September Review – Isle of Man: No. 12 – The Oldest Tram in the World

Posted on Wednesday 12 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

There aren’t many trams in the British Isles which can lay claim to having an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records but the original MER motors can do so. They are officially the oldest trams in the world still operating on their original system and despite their 125 year old age they still see regular use with timetable D even seeing a timetabled service for them during much of the year. In this article we feature no. 1.

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In Pictures: 35 returns to service with batteries

Posted on Tuesday 11 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Tuesday 11th December also saw another tram return to action, this time it was West Midlands Metro 35 which ran in passenger service for the first time since it had batteries fitted. This is the sixth battery fitted tram to run in service and 11th December was also a historic day as all six were in service at the same time.

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A Coronation on the Prom

Posted on Tuesday 11 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Anyone in Blackpool on Tuesday 11th December may be forgiven for thinking they were seeing things as for the first time in over two years a Coronation Car was seen on the Prom with 304 the lucky tram as its VAMBAC equipment required testing. The tram’s owner – the Fylde Transport Trust – have been looking at the equipment on the tram for a number of months with a view to eventually returning the tram to service and this was the next step – although there is still a great deal of work to be done before passengers can enjoy the smooth ride on a Coronation once more.

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September Review – Crich: No. 6 – Blackpool & Fleetwood Rack 2

Posted on Tuesday 11 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

An unexpected tram in use during Simply Trams was Blackpool & Fleetwood Rack 2 with the tram having previously been withdrawn from service requiring a space in the workshop. But with the tram itself being 120 years old – and its home tramway also being the same age – it was resurrected for one day only and soon proved itself to be very popular with visitors to the event with hardly a spare seat to be had throughout the day!

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 11 – Ratchet 14 is back!

Posted on Tuesday 11 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Undoubtedly one of the highlights of the MER 125 events was the return to action of Ratchet Car 14 following the completion of its restoration. Having last run in passenger service in 1978 (and works use two years later), the restoration – a joint effort between volunteers at Isle of Man Railway staff – was a credit to all concerned with the tram looking resplendent and operating with full loads wherever it went.

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In Pictures: Latest images from Pinfold Street, Birmingham

Posted on Monday 10 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

With work continuing on extension construction work on three different systems – Blackpool, Manchester and West Midlands Metro – we take a look at recent progress at the Birmingham end of West Midlands Metro where there has been a concentration of effort on Pinfold Street. Pinfold Street is the first section of the Birmingham Westside line which is an extension of the line which currently runs as far as Grand Central – this new line will open in phases with the first section due to carry its first passengers next year.

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September Review – Blackpool: No. 5 – Illuminated Trams

Posted on Monday 10 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool’s Illuminated trams have always turned heads when they come into their own during the annual Illumination season from September until November each year. The operational Illuminated tram fleet currently consists of three trams – Western Train, Frigate and Trawler – although there are another couple stored in Rigby Road Depot waiting for their chance to be restored back to use. This article concentrates on the three serviceable feature cars.

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September Review – Isle of Man: No.10 – Winter Saloons in action

Posted on Monday 10 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

They have been the mainstay of the Manx Electric Railway ever since they were delivered in 1899 and the chances are that if you visit the line on a normal day it will be dominated by this class of motor. This article takes a look at some of these workhorses in action during events week.

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A chance to save the second surviving Brighton tram

Posted on Sunday 9 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Over the past few years the Brighton Tram 53 Society have been working on restoring the sole surviving passenger tram from the Brighton system – but that is not the only tram from Brighton which actually survives as Works car 1 is also still in existence and the Society have been given the chance to secure this tram’s future too.

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September Review – Crich: No. 5 – Wakebridge The Terminus!

Posted on Sunday 9 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

As part of the event at the start of the day trams only ran as far as Wakebridge as 2018 marked the 40th anniversary that the line to Glory Mine was opened. In today’s look back at September’s events we see some images whilst Wakebridge returned to use as a terminus.

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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams – the antlers are spreading!

Posted on Sunday 9 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams are really going for it this Christmas with the antler vinyls being added to more trams – and more trams are also receiving reindeer names! As we revealed earlier this month 276 was used on the Gyle Santa Express and had antlers on the cab sides plus the name Rudolph. It now looks as it all of Santa’s reindeer may be honoured with a name on a tram with 271 the latest to be spotted, with this tram becoming Cupid.

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 9 – Trailers to the forefront

Posted on Sunday 9 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Most of the time when photos of the Manx Electric Railway are featured our attention is turned towards the motor but in this article it is the trailer which is in the foreground.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 9 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

A trio of Photo Galleries have been added this week as part of the main site update:

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink, Seaton Tramway, Site News, West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment

Metrolink livery update

Posted on Saturday 8 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

More livery changes to report of in Manchester with further advert vinyls having been removed but at this point in time we don’t actually have any full new vinyl wrap liveries to report on. 3018 has now lost its advert for Call of Duty Black Ops and 3114 is also back in fleet livery following the confirmation its Easy Jet vinyls have been removed. Five trams have also been confirmed as being in the Christmas livery – complete with Noel the Elf – and these are 3021, 3050, 3092, 3097 and 3109.

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September Review – Blackpool: No. 4 – Centenary 642

Posted on Saturday 8 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Another tram which enjoyed workshop attention during 2018 ahead of a return to service was Centenary 642, with it becoming the very first heritage tram to receive an advertising livery!

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Paper tickets to see rise on Metro as Pay as you Go is frozen

Posted on Saturday 8 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Its that time of year when confirmation is given of fare changes from the new year and the latest light rail system to announce their fares is the Tyne and Wear Metro. Anyone who uses a Pop Pay as you Go smartcard will see their fares frozen but single, day and season tickets will see what is being described as a “modest increase”.

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 8 – More from the Horse Tram Cavalcade

Posted on Saturday 8 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

The Cavalcade continued with some of the more regular trams in service and this article takes a look at a couple more of those involved.

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Record breaking month for Metrolink

Posted on Friday 7 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

November has seen the most passengers ever carried in a single month on Manchester Metrolink with almost 4 million passenger journeys recorded over the 30 days. The service may not always be reliable – and there may be stories in the media about passengers having to push a tram to get it moving – but Metrolink has not only firmly established as the biggest tram network in the UK but also as a vital component in the transport offering in Greater Manchester.

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September Review – Crich: No. 4 – Blackpool 167

Posted on Friday 7 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today we feature one of the many Blackpool trams in the national collection – Blackpool Pantograph 167. This is another tram currently part of the operational fleet and that is exactly what is was doing on 1st September.

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September Review – Isle of Man: No. 7 – Douglas Bay Horse Tramway Cavalcade starts

Posted on Friday 7 December 2018 by Gareth Prior

Just a day after the MER Cavalcade and the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway was at it as well! Joining in its younger sisters celebrations seven trams were paraded the entire length of the horse tramway (and back!) – in its final season of traditional alignment, although there was to be another Cavalcade at the very end of the season to mark this occasion.

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