With the single line platform at Malin Bridge its not often that you get the chance to see trams passing on the short branch from Hillsborough to Malin Bridge. But with the increased frequencies currently running on what is normally just the Blue route owing to the rail replacement works along Middlewood Road and diversion of Yellow route trams it has become a more regular occurrence.
Usually you get a tram every 12 minutes along Holme Lane but the current timetable sees the doubling of trams with one due roughly every six minutes (alternating between Blue and Yellow route services). Trams are not given permission to depart from Hillsborough until another one has left Malin Bridge and that does mean that they do pass along the double line section on Holme Lane.
This arrangement will continue until Sunday 1st September which is due to be last day of the rail replacement works for this summer.
Looking beyond the traffic on Holme Lane we see a tram on the Yellow route and a tram on the Blue route passing. 123 on the right is on its normal route as it heads away from Malin Bridge to Hillsborough and then Halfway. Next to it is 125 which is a Yellow route working to Malin Bridge.
Another pair of trams pass. 125 is now returning from Malin Bridge with a service to Meadowhall and the Blue route is being operated by 399 206 which heads to Malin Bridge under blue skies.
And the photos of trams passing concludes with this shot of 102 to Malin Bridge with a Blue route service and 110 to Meadowhall on the Yellow route. (All Photographs by Stuart Cooke, 28th August 2024)
In the first photograph, is that not the entrance (where the white car is emerging) to the old, first generation, tram depot?
Yes it’s the Tramways Health Centre there’s a set of points in the car park.
Yes Big G, you are right and I can recall seeing a Roberts car going along there in the early ‘50’s.