Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

NEETT plan a new depot for their fleet

Posted on Wednesday 18 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust (NEETT for short) have become the latest tram-related organisation to launch an appeal to fund the construction of a new depot in which to house its collection of trams. The Sunderland-based organisation has enjoyed … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 3 Comments

TMS owned Boat runs at Blackpool!

Posted on Tuesday 17 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The restoration of Blackpool Boat car 236 (latterly known as 607) at Blackpool, ahead of its transfer to Crich for preservation at the National Tramway Museum, is now virtually complete and the tram has been released from the Paint Shop. … Continue reading →

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Blackpool ‘Boat’ 233: the past, present & future

Posted on Tuesday 17 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Lancastrian Transport Trust have a lot to celebrate this month as their preserved Blackpool ‘Boat’ car 233 (ex-605) is now available for regular service in its new home at Beamish, the Living Museum of the North. Following completion of … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 1 Comment

Manchester trams on TV

Posted on Monday 16 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Two artefacts from the collection of the Manchester Transport Museum Society appeared on primetime television within a three day period. Although the Society and the heritage tramway at Heaton Park, Manchester were not promoted as such this was nonetheless a … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway | 1 Comment

Beamish push the Boat out!

Posted on Thursday 12 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Lancastrian Transport Trust’s preserved Blackpool ‘Boat’ car 233 made its passenger debut in its new home at Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, on Thursday 12th April for the first day of the Museum’s annual Great North Steam … Continue reading →

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More Blackpool trams sold

Posted on Wednesday 11 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

A new player in the British transport preservation movement has stepped in at a crucial time to save some of Blackpool’s unwanted tram fleet. The North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust, who are based in the Sunderland area, have already acquired one … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 5 Comments

Operating fleet grows at Crich

Posted on Monday 9 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

With the main opening season now underway following the unwelcome snowfalls of last week, it is pleasing to report that Crich Tramway Village continue to operate more different trams with a total of eleven different cars having run in passenger … Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on Operating fleet grows at Crich

Next stop, Blackpool North Station?

Posted on Monday 9 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Hopes have been raised that the suggested extension of the Blackpool & Fleetwood tramway could be a more realistic prospect than many people had thought, after Blackpool Borough Council announced that a feasibility study is taking place to investigate the possibility … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 11 Comments

Birkenhead tramway takeover saga continues

Posted on Saturday 7 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The long ongoing saga of who will be responsible for the operation of the popular heritage tramway at Birkenhead continues to move forward, albeit painfully slowly. A meeting has recently taken place with a view to further discussions taking place … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 2 Comments

More old friends return in Blackpool

Posted on Saturday 7 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The second day of Blackpool Transport’s new heritage tram coastal tours, Easter Saturday 7th April, saw two more historic trams which had missed the entire 2011 season back in service on the promenade. The chosen cars on this date were … Continue reading →

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Boat 233 almost ready to set sail

Posted on Saturday 7 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Work on the repaint and commissioning of Blackpool Boat car 233 at Beamish Museum is now virtually complete thanks to the sterling efforts of both the Beamish Tramway Group and the BusWorks painter, who has been working long hours in … Continue reading →

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White Easter for Crich

Posted on Friday 6 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The main operating season for 2011 commenced for Crich Tramway Village this week, with daily opening from Monday 2nd April onwards. Unfortunately however, this milestone co-incided with the end of the mini-heatwave experienced across much of Britain recently, and the … Continue reading →

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A Good Friday for Bolton 66

Posted on Friday 6 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Good Friday 6th April marked the start of Blackpool Transport’s highly anticipated new heritage tram tours. With the old fleet unable to load at the new platforms at tram stops, all of the retained fleet apart from the widened Balloons … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Blackpool departures: January – March 2012

Posted on Friday 6 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

With the Blackpool tramway now open for business once again, it seems like a good time to provide a summary of the trams which have departed for new homes so far this year. The first quarter of 2012 has appropriately … Continue reading →

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The calm after the storm: Day two of Blackpool 2012

Posted on Thursday 5 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Following the unfortunate circumstances which surrounded the start of tram services on the upgraded Blackpool tram system, the second day of operation was effectively a chance for Blackpool Transport to wipe the slate clean and start again, with the opportunity … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 6 Comments

Eventful first day for Blackpool’s upgraded tram service

Posted on Wednesday 4 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The long-awaited commencement of passenger services on the upgraded Blackpool tramway occured on Wednesday 4th April 2012, with Flexity 006 becoming the first of the new low-floor trams to run in ordinary passenger service. The car was allocated to Route … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

First passenger tram to Fleetwood since 2009!

Posted on Tuesday 3 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Tuesday 3rd April 2012 was a landmark day for Blackpool’s tramway upgrade, as a tram ran along the entire length of the line from Starr Gate to Fleetwood Ferry with passengers on board for the first time since November 2009, when … Continue reading →

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Beamish Boat car nears completion

Posted on Tuesday 3 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Work on repainting Blackpool ‘Boat’ car 233 (latterly 605) ready for service at its new home at Beamish Museum has made incredible progress since this task commenced less than a week ago. The tram has now had its colours turned … Continue reading →

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Tram debuts aplenty

Posted on Monday 2 April 2012 by Andrew Waddington

As the main 2012 season kicks in for many of the UK’s traditional tramways, the amount of interest is also on the increase. Two trams made historic debuts in new homes – one permanent, one temporary – in the week … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Tram debuts aplenty

Ghost trams sighted in Blackpool

Posted on Friday 30 March 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Following countless delays, the much-hyped ‘ghost running’ of Blackpool’s new Flexity2 trams finally got underway on Friday 30th March, albeit not quite as expected. Prior to this day, only two of the new trams had even run to Fleetwood Ferry … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment