Around the World in Trams: Auckland 44

Posted on Saturday 9 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

Another look at trams in the collection at MOTAT in Auckland today and we feature another of the “home” trams.

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So Nearly, Not Quite! Blackpool Balloon 718

Posted on Saturday 9 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

We’ve been here before! Previously in this series we have been on the approach to Victoria Street stop in Fleetwood with a road vehicle getting in the way and that is exactly what happened to me again in this image of Balloon 718.

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Metro ticket gates back in use

Posted on Saturday 9 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

Ticket gates at 13 key stations on the Tyne and Wear Metro have been returned to use with added social distancing measures now in place. When restrictions were first introduced on the network the ticket machines were temporarily left open whilst a detailed assessment into their use took place but which this now complete they have been closed again to ensure that everyone travelling not only has a ticket but also takes a moment to consider whether their journey really is necessary.

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Transport for West Midlands launch survey for post-lockdown services

Posted on Friday 8 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

Even when lockdown measures are gradually relaxed in the coming months there is undeniably going to be a change in people’s travel arrangements (with many people now working from home it is likely to be quite an attractive proposition to do on a more regular basis going forward) and to help understand how this may impact various modes of transport in the West Midlands an online survey has been launched by Transport for West Midlands.

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Whatever Happened To? Blackpool Centenary 642

Posted on Friday 8 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

We now reach the Centenary Cars as we continue our look at those trams which ran on the last weekend of the pre-upgrade of the Blackpool Tramway in November 2011.

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Picture in Time: Oporto 196

Posted on Friday 8 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

Another visit to the northeast today as we are again at Beamish in 1996. This time we take a look at Oporto 196.

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Enjoy tram events – virtually!

Posted on Friday 8 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

Now, here’s the thing. We are all under restrictions as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and even if we were able to get out and about all heritage tramways are currently closed and are likely to remain so for some considerable time. It’s a Bank Holiday weekend and usually many of us would be enjoying the sunshine – which, of course, is shining this weekend when we can’t go anywhere! – and trams so what to do? Have a tram event virtually – that’s what!

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Manx Heritage Transport Festival cancelled – goes online!

Posted on Thursday 7 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that the second big heritage transport event on the Isle of Man of the year has been cancelled with the Manx Heritage Transport Festival following Rush Hour on the Railways as going online. The Virtual Transport Festival will be held on the same dates as the planned physical event, 29th July to 2nd August and will feature events from the Manx Electric Railway and Isle of Man Steam Railway again plus the Groudle Glen Railway, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Orchid Line at the Wildlife Park, Crogga Valley Railway and the Great Laxey Mines Railway will also get involved too.

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Lockdown Walks: Edinburgh Trams 274

Posted on Thursday 7 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

Another trip to Edinburgh for this latest edition of “Lockdown Walks” as we are once again at York Place.

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Still Standing! Hull Corporation Tramways track

Posted on Thursday 7 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

In this week’s look at remaining relics of the UK’s first generation tramways we are off to Hull where we find a surviving length of Hull Corporation Tramway’s unusual centre groove track.

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Blackpool Tramway to request government help

Posted on Wednesday 6 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

It may have been closed since the end of March with all intending passengers told to travel on the Promenade Bus service instead, but following the announcement last week that the DfT would be awarding financial help to lines in Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Tyne and Wear and the West Midlands, officials at Blackpool Transport have confirmed in the local press that they too will be seeking support to help secure the future of the Blackpool Tramway.

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Trams &: Den Haag 3026 & Bristol MW5G bus

Posted on Wednesday 6 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

For the first time in this series we head overseas for a view of a “Tram &”…

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Picture in Time: South Yorkshire Supertram 02

Posted on Wednesday 6 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

Today we feature another photo from Sheffield with the year again 1995.

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Overhead line works on the way for West Midlands Metro

Posted on Tuesday 5 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

There will be a change to the service on the West Midlands Metro between 2100 on Saturday 9th May and 1000 on Sunday 10th May to allow for overhead line works to take place between Jewellery Quarter and St Chads. Throughout this period trams will only run between Wolverhampton St George’s and Handsworth Booth Street with a replacement bus into Birmingham City Centre.

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So Nearly, Not Quite! Blackpool Balloon 713

Posted on Tuesday 5 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

We’ve seen stray pedestrians getting in the way of photos but this time its something all together bigger – a car that gets in the way of this shot of Blackpool Balloon 713.

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Around the World in Trams: Auckland 11

Posted on Tuesday 5 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

Let’s go back “down under” for photos taken earlier in 2020 – this time we are heading to New Zealand with a visit to MOTAT in Auckland, home to several historic trams as well as an operating tramway linking two parts of the museum via the Zoo.

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Tyne & Wear Metro confirm £8.6 million government bailout

Posted on Monday 4 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

When it was reported a couple of weeks ago that the Department for Transport had agreed to support light rail systems in Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Tyne and Wear and the West Midlands exact details of how much this would equate to were sketchy. However, Nexus, the public body who owns and manages the Tyne & Wear Metro, have now confirmed that they have secured an £8.6 million government bailout.

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Whatever Happened To? Blackpool Brush 632

Posted on Monday 4 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

The second of two Brush Cars to run over that last weekend of traditional tram operation was 632, a tram which hasn’t been as lucky as the others we have featured so far in this series.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush Cars 621 & 622

Posted on Monday 4 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

After a pair of Boats last week this week it is the turn of the Brush Cars to be in the spotlight this time around – and it’s the first two of the class which feature: 621 and 622.

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Trams in Video: West Midlands Metro December 2019

Posted on Sunday 3 May 2020 by Gareth Prior

In this video we are on the West Midlands Metro as we take a look at the Birmingham Westside extension shortly after it opened to the public in December 2019. With this section of line being built without overhead wires we see the trams running under battery power between Grand Central and Library.

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