Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Return of the green & cream Centenary car

Posted on Monday 25 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following on from the recent sad news regarding the demise of Blackpool Centenary car 646, it is pleasing to be able to write some really good news about one of its sisters. One of the surviving Centenary cars has now … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Crich closes due to snow

Posted on Friday 22 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The advertised opening of Crich Tramway Village this weekend – Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th March – has unfortunately had to be cancelled due to heavy snowfalls which have made the site largely inaccessible. It will be impossible to operate … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 1 Comment

Changes announced for Blackpool’s heritage tours

Posted on Thursday 21 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Detailed plans for the operation of historic trams on the Blackpool tramway during the 2013 season have at last been announced, with a number of changes to the service that was offered last summer. With poor passenger numbers during 2012, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 38 Comments

Beamish depot road 4 goes live

Posted on Wednesday 20 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Much of the work to install overhead wiring over Road 4 in the tram/bus depot at Beamish Museum has at last been completed, more than a year after the rails were laid in the floor. The installation and energising of the … Continue reading →

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Leeds 6 left stranded at Beamish

Posted on Wednesday 20 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

This weekend’s Spring Gala event at the Heaton Park Tramway seems to have suffered from more than its share of bad luck, with numerous changes to the billed events happening due to events beyond the organisers’ control. Unfortunately, there has … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway | 5 Comments

Dead seagull found underneath tram!

Posted on Monday 18 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Work on preparing Blackpool Jubilee car 762 for service at its new home, Crich Tramway Village, is continuing to progress, with an ever-increasing list of jobs being tackled to allow this unique tram to be demonstrated at the museum. This … Continue reading →

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Princess on the prom!

Posted on Monday 18 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Wednesday 13th March saw an unusual winter appearance by an open-top tram on the Blackpool system, when ‘Princess Alice’ 706 operated a private hire. The tram was spotted on the promenade early in the evening, with several passengers taking advantage … Continue reading →

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Stockport 5 relaunch planned for Heaton Park’s Spring Gala

Posted on Saturday 16 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following the disapointing news that Stockport 5 will not be making the trip from Manchester to Beamish for the museum’s tramway anniversary celebrations, the Heaton Park Tramway has now confirmed that the tram will instead be relaunched at their own … Continue reading →

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Bumper season for Blackpool illuminations

Posted on Saturday 16 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Blackpool tramway has been given a welcome boost, thanks to a surprise announcement by Blackpool Council this week that the town’s famous illuminations will shine for an extra week in 2013. It is expected that the ‘lights’ season will … Continue reading →

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RIP Centenary car 646

Posted on Friday 15 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Last October, Centenary car 646 mysteriously disapeared from Blackpool after suffering from an act of vandalism. The tram had been purchased by furniture sales businessman Paul Gaunt and stored in the car park of his premises, pending eventual display as … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 1 Comment

Blackpool trams at Bury

Posted on Wednesday 13 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Three of the Manchester Transport Museum Society’s recently preserved Blackpool trams have been in open storage at a secure site in Bury for some time now, and rarely been depicted in their current home. However, on Sunday 10th March a … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 7 Comments

Stockport 5 pulled out of Beamish celebrations

Posted on Tuesday 12 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

It is with great regret that we report the news that Stockport 5 will not be visiting Beamish for the events to mark their tramway’s 40th anniversary next month. The cancellation of this loan also means that Blackpool 31 will … Continue reading →

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Sheffield 264 comes out

Posted on Tuesday 12 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Continuing work on installing the live overhead wire over track 4 within the tram shed at Beamish Museum, has recently allowed the elusive Sheffield 264 to enjoy a rare airing. This tram was withdrawn from service due to the poor … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | 1 Comment

Another two bite the dust at Crich

Posted on Monday 11 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following on from last week’s shock news that Southampton 45 has been withdrawn from service, it has been confirmed that two more old favourites at Crich Tramway Village have now been sidelined and will not be operating in 2013. The … Continue reading →

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Coronation 304 back in Blackpool – but still outside

Posted on Friday 8 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Coronation car 304‘s extended stay at Beamish Museum finally came to an end on Thursday 7th March, when the tram was loaded up for transportation back to Blackpool. The Lancastrian Transport Trust owned tram arrived back on the Fylde … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 6 Comments

Glasgow Standard car set for East Anglia!

Posted on Wednesday 6 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The UK tram preservation movement is known for throwing some very welcome surprises at enthusiasts on occasion; something which seems to have become more common over the last few years, with tram loans and increasingly ambitious events taking place on … Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | 12 Comments

Southampton 45 withdrawn

Posted on Monday 4 March 2013 by Andrew Waddington

An unexpected, and unwelcome development at Crich Tramway Village has seen Southampton 45 withdrawn from service and placed on static display inside the Great Exhibition Hall. 45 has always been a very popular tram in the fleet, mostly due to … Continue reading →

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Summer deadline for Liverpool 245 restoration

Posted on Thursday 28 February 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following an absence of around five decades, it should soon be possible to ride on a Liverpool ‘Baby Grand’ tram once again, with the restoration of Liverpool 245 for operation on the Birkenhead heritage tramway approaching completion. An ambitious completion … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 1 Comment

Beamish trams on parade for 40th anniversary

Posted on Wednesday 27 February 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Further details have now been released, concerning plans for Beamish Museum’s ambitious ‘Great North Festival of Transport’ which is being held during April 2013. This includes a four-day event celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Beamish tramway, which will feature … Continue reading →

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Trams return to service at Birkenhead

Posted on Monday 25 February 2013 by Andrew Waddington

After more than four months of enforced inactivity, the Birkenhead heritage tramway has finally re-opened for business, with Saturday 23rd February becoming the first operating day for the line in 2013. It may be remembered that the tramway was forced … Continue reading →

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