Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Heaton Park Tramway closed on 7th October

Posted on Tuesday 2 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester will not be operating this weekend, due to the annual Bus & Tram Show being held at Birkenhead on Sunday 7th October. Several of the regular volunteers in Manchester will be supporting this event … Continue reading →

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Another Balloon relocates to Starr Gate

Posted on Monday 1 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Balloon car 711 – the ninth, and final member of the class to have its centre platform area widened as part of the door modification programme – has now joined sister car 719 at Starr Gate depot. Both trams … Continue reading →

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Sheffield 510 gets lifted

Posted on Monday 1 October 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Early work on the long-awaited overhaul of Sheffield ‘Roberts’ car 510 at Crich Tramway Village is now underway, with the tram having been lifted off its truck using the workshop’s electric jacks during the latter part of September. In addition, several … Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

Blackpool Tramway Illuminations Tours 2012

Posted on Sunday 30 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

For the first time in many years, the Blackpool illumination tours by tram, operated by Blackpool Transport Services Ltd. have undergone some fairly significant changes this year. Having paid a short visit to the resort during September 2012 and sampled … Continue reading →

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Blackpool’s oldest tram line under threat?

Posted on Saturday 29 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Council have recently revealed ambitious plans for a major redevelopment of the area around Foxhall Square, close to the old tram depot at Rigby Road. The scheme, known as the ‘Foxhall Village’ project, would ultimately provide housing for hundreds … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Update on Centenary car 643

Posted on Saturday 29 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Several weeks ago, we featured Blackpool Centenary car 643 in its new home at Broadwater Caravan Park in our occasional ‘Lost Trams’ feature. Although at a glance the car remains unchanged, internally some alterations have been made since then and … Continue reading →

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New drivers for old trams in Blackpool

Posted on Saturday 29 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A pleasing development on the Blackpool tramway has seen the sole remaining Brush Railcoach 631 out and about on the system for driver training purposes. Although crew training on the new Flexity2 class has taken place throughout the season, training … Continue reading →

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British Trams Online advertise on Blackpool ‘Boat’ 233

Posted on Friday 28 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Regular readers of British Trams Online should be aware that, earlier this year, we sponsored the repainting of Blackpool ‘Boat’ car 233. The tram, owned by the Lancastrian Transport Trust, moved to Beamish Museum earlier this year on loan for … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | Comments Off on British Trams Online advertise on Blackpool ‘Boat’ 233

Heaton Park set to celebrate Halloween

Posted on Friday 28 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

For the first time ever, the Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester is set to hold a special Halloween event on Sunday 28th October. This should make a welcome change from the normal enthusiast-based events held by this particular heritage line, … Continue reading →

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Widened Balloons for half-term comeback?

Posted on Friday 28 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Trevor Roberts, the Managing Director of Blackpool Transport Services, has announced that it is planned to use the available modified Balloon cars, often referred to as the ‘B Fleet’, over the busy autumn half-term school holiday period towards the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 28 Comments

Lost Trams 5: Blackpool Centenary car 644

Posted on Wednesday 26 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

644 is one of the eight Centenary class cars built by East Lancashire Coachbuilders during the 1980s for year-round operation in Blackpool. After providing sterling service for more than twenty years, the class were retired from front-line service after use … Continue reading →

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Balloon 719 moves to Starr Gate

Posted on Tuesday 25 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

In a surprise move, Blackpool Balloon car 719 has been moved from Rigby Road to Starr Gate depot following work to bring the tram in line with the other modified Balloons, for continued operation on the upgraded tramway. The tram … Continue reading →

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Blackpool 002 reappears – in Berlin!

Posted on Tuesday 18 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Due to this website being titled British Trams Online, we very rarely feature trams outside the British Isles – but today we are making an exception due to the appearance of a tram which is destined for a long operating career … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Early details of 2013 Crich events revealed

Posted on Tuesday 18 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Fresh from the overwhelming success of the recent Glasgow 50/Enthusiast’s weekend at Crich Tramway Village, as extensively covered by British Trams Online, some early details have been released regarding planned events at Crich for next year. Most of 2013’s special … Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 2 Comments

Blackpool Twin set 272+T2 unveiled

Posted on Sunday 16 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

After a huge amount of anticipation from the enthusiast community, the long-awaited return to use of Twin set 672+682 in Blackpool finally occured during the evening of Friday 14th September. This reflected the first use of the duo since the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

New York 674 brings Crich event to a close

Posted on Sunday 16 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The second day of the spectacular Glasgow-themed enthusiast’s weekend at Crich Tramway Village was another resounding success for the Tramway Museum Society. For the second day running, a very credible four Glasgow trams ran in passenger service along with numerous … Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 2 Comments

Glasgow trams galore at Crich

Posted on Saturday 15 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The two-day 2012 enthusiast’s tram event at Crich Tramway Village kicked off on Saturday 15th September with glorious sunny weather, a fantastic selection of trams in service and plenty of surprises. Of course, as has been extensively reported on this website, … Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 21 Comments

Blackpool Coronation 304 set to visit Beamish!

Posted on Friday 14 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Lancastrian Transport Trust’s superbly restored Blackpool VAMBAC Coronation car 304 is set to make a surprise visit to Beamish, the Living Museum of the North East, for a short operating loan period. The tram will see a major upturn … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 3 Comments

Twin Set 672+682 launch confirmed

Posted on Wednesday 12 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The return to passenger service of Blackpool Twin Set 672+682 has been a highly anticipated event amongst tram enthusiasts ever since news broke that this set would be reactivated as part of Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram fleet earlier in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Heaton Park depot fan progress: in pictures

Posted on Wednesday 12 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Since the highly successful Trans Lanc Rally event on Sunday 2nd September – which was reputedly one of the busiest days ever for the Heaton Park Tramway – work has continued on the extension to the existing terminus at Lakeside. … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 4 Comments