Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Balloons on the move at Blackpool

Posted on Saturday 20 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Positive steps are being made by Blackpool Transport to prepare their modified Balloon cars, sometimes referred to as the ‘B Fleet’, for service. As reported previously these trams are expected to be used in normal service during the school half-term … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

New role for ex-Blackpool Replica Vanguard

Posted on Friday 19 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Heaton Park 7 – still best known to many people as Blackpool Replica Vanguard 619 – is set to take on yet another new guise on a temporary basis. The tram has already had an eventful history, having been built on … Continue reading →

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Crich seek new Manager – at a price

Posted on Friday 19 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Plans by the Tramway Museum Society to appoint a General Manager to oversee the operation of the charity and its commercial side, Crich Tramway Village, have been under discussion for some time now. However, following some encouragement from Society members, … Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 4 Comments

Coronation 304 under attention

Posted on Thursday 18 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Following its arrival at Beamish Museum on Friday 12th October, the Lancastrian Transport Trust’s Blackpool Coronation 304 has been the subject of some attention from staff and volunteers at the museum. This has mainly been focussed on the trolley tower, and … Continue reading →

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A Feltham car for Fleetwood?

Posted on Tuesday 16 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

When British Trams Online featured ex-Leeds Feltham car 526 in our ‘Lost Trams’ feature, little did we realise what was coming next… We have now been informed by John Woodman of the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust, via the comments section on … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 3 Comments

Sheffield 510 looks pretty in pink

Posted on Tuesday 16 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Work on a major overhaul for Sheffield ‘Roberts’ car 510 inside the conservation workshop at Crich Tramway Village is now well underway, with the truck already heavily stripped for refurbishment and work on the interior also beginning. After only around … Continue reading →

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Paint work for modified Balloon cars

Posted on Monday 15 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Work on the final two Blackpool Balloon cars in the current door rebuilding programme, 711 and 719, is finally approaching completion. As reported previously on this website, both trams were recently transferred to Starr Gate depot for repainting and this … Continue reading →

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Heaton Park Lakeside progress – in pictures

Posted on Monday 15 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

We are offering another update on the rapid progress on extending the existing trackwork at the Lakeside terminus of the Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester, with more excellent images courtesey of one of the tramway’s regular volunteers.

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Beamish photo charter confirmed

Posted on Sunday 14 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A very special event for photographers is set to take place at Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, on Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd November featuring two very special trams. The event will predictably feature Blackpool Coronation car 304 which has … Continue reading →

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Birkenhead tramway closes temporarily

Posted on Saturday 13 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Following last weekend’s succesful Wirral Bus & Tram Show, the Birkenhead heritage tramway is temporarily closed whilst new safety procedures are being introduced. Although recent inspection has determined that the tramway is operating safely, some new procedures need to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 5 Comments

New exhibition for Crich

Posted on Saturday 13 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The exhibition area within the Derby Assembly Rooms at Crich Tramway Village is currently being treated to a major revamp for the first time in many years. It was confirmed some months ago that this area would be refreshed following … Continue reading →

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Big book sale = big bucks for Crich

Posted on Saturday 13 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A sale of surplus books and journals from the Tramway Museum Society archives over the recent Crich enthusiast’s weekend on 15th & 16th September has been hailed a tremendous success, raising over £1,500 for the museum. Although similar book sales … Continue reading →

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Blackpool Coronation 304 moves to Beamish

Posted on Friday 12 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The much-anticipated transfer of Blackpool Coronation car 304 from temporary storage in Marton, to Beamish Museum has finally taken place after a few delays which led to its planned passenger debut in the North East being postponed slightly. After being … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 4 Comments

Heaton Park trackwork progress – in pictures

Posted on Friday 5 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The extending of the trackwork at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway continues, as the Lakeside site is prepared for the construction of the tramway’s new depot. The short stub track of the double-track terminus has continued to grow steadily, with a … Continue reading →

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Blackpool Brush car 259 goes under wraps

Posted on Friday 5 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

One of the Lancastrian Transport Trust’s preserved Blackpool trams currently in open air storage has been covered with large green sheets to protect it from the elements this week. The former Permanent Way Brush car 259 has been the lucky … Continue reading →

Posted in Fylde Transport Trust | 1 Comment

New role for Edinburgh tram top deck

Posted on Thursday 4 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The remains of an early electric tramcar from Edinburgh are destined for a bright future after years of storage, thanks to an imaginative development from the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust. The upper deck of the tram was recently moved to … Continue reading →

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Centenary car attacked by vandals

Posted on Thursday 4 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Sad news to report is that one of the many ex-Blackpool trams currently in outside storage has been vandalised. Centenary car 646 was the victim of a mindless act by vandals overnight on 2nd/3rd October, which has left the tram … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 5 Comments

Bolton to Fleetwood

Posted on Tuesday 2 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

On Monday 1st October, Bolton 66 made history yet again by travelling to the Blackpool tramway’s northern terminus for the first time since the line was upgraded to modern light rail standard. To add further excitement to what was already … Continue reading →

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Coronation 304 move delayed

Posted on Tuesday 2 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The recently-announced loan of Blackpool Coronation 304 to Beamish Museum has been delayed slightly due to a slight hitch with the transport arrangements as a low loader is not available to move it in time. The tram, owned by the … Continue reading →

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Cosmetic work for Heaton Park trams

Posted on Tuesday 2 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Although the big project to construct a second tram depot in the grounds of Manchester’s Heaton Park is just beginning, members of the Manchester Transport Museum Society are still finding time for some smaller jobs focussed on improving the appearance … Continue reading →

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