Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

All aboard the Santa (Fe) Train!

Posted on Thursday 6 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Blackpool tramway may now be in the depths of winter, but the illuminated Western Train 733+734 recently provided a welcome break from the mediocrity of nothing but Flexities running each day, by performing an unusual private charter. The ever-popular … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Heaton Park depot project to be launched on December 7th

Posted on Thursday 6 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Manchester Transport Museum Society have announed that a small event will be held at 11:00am on Friday 7th December to commemorate the beginning of work on constructing a new tram depot at the Heaton Park Tramway’s Lakeside terminus. As reported earlier … Continue reading →

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Cracking tram, Gromit!

Posted on Thursday 6 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The latest side advert on one of Blackpool’s Flexity2 trams has recently appeared on car 004, which is promoting an upcoming new attraction at the Pleasure Beach – Wallace & Gromit’s ‘Thrill-O-Matic’! The new ride, inspired by the much loved … Continue reading →

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The earth moves for Heaton Park’s new depot

Posted on Monday 3 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Monday 3rd December 2012 was a momentous day in the history of Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway, as it was on this day that excavation works on the site of the new tram depot were undertaken. After much hard work by … Continue reading →

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The amazing disapearing Centenary car!

Posted on Monday 3 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The fate of Blackpool Centenary car 646 has taken several bizarre twists and turns in recent weeks. Plans to preserve the tram by the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust were recently abandoned after the tram was damaged by vandals, and then … Continue reading →

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A Twin car ride for Christmas

Posted on Sunday 2 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Following an enforced absence due to the winter closures of recent years, the Fylde Tramway Society’s annual Christmas tour of the Blackpool tramway on board an unusual member of the resident tram fleet is set to return for 2012. Twin … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 6 Comments

A Decade at Crich

Posted on Saturday 1 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The past ten years have witnessed many ups and downs at Crich Tramway Village, home of the National Tramway Museum in Derbyshire. With newly restored trams joining the operating fleet, new acquisitions and a whole host of excellent special events, … Continue reading →

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The Top 50 Tram Events of the Decade

Posted on Saturday 1 December 2012 by Andrew Waddington

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of British Trams Online, we present this rundown of fifty key tramway events which have taken place during the lifespan of this website. Naturally, different people will have their own ideas about what sort of … Continue reading →

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Leeds horse tram set to operate at Middleton

Posted on Friday 30 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A story in the Yorkshire Evening Post on the recent impressive progress on the restoration of Leeds horse tram 107 by members of the Leeds Transport Historical Society, has included details on plans for the car’s future. Surprisingly, the tram … Continue reading →

Posted in Leeds Transport Historical Society | 3 Comments

FHLT plan a second illuminated Brush car

Posted on Friday 30 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Following on from the popularity of Blackpool Brush Railcoach 290‘s ‘Diamond Jubilee’ livery and illuminations, the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust have announced plans to create a brand new display for the 2013 illuminations season, featuring another of its trams. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 4 Comments

Spring 2013 return planned for Blackpool 680

Posted on Monday 26 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Heaton Park Tramway have announced a provisional launch date for the next new addition to its fleet of operating trams, Blackpool Ex-Towing Railcoach 680. Subject to the completion of the new Lakeside depot and any necessary commissioning work, 680 … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 8 Comments

Coronation 304’s farewell goes off track

Posted on Sunday 25 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Lancastrian Transport Trust have confirmed that Blackpool Coronation car 304 has been withdrawn from service prematurely following a minor incident at Beamish Museum, where the tram has been operating on loan for the past few weeks. The tram derailed … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 1 Comment

Rocket tram lights up for Christmas

Posted on Saturday 24 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool’s famous illuminated Rocket tram 732 has surprisingly been illuminated again this week, to co-incide with the start of the town’s Christmas lights. Although nowhere near as spectacular as the main autumn illuminations, the annual display normally includes a special … Continue reading →

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Coronation 304 set to bid farewell to Beamish

Posted on Saturday 24 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Preserved Blackpool Coronation car 304 will soon be leaving its current, temporary home at Beamish Museum and heading back for the Fylde Coast. Before it goes however, the tram will be making a few final outings to give its fans … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 1 Comment

Centenary 646 update – more parts go up for auction!

Posted on Thursday 22 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The bizarre tale of Blackpool Centenary car 646‘s post-service career continues, following on from recent developments which saw some items taken from the tram being offered for sale on eBay. The first item was then hastily removed from sale following an … Continue reading →

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Railcoach restoration resumes

Posted on Friday 16 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A slightly surprising development at the Lancastrian Transport Trust’s leased premises at the Brinwell Road Industrial Estate on the outskirts at Blackpool, involves English Electric Railcoach 279. This tram has been undergoing restoration to near-original appearance since 2009 having ran … Continue reading →

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The value of an art deco Brush car

Posted on Thursday 15 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The fate of preserved Blackpool Brush Railcoach 298 has been a subject of great discontent amongst many tram enthusiasts for quite some time. A meeting held by the Tramway Museum Society earlier this year included some discussion on the future … Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 7 Comments

Crich play area to become a tram depot?

Posted on Wednesday 14 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

It has been well documented that the Tramway Museum Society, based at Crich Tramway Village, are desperately short of covered accomodation in which to house its growing collection of priceless vintage trams. Both the museum site at Crich, and their … Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 15 Comments

Salvation for Centenary car 646?

Posted on Monday 12 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A further development in the strange tale of Blackpool Centenary car 646 has taken place since we reported last week, that parts of the tram were being offered for sale on an internet auction site. The sale of the first … Continue reading →

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Winter at Beamish

Posted on Sunday 11 November 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The winter season at Beamish Museum has now commenced, bringing it with reduced opening hours and preperations for Christmas. However, any concerns that the level of interest at the museum would reduce are unfounded; most of the usual attractions remain open … Continue reading →

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