Berlin 223 006-4 to celebrate its birthday at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 11 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

An extra event has been announced at Crich with Access Tram, Berlin 223 006-4, set to take centre stage on Monday 30th September. The day will be a 50th anniversary celebration of the entry into service of the tram in its home city and will see 223 006-4 allocated to service as one of the main service cars at Crich rather than just performing its regular morning and afternoon access tram trips.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on Berlin 223 006-4 to celebrate its birthday at Crich

In Pictures: More old tram track uncovered in Sheffield

Posted on Tuesday 10 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Track has been a key word in Sheffield this summer with the rail replacement work around Hillsborough having now finished having taken place for several months whilst elsewhere various old tram track – from the first generation tramway – has been discovered as a result of other roadworks. The latest old tram track to be uncovered has been on Bridge Street – track which last saw trams run across it in 1960.

Continue reading →

Posted in General | Comments Off on In Pictures: More old tram track uncovered in Sheffield

In Video: Parallel departures from Victoria

Posted on Tuesday 10 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

For a few weeks during August and September it was all change at Victoria because of a fault with the points just outside the station. This meant that Manchester Airport trams were having to run onto 2CC and those for East Didsbury and Rochdale were running on 1CC. One of the by-products of this is that for a time it was possible to see parallel departures into the city from Victoria, as seen in the below video from Philip Gay.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment

Picture in Time: Blackpool OMO 9 & Engineering Car 753

Posted on Tuesday 10 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

We stay looking at the Blackpool Tramway during the illuminations in the 1970s this week but this time there isn’t an illuminated tram in sight as we take a look at Little Bispham loop during the day with two very different trams in position.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Blackpool OMO 9 & Engineering Car 753

In Pictures: Box 40 back at Crich

Posted on Monday 9 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we reported at the weekend, Blackpool & Fleetwood 40 is now back at Crich following the conclusion of its loan periods at both Blackpool and, more recently, Beamish. Arriving back during the afternoon of Friday 6th September the tram was soon moved into the workshop for a start to be made on its commissioning. The following images captured it still in the workshop on Sunday 8th September, courtesy of Hazel Quarmby.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: Box 40 back at Crich

In Pictures: And still there’s more blue on the West Midlands Metro

Posted on Monday 9 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Or what headline can you use when the same thing keeps happening! Yes, the “blue revolution” on West Midlands Metro is continuing with 24 the latest tram to receive the new livery, completed with OLA adverts – 24 is the 13th fully blue tram and the third to receive the OLA adverts.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: And still there’s more blue on the West Midlands Metro

In Pictures: Trams return to fleet livery in Manchester

Posted on Monday 9 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Recent weeks have seen a couple of trams lose their vinyl wrap adverts and return to standard fleet livery on the Manchester Metrolink network. Both 3094 (Olivia Burton) and 3116 (Cheshire Oaks Outlet) have seen their advertising contracts come to an end with both trams now running in standard fleet livery once more.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on In Pictures: Trams return to fleet livery in Manchester

Around the World in Trams: Prague 9218

Posted on Sunday 8 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Our time in Prague is nearly at an end but not before we can take a look at one further tram running in the Czech capital.

Continue reading →

Posted in Around the World in Trams | Comments Off on Around the World in Trams: Prague 9218

Box 40 returns to Crich

Posted on Sunday 8 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

After the end of its successful six month loan spell in the north eats at Beamish, Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40 is now safely back at the Crich Tramway Village; the first time it has seen Derbyshire for a little under five years. 40 touched down on Crich metals during the afternoon of Friday 6th September after its transport down from Beamish during the day.

Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on Box 40 returns to Crich

In Pictures: Now American Express go for two adverts in Edinburgh

Posted on Sunday 8 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

What is it this year about companies deciding to have at least two adverts on trams? Well, whatever it may be there is another occurrence in Edinburgh with American Express now advertising on both 264 and 270. The advert applied to 270 is identical to that on 264 using the same colours and wording.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: Now American Express go for two adverts in Edinburgh

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 8 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

There is another full site update now online and we have another couple of Photo Galleries included:

Continue reading →

Posted in Seaton Tramway, Site News, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on This week on British Trams Online

Lisbon 360 on the move?

Posted on Saturday 7 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

23 years ago a tram was purchased for possible use on the Manx Electric Railway but once delivered it was decided it would be too wide to travel on the line – and now it looks as if its current life on the Isle of Man may be coming to an end as it is in the way of the Ballasalla bypass. Lisbon 360 was purchased in 1996 (arriving in the Isle of Man in the May of that year) but was destined never to run and eventually was sold to a private individual who proceeded to convert it to a bar in his back garden!

Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on Lisbon 360 on the move?

Picture in Time: Nottingham Express Transit 209

Posted on Saturday 7 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

When Nottingham Express Transit opened in 2004 some of the trams in the fleet started off not in fleet livery but instead carried full vinyl wrap adverts, one of which was 209 and it is that tram which is featured in today’s archive photo.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Nottingham Express Transit 209

In Pictures: Latest images from Birmingham Westside extension

Posted on Saturday 7 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

As we saw last week the first tram has now been tested on the West Midlands Metro Birmingham Westside extension and further work is now underway to complete the infrastructure ahead of services beginning “by the end of 2019”. Ken Jones paid a recent visit to see what was going on.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: Latest images from Birmingham Westside extension

Woman taken to hospital after being hit by tram

Posted on Saturday 7 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

A woman in her 20s was taken to hospital with head injuries on Tuesday 3rd September after she was hit by a tram close to the Ashton Moss tramstop on Manchester Metrolink’s Ashton-under-Lyne line. The incident happened at approximately 1500 with the ambulance service taking her to hospital for further treatment; she was said to be conscious and breathing. No trams were able to run between Ashton Moss and Ashton-under-Lyne whilst the incident was dealt with.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Woman taken to hospital after being hit by tram

In Pictures: Shunting and trams in service at Crich

Posted on Friday 6 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

As the school holidays start to come to an end (possibly much to the relief of some!) its time for those last few family trips before its back to school and at Crich a number of activities have been on offer in the learning centre getting ready for the return. Of course, there is also a tram service on offer and the very last day of August saw three trams in normal service whilst there was also some interest around the depot with trams being shunted, including one withdrawn car enjoying some TLC. Trevor Hall made the trip.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: Shunting and trams in service at Crich

In Pictures: A second OLA advert on West Midlands Metro

Posted on Friday 6 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Blue and green may not go together and now there are two examples of this on the West Midlands Metro with Urbos3 32 – the latest to go blue – now carrying ads for OLA, following on from 27 as seen earlier in the week.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: A second OLA advert on West Midlands Metro

In Pictures: American Express now accepted on Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Friday 6 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

264’s period of time in standard fleet livery with no adverts didn’t last for long as barely a week after it was noted in this condition it has now received vinyls for American Express. Of note is that the application of this advert comes in the month where it is expected that American Express will be accepted at ticket machines on the network, at the same time as the minimum fare when paying by card is abolished.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on In Pictures: American Express now accepted on Edinburgh Trams

In Pictures: B fleet Balloon runs in service

Posted on Thursday 5 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

Ever since the upgraded Blackpool Tramway started in operation one major topic of conversation has been the use of the “B fleet” Balloons which were modified with porches to allow them to stop at the light rail platforms. Since 2012 their use has been sporadic in this way and over the past couple of years the only use for these trams has been with them on loan to heritage tram tours – but now the 2019 illuminations has begun and it looks as if there may be an increase in their use on specials.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: B fleet Balloon runs in service

In Pictures: 30 back in service complete with batteries

Posted on Thursday 5 September 2019 by Gareth Prior

It seems to have been ready for a while but Tuesday 3rd September finally saw the return to service of West Midlands Metro Urbos3 30 with batteries fitted. In entering service 30 has become the very first battery fitted tram to only run in the blue livery as it received the vinyls before entering service whereas all others so far have run for at least a day in the old livery.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on In Pictures: 30 back in service complete with batteries