As December arrives it can only mean one thing (well, it probably means quite a lot of things!) – its time to launch the British Trams Online Tram of the Year contest for 2024! Regular readers of this website will know exactly what that means, but for the rest of you read on to find out more. Once again this year we will be looking to name “Tram (Heritage)”, “Tram (Modern)”, “Tramway/Museum”, “Tramway (Modern)” and “Event” of the Year. The next seven days or so is your chance to put forward nominees to make the final shortlist ahead of voting in December/January.
The nomination period is open for only a week with the deadline for any nominations being Saturday 7th December 2024. Voting then opens on Sunday 8th December 2024 and will remain open for four weeks until the morning of Saturday 4th January 2025. The qualifying period for nominations is between the first weekend in December 2023 and the first weekend in December 2024 (i.e. it has to have already happened for it to qualify!).
We will be looking to find winners in the following categories (if there are no obvious contenders in any categories that may not go forward to the voting stage):
Tram (Heritage) of the Year
Last 3 Winners: Manx Electric Railway 19, Blackpool 159, Manx Electric Railway 2
This category looks to find the heritage tram which has done that something out of the ordinary in the past 12 months. It could be that its operated away from its home tramway, re-entered service after overhaul/restoration or even just been that stalwart of operation.
Tram (Modern) of the Year
Last 3 Winners: Edinburgh Trams 258, Blackpool 011, Manchester Metrolink 1023
Has there been a modern tram which has done something special in 2023? It could have received a new livery or a special advert which gave that wow factor or maybe it was the first tram to run on a new line? Or did it even run in service for the very first time?
Tramway/Museum (Heritage) of the Year
Last 3 Winners: Manx Electric Railway, East Anglia Transport Museum, Crich Tramway Village
This category is looking for which heritage tramways/museums has had a special year over the past 12 months. What that something special may be is entirely up to – just remember to give reasons why!
Tramway (Modern) of the Year
Last Winner: Edinburgh Trams
For the first time in 2023 we separated this category to allow modern operating systems to have their chance to shine as well. We are looking for a modern tramway which has had a good year – whether that’s a new service introduced or just a system which continues to prove its popularity its up to you!
Event of the Year
Last 3 Winners: Isle of Man Year of the Railways Transport Festival, Blackpool Jubilee Tram Parade, Isle of Man Winter Heritage Transport Festival
A category which can cover both heritage and modern tramways (although has been heavily dominated by heritage lines in the past!). It could be a special event on a heritage tramway but could equally be the opening of a new line or an improved service on one of the modern operating tramways across the British Isles.
Its now over to you to contribute to what could end up on the shortlist for each category. Get your brains thinking on what you think deserves to be nominated this year and you can then submit your nominations as follows:
- Leave a comment below
- Email gareth@britishtramsonline.co.uk
- Comment on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BritishTramsOnline
To find out more about the Tram of the Year contest you can visit our dedicated page at http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/tramofyear.html
Event of the year _ Blackpool extension open
Tram (Heritage) of the Year
LCC1 Bluebird – return to service at Crich
Tram (Modern) of the Year
Nothing particular stands out in my mind
Tramway/Museum (Heritage) of the Year
Wirral for finally sorting out the mess with the tramway not working and trams not being accessible – even if its not entirely the solution many people hoped for (I’m saying this partly tongue in cheek!)
Tramway (Modern) of the Year
Edinburgh for the opening the new section
Event of the Year
Heritage – Adventures in Time and Light at Crich
Modern – Edinburgh extension
(I could also suggest the reopening of Blackpool North but it was delayed so long I don’t truly think it worthy)
Heritage Tram of the Year. Must be LCC 1. Magnificently restored. (If only the destination under the 35 had read ‘Hazel Grove’ however!!)
Heritage Tram has to be ‘Bluebird’
Tram (modern): Pass
Tramway/Museum (Heritage): EATM for having expanded its track and its fleet despite the fact that everyone is struggling to some extent.
Tramway (modern) of the year: Sheffield for having gone from Company to Municipality operated as it was when first generation terminated.
Event of the year: Tram Day Crich – with 2 entries/re-entries of trams into service.