With Easter out of the way we take a first look of 2026 at just which heritage trams have run so far this year on various lines across the British Isles. As a reminder the aim of this list is to show any heritage trams which have run in service during the year – that can include private hires but if its only out for driver training and/or on test that doesn’t qualify. If you notice any errors or omissions please let us know!
Beamish – The Living Museum of the North
Blackpool: 31
Oporto: 196
Sheffield: 264
Sunderland: 16
Blackpool 31 is currently out of service having suffered a fault.
Black Country Living Museum
The tramway remains closed. There are currently no plans for the tramway to be reinstated although funding is now in place for a trolleybus service to resume.
Blackpool Tramway
Illuminated: Frigate
The Frigate last ran in January 2026 as part of the 2025 Illuminations season. No details have yet been announced for Heritage Tours in 2026 but Bolton 66 has recently been moved to Starr Gate and Balloon 717 has also been noted out on driver training.
National Tramway Museum
Blackpool: 40, 167, 236
Blackpool & Fleetwood: 40
Glasgow: 22
Leeds: 345, 399
London County Council: 106
Newcastle: 102
Sheffield: 74
Douglas Bay Horse Tramway
18, 45
East Anglia Transport Museum
Amsterdam: 474
Blackpool: 634
London Transport: 1858
Great Orme Tramway
4, 5, 6, 7
Heaton Park Tramway
The tramway remains closed with substation works ongoing. It is planned that service will resume in 2026.
Manx Electric Railway
Motors: 1, 5, 7, 19, 21, 22
Trailers: 42, 49, 50, 57, 58, 59, 60
Seaton Tramway
2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 19
Snaefell Mountain Railway
1
Statfold Barn Railway
No information available
Summerlee Museum
The tramway is currently closed and has not run since late 2022. The tramway will not be able to resume operation until a new engineer has been appointed, and despite attempts this recruitment has not been successful.
Volk’s Electric Railway
6, 9, 10
Wirral Heritage Tramway
The tramway remains closed with no resumption of operation likely in the foreseeable future. The last update was that new operators Big Heritage were attempting legal action against the Council in regards to the withdrawal of funding and that was the Museum with no mention of the actual tramway.
Information is believed correct up to and including Sunday 12th April 2026. This list is intended to show those trams which have run in some form of passenger service during 2026 (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.
Amsterdam 474 has returned to service at the East Anglia Transport Museum at the start of 2026, having missed the last couple of seasons. As well as an overhaul its also enjoyed a full repaint. Its seen here on its first day back just entering the woods. (Photograph by Bryan Grint, 3rd April 2026)