in … Continue reading →

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Heritage tram operates from Starr Gate depot

Posted on Tuesday 30 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Since the upgraded Blackpool tramway opened at Easter 2012, the retained heritage trams have been seen out and about on the system plenty of times, but passenger runs have not been allowed south of Pleasure Beach. Although Balloon 717 is believed … Continue reading →

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Leeds 6 refurbishment update

Posted on Monday 29 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Since Leeds 6 returned to the Heaton Park Tramway after operating at Beamish Museum for the last three years, a significant amount of work has been undertaken on the tram in order to return it to a more dignified appearance … Continue reading →

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LCC 106 overhaul to start this year

Posted on Monday 29 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

London County Council 106 looks set to have a positive future ahead of it at Crich Tramway Village, following the news that it is set to enter the museum’s workshop later this year for a major overhaul. The work will … Continue reading →

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Blackpool Transport complaints increase in 2012

Posted on Monday 29 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Blackpool Gazette has revealed official statistics confirming that the number of complaints received by Blackpool Transport during last year had increased by nearly a fifth from 2011. In 2012, the company received 1,519 complaints, compared to the 1,282 complaints recorded … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Blackpool heritage tram allocations for May Day weekend

Posted on Friday 26 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

As extensively reported already on British Trams Online, the second stint of extensive heritage tram operation in Blackpool this year will occur over the forthcoming May Day Bank Holiday weekend, 4th to 6th May inclusive. Highlights of this period will … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 6 Comments

Historic Blackpool trams moved to Starr Gate

Posted on Friday 26 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

In a surprise move, two of Blackpool’s heritage trams have been transferred to Starr Gate depot, along with at least one of the modified ‘B Fleet’ Balloon cars. The two oldest native trams in the fleet, Fleetwood Box car 40 … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

Chesterfield welcomes back an old friend for Arts Festival

Posted on Friday 26 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

As previously reported on British Trams Online, Crich Tramway Village have received a request from Chesterfield Borough Council, for horse drawn tramcar Chesterfield 8 to make a special guest appearance at the first ever Chesterfield Community Arts Festival. Following discussions … Continue reading →

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Lisbon 730 returns to Birkenhead

Posted on Thursday 25 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The events to mark 40 years of tram operation at Beamish, the Living Museum of the North officially came to an end on Wednesday 24th April when Lisbon 730 became the second and final of the visiting tramcars to leave … Continue reading →

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Blackpool Transport put the trams in Tram Sunday!

Posted on Thursday 25 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following a few disapointing years, it is pleasing to confirm that Blackpool Transport will be supporting the annual Fleetwood Transport Festival – more commonly known as Tram Sunday – by providing a special heritage tram service. The 2013 event takes place on … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 9 Comments

Alderman E.E. Wynne dies

Posted on Thursday 25 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Former Blackpool Councillor Alderman E.E. Wynne has passed away at the age of 96, shortly after having a Blackpool tram named after him. Wynne died earlier this month, mere weeks after attending the unveiling of his name in gold letters … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, People | 2 Comments

A taste of Eastbourne at Seaton

Posted on Thursday 25 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Seaton Tramway in Devon have just announced details of a special operating day on Saturday 8th June which will offer visitors even more of a nostalgic experience than usual. On this day it is intended to operate a five … Continue reading →

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Glasgow 1068 boosts Crich running fleet

Posted on Tuesday 23 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following a highly succesful period of operation at the Beamish Museum’s Great North Festival of Transport, Glasgow 1068 left the North East on Tuesday 23rd April, for the return journey to Derbyshire. The tram arrived back at Crich Tramway Village … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Crich Tramway Village | 1 Comment

Balloons 701 & 723 join Blackpool’s heritage fleet

Posted on Sunday 21 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following the news that Blackpool Balloon 701 will be used on Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram service during May, even more good news can now be revealed – sister car 723 is also set to join the heritage tram fleet and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Blackpool’s Blundell Street line disabled

Posted on Tuesday 16 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

One of the most historically significant sections of tramway in Britain has been rendered unuseable, following the removal of the overhead wires above it. The line in question is the emergency access to Blackpool’s Rigby Road depot, which is connected … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments