Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Brush car 623 relaunched in style!

Posted on Monday 17 July 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Following its recent return to Blackpool on loan from the Heaton Park Tramway for its 80th anniversary year, Brush Railcoach 623 has now entered service back on its original home tramway for the first time since November 2009. The tram … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

TMS trucks to help restore trams elsewhere

Posted on Monday 10 July 2017 by Andrew Waddington

In a very welcome act of great generosity, the Tramway Museum Society have provided two tramcar trucks to other preservation organisations, to assist with the restoration of two very special trams. Both of the trucks had been housed at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Brighton Tram 53 Group, Crich Tramway Village | 2 Comments

Bring on the Brush cars!

Posted on Monday 10 July 2017 by Andrew Waddington

As many regular readers of this website will know, 2017 sees Blackpool’s Brush cars celebrate their 80th anniversary and some celebrations are taking place in the town to mark this milestone. This looks set to start on Friday 14th July, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

British Trams Online help to bring Birkenhead 20 to Blackpool!

Posted on Thursday 6 July 2017 by Andrew Waddington

British Trams Online is delighted to announce that we are sponsoring a tram loan which will see one of the Birkenhead heritage tram fleet make the journey to Blackpool for the first time ever. Following negotiations between the Merseyside Tramway … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

A Fleetwood fest for tram enthusiasts!

Posted on Thursday 29 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

In recent years the annual Fleetwood Festival of Transport – more commonly known as Tram Sunday to many people – has regained something of its reputation as an important date in the tram enthusiasts’ calendar. Aside from the festival itself, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on A Fleetwood fest for tram enthusiasts!

Totally Models is a total triumph!

Posted on Tuesday 27 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

A few years after the last ‘Totally Transport’ event held on Blackpool’s New South Promenade, a brand new event was launched to take its place in late June 2017. ‘Totally Models’ was created to add to the existing June gold … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Totally Models is a total triumph!

Crich depot fund update

Posted on Monday 26 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

It has been a while since any updates were given on the project to upgrade the main tram depots at Crich Tramway Village, home of the National Tramway Museum – but that doesn’t mean that nothing has been happening! In … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | Comments Off on Crich depot fund update

Dudley & Stourbridge 5 returns home

Posted on Monday 19 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

It has come to light that Dudley & Stourbridge 5 has recently returned home to the Black Country Living Museum, following a lengthy period spent in Wales where the tram has been undergoing a major overhaul. It is not known … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Country Living Museum | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Another outing for Burton & Ashby 14

Posted on Friday 16 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

The latest open day at the Statfold Barn Railway near Tamworth provided another opportunity for enthusiasts to see and ride on Burton & Ashby 14. The tram was of course returned to service following careful restoration earlier this year, having … Continue reading →

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An accessible Amsterdam tram?

Posted on Friday 16 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

At the East Anglia Transport Museum near Lowestoft, Amsterdam 474 has been out of service for some time awaiting rectification of mechanical defects, primarily affecting its motor. However, the tram is far from forgotten and in fact, recent thoughts have … Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | Comments Off on An accessible Amsterdam tram?

Pop stars take over trams for BBC Music Day

Posted on Thursday 15 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Passengers on some of the UK’s light rail systems may have been surprised to hear some familiar voices in an unlikely setting on Thursday 15th June, as part of the celebrations for BBC Music Day. One of the more unusual … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Manchester Metrolink, People, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Pop stars take over trams for BBC Music Day

Marton 31 to miss summer 2017?

Posted on Wednesday 14 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Despite having returned to Beamish Museum from Blackpool in March of this year, Blackpool Marton Box 31 has still not returned to service at its home tramway. This is due to the car having worn tyres, and it has now … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Bournemouth 85 gets a visit from the TMS

Posted on Wednesday 14 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

It may be recalled that, some time ago, the Tramway Museum Society announced that Bournemouth 85 would be joining the national collection at Crich. On 13th June, a small team of volunteers from the Crich workshop travelled to Christchurch to … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 5 Comments

Heaton Park recognise 25 years of Metrolink

Posted on Monday 12 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

An important milestone in British tramway history which seems to have gone largely unnoticed, is the 25th anniversary of Metrolink – the first second generation tramway in the UK. However, the Manchester Transport Museum Society have decided to hold a … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, Manchester Metrolink | 12 Comments

Blackpool cars 625 & 726 return home

Posted on Thursday 8 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

As reported on this website last week, a storage arrangement has been made between Blackpool Transport, the Blackpool Heritage Trust and the current owner of two preserved Blackpool trams – Brush Railcoach 625 and Balloon 726 – for both of … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Brush car 623 returns to Blackpool

Posted on Tuesday 6 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

On Tuesday 6th June, Blackpool Brush Railcoach 623 returned to Rigby Road depot at Blackpool to begin a loan period. The tram has been in the care of the Manchester Transport Museum Society since 2010 and has spent most of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway | 11 Comments

Krefeld 412 finds shelter at last!

Posted on Friday 2 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

With an emphasis on Blackpool trams, its easy to forget sometimes that the North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust are also the proud owners of two trams from much further afield. Last winter, Graz 210 was brought to Washington near Sunderland … Continue reading →

Posted in North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 3 Comments

Two more Blackpool trams to return to Rigby Road

Posted on Friday 2 June 2017 by Andrew Waddington

After a period of time out in the cold, two further Blackpool trams are set to return home to the sanctuary of Rigby Road depot thanks to an agreement between their current owner and the Blackpool Heritage Trust. Both Brush … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Blackpool 718 relaunched with a shiny new coat!

Posted on Monday 29 May 2017 by Andrew Waddington

The star attraction on the Blackpool tramway for the latest heritage gold operating weekend has been Rebuilt Balloon 718 which has just been released from the Paint Shop in a sparkling coat of green and cream paint. Following a period … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

Last chance to ride Blackpool 623 in Manchester (for now!)

Posted on Friday 26 May 2017 by Andrew Waddington

As has been reported previously, Blackpool Brush Railcoach 623 is heading back home for an operating loan period to help mark the 80th anniversary of Blackpool’s Brush cars. However, before it returns to Blackpool there will be a final chance … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on Last chance to ride Blackpool 623 in Manchester (for now!)