Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Pleasure Beach advert Flexities continue to increase

Posted on Sunday 15 July 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The invasion of side panel advertisements on Blackpool’s new fleet of Flexity2 supertrams shows no sign of slowing down just yet, with two more trams making their service debuts with external adverts over the past weeks. Seven Flexities now carry … Continue reading →

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Balloon 700 impersonates a Flexity!

Posted on Sunday 15 July 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Sunday 15th July saw the annual Fleetwood Transport Festival event staged, and Blackpool Transport chose this occasion to unveil the first traditional tram to have been outshopped in the new Flexity-style fleet livery of purple and white. The chosen recipient is … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 25 Comments

A weekend at Immingham

Posted on Saturday 14 July 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Further details of a proposed loan arrangement involving Grimsby & Immingham 14 have now been confirmed, with the tram due to make a very brief return to one of its old haunts later this month. The car – which is … Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

Twin set 674+684 swaps North West for North East

Posted on Saturday 14 July 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Concluding a busy week for Scott’s Heavy Haulage, Twin set 674+684 has now left Blackpool and joined the recently departed Centenary car 647 at a temporary storage site in Gateshead after being sold to the North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust. … Continue reading →

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Last traditional Blackpool tram departs

Posted on Saturday 14 July 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Tuesday 10th July 2012 saw the second tram in consecutive days to leave Blackpool’s Rigby Road depot for good, when Centenary car 647 set off for pastures new on the back of a low loader provided by Scott’s Heavy Haulage. … Continue reading →

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London Trams at Crich

Posted on Sunday 8 July 2012 by Andrew Waddington

London trams form a key part of the National Tramway Museum collection based at Crich, making it highly appropriate that this museum will be holding a special event to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the closure of the city’s extensive … Continue reading →

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Blackpool 016 enters service

Posted on Tuesday 3 July 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The last of Blackpool’s new Flexity2 trams to enter public service, car 016, recorded its first use with passengers on Tuesday 3rd July. The tram had appeared on test on Monday 2nd July, this being its first appearance on the … Continue reading →

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Blackpool tram timetable axed… or is it?

Posted on Monday 2 July 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The new substation near Fleetwood Ferry has finally been completed and was commissioned ahead of Sunday 1st July, when a new enhanced tram service commenced operation on the Blackpool tramway. Whilst it is pleasing that a more frequent service is … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

The Great Blackpool Tram Invasion

Posted on Sunday 1 July 2012 by Andrew Waddington

What do most people think of when the word ‘tram’ is mentioned to them? For some, a traditional British double-decker, such as Chesterfield 7 or Leicester 76, would probably spring to mind, whilst for the younger generation, it may be … Continue reading →

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2013 Heaton Park Tramway calendar goes on sale

Posted on Saturday 30 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Summer is here – not that you would always know it judging by the recent weather – and so it is of course time to start thinking about a calendar for 2013! For the second year running, British Trams Online … Continue reading →

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Finishing touches for LUT 159

Posted on Saturday 30 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The hugely anticipated public launch of London United Tramways 159 at Crich Tramway Village is fast approaching, and in readiness for this some final touches are being made which will ensure that this magnificent tram is looking its best for … Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

Heaton Park Tramway disrupted by events

Posted on Saturday 30 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

In scenes co-incidentally reminiscent of those recently witnessed in Blackpool, the Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester is currently enduring a period of disruption thanks to two unrelated events being held in the park’s grounds. A concert by reformed rock band … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 12 Comments

Meet ‘Spongebob the Second’!

Posted on Friday 29 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Flexity 015 has become the fifth of Blackpool’s new articulated trams to receive external advertising. Once again, the tram is being used to promote one of the attractions at the Pleasure Beach and this time the design chosen is for … Continue reading →

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Rocket tram prepares to take flight!

Posted on Friday 29 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

In a very welcome development in Blackpool, it has been confirmed that the illuminated Rocket 732 has been transferred to the Electrical Compound, presumably in readiness for a move away from Rigby Road. Some time ago it was mooted that … Continue reading →

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Appeal to recreate Grimsby & Immingham 26 launched

Posted on Wednesday 27 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, have announced details of an appeal for donations from members of the public to help return one of their resident trams to an appearance in which it has not operated for over five … Continue reading →

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Beamish 196 retrucked

Posted on Tuesday 26 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Progress on a thorough overhaul of Beamish 196, the ex-Oporto four wheel tramcar resident at Beamish Museum, is making good progress. The car has spent almost a whole year out of service but the wait for its return will certainly … Continue reading →

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Final Flexity arrives in Blackpool

Posted on Monday 25 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A milestone event occured on Monday 25th June 2012, when Flexity 016 arrived in Blackpool and was unloaded at Starr Gate. This is of course the last of the new Flexity2 class to be delivered, thus completing the prolonged programme … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Illuminated trams light up Totally Transport

Posted on Monday 25 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The annual Totally Transport festival took place on Blackpools’ New South Promenade on Sunday 24th June, and for the first time since 2009 a full tram service ran through the event. Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram tours received a welcome boost … Continue reading →

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Standard 147 carries Olympic flame

Posted on Friday 22 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Standard 147 became the first tram in mainland Britain to carry to Olympic flame when it was used for the iconic object’s visit to the Fylde Coast as it travels across the country ahead of the summer’s Olympic Games. Unfortunately … Continue reading →

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TLC for Sheffield 513

Posted on Thursday 21 June 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Since transferring to the East Anglia Transport Museum over a year ago, Sheffield ‘Roberts’ car 513 has rarely made the news on British Trams Online, but the latest newsletter distributed to members of this organisation enables us to provide an … Continue reading →

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