For the first time this year we bring you a round-up of which heritage trams have operated across the British Isles, which includes the three lines on the Isle of Man. The idea behind this list is to give an update on any tram which has been used in passenger service – test runs don’t count although private hires do. As always, if you notice there are any omissions or errors please let us know!
Beamish – The Living Museum of the North
Blackpool: 31
Oporto: 196
Sheffield: 264
Sunderland: 16
Newcastle 114 is out of service undergoing overhaul. It is hoped that Gateshead 10 will return to service later this year.
Black Country Living Museum
The tramway remains closed as redevelopment works take place at the Museum.
Blackpool Tramway
Heritage Tram Tours remain suspended owing to “complex operational arrangements”. No information of when, or if, they may resume running in 2025.
Crich Tramway Village:
Blackpool: 40, 166, 236, 630
Chesterfield: 7
Glasgow: 22
Leeds: 345, 399
London Transport: 1622
Newcastle: 102
Sheffield: 74
Douglas Bay Horse Tramway
27, 36, 45
East Anglia Transport Museum
Blackpool: 11, 159, 634
London Transport: 1858
Sheffield: 513
Great Orme Tramway
4, 5, 6, 7
Heaton Park Tramway
The tramway remains closed with substation works ongoing. These works are progressing but there is no date for their completion.
Manx Electric Railway
Motors: 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 19, 21, 22
Trailers: 41, 42, 43, 47, 48, 56, 58
Seaton Tramway
2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19
8 is currently being used by the engineering department but is expected to return to passenger use later this year.
Snaefell Mountain Railway
1, 2, 4, 5
Statfold Barn Railway
Burton & Ashby: 14
Summerlee Museum
The tramway is currently closed and has not run since late 2022. The museum is currently attempting to recruit a new engineer and the tramway will not resume operation until they are in position.
Volk’s Electric Railway
4, 6, 9, 10
Wirral Heritage Tramway
The tramway remains closed. With funding from the Council being withdrawn its not known what the plans for he future may now be.
Information is believed correct up to and including Sunday 11th May 2025. This list is intended to show those trams which have run in some form of passenger service during 2025 (and thus does not include those on test/driver training) and is as accurate as possible, although errors may have occurred. Various online sources and information sent directly to us have been used to collate this information.
If you know of any mistakes or anything not included above either please leave a comment below or email gareth@britishtramsonline.co.uk.
London Transport 1858 is one of five trams to have been used during 2025 at the East Anglia Transport Museum. Its seen here coming out of the woods. (Photograph by Bryan Grint, 5th May 2025)
Sadly, the statistics shown here point to the depressing state of tramcar preservation in the British Isles, with no fewer than five heritage operations shut down, including Blackpool where it’s possible to ride only on the modern LRVs at present. I wonder how we as a nation compare to other countries with historic tram lines. I’d be willing to bet we would be low down in the league table. Unfortunately, with everyone needing to tighten the purse strings, I doubt funding to remedy the situation will be forthcoming any time soon.