Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Blackpool 626 takes forward and backward steps

Posted on Sunday 26 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The seemingly never-ending wait for Blackpool Brush Railcoach 626 to enter service in its new home at the Birkenhead heritage tramway is continuing, with one promising sign that the launch of the tram could be imminent being followed by another … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 1 Comment

The only way is up for Beamish!

Posted on Saturday 25 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, is well known for being extremely proactive and thanks to a highly succesful couple of years, the rate of expansion looks set to increase further as the Museum has announced to the local … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | 1 Comment

All change for Blackpool illumination tours

Posted on Saturday 25 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Next week the Blackpool illuminations will switch on for another season, and the start of the first with the tram service mainly operated by modern LRV units. 2012 also marks the start of a new era for the illumination tours, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Edinburgh horse tram unveiled

Posted on Friday 24 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

As work continues on creating a modern light rail tram system in Edinburgh, less publicised work to restore the oldest surviving tramcar from the Scottish capital city has recently been completed. Edinburgh 23 was discovered in use as a garden … Continue reading →

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Blackpool Brush car 627 released from prison!

Posted on Thursday 23 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Eight months ago, a rather shabby looking Brush Railcoach 627 left Blackpool’s Rigby Road depot for the final time, having been acquired by a local preservation group. Looking almost totally unrecognisable, 627 made a triumphant return to Blackpool promenade during … Continue reading →

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Lost Trams 4: Blackpool Centenary car 643

Posted on Wednesday 22 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The end of the 2011 illuminations season in Blackpool marked the end of the working careers for several of the town’s traditional trams, as the tramway prepared to enter a new phase of its long history. All eight of the … Continue reading →

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Trio of trams on test at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 22 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

2012 has been an extremely busy year for the hard-working volunteers and staff in the workshop at Crich Tramway Village, but this is paying dividends with no less than three trams recently operating on test along the mile-long museum tramway. … Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

Beamish trams prepare for ‘Power from the Past’

Posted on Tuesday 21 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The annual ‘Power from the Past’ transport extravaganza held at Beamish Museum has become established as one of the highlights of the year for those who are interested in most forms of transport, and 2012 looks set to be no … Continue reading →

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Horse tram joins the Beamish Museum fleet!

Posted on Tuesday 21 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Beamish, the Living Museum of the North has announced a rather unexpected but very welcome surprise in the shape of a new addition to its collection of vintage trams. The vehicle in question is a former Leamington & Warwick horse … Continue reading →

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Andrew’s Weekend in Blackpool: 10th-13th August 2012

Posted on Saturday 18 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Blackpool tramway has undergone many changes since last season, with the new fleet of Bombardier Flexity2 trams providing the bulk of the passenger journeys, and most of the traditional trams now restricted to use on heritage coastal tours between … Continue reading →

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New home for Leeds horse tram

Posted on Thursday 16 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The only surviving Leeds horse tramcar, Leeds 107, has been the subject of a long-running restoration programme in its native city, on which work has accelerated in the last couple of years. With the lower saloon now essentially complete, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Leeds Transport Historical Society | 1 Comment

Leeds 345 comes back with a bang!

Posted on Thursday 16 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The long-running remedial work on Leeds 345 in the Crich workshop has now been completed. After being reunited with its repaired truck towards the end of July, the tram received a few finishing touches but quickly commissioned for testing. Following extensive testing and … Continue reading →

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The Rocket has landed!

Posted on Wednesday 15 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A milestone in the history of the most unusual tram to ever run in Blackpool occured in the early hours of Tuesday 14th August, when the illuminated Rocket 732 returned to the promenade after a decade-long absence. As has been … Continue reading →

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Pioneer Flexity returns to service

Posted on Wednesday 15 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The first Bombardier Flexity2 type tram in the world, Blackpool 001, has finally returned to traffic following a lengthy lay-off. Following its unveiling to the world at a lavish ceremony 11 months ago, 001 became a fairly common sight over … Continue reading →

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Sunderland 16 temporarily withdrawn

Posted on Wednesday 8 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

One of the hard-working members of the operational tram fleet at Beamish Museum, Sunderland 16, has recently been withdrawn from service. For a while now, it has been planned to re-tyre 16 and now the car’s tyres have become a cause … Continue reading →

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Blackpool’s vintage trams missing again

Posted on Wednesday 8 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Sadly, Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram tours have endured further disruption during the week commencing Monday 6th August. After operating a single tram instead of the usual two for the first three days of the week, the tours will not run … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 9 Comments

Cracks appear in Blackpol’s heritage tours

Posted on Saturday 4 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

As reported earlier this week on British Trams Online,  Blackpool Transport resumed operation of its heritage tram coastal tours on Wednesday 1st August, following a four-day absence due to defective points at Pleasure Beach. Unfortunately, since then the service operated has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 16 Comments

Best plan for future of Birkenhead tramway

Posted on Thursday 2 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The ongoing saga of the future of the Birkenhead tramway continues to make the news despite no definite decisions being made. However, an interesting development occured during July, when staff and volunteers who work at Taylor Street museum were given … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 4 Comments

Rocket tram shines for the cameras

Posted on Thursday 2 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The cosmetic restoration of Blackpool’s famous illuminated Rocket tram, 732, is making remarkably speedy progress with work on the external lights now almost complete. When the tram made its last appearance on the Blackpool tramway for a special farewell tour in … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 5 Comments

Western Train moved to Starr Gate

Posted on Thursday 2 August 2012 by Andrew Waddington

On Monday 30th July, Blackpool’s most popular trams made a surprise appearance on the promenade. The illuminated Western Train 733+734 was driven to Starr Gate by engineering staff, and moved into the new depot complex. The same crews then returned … Continue reading →

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