Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 25

Posted on Saturday 8 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Continuing with the Manx Electric Railway theme for today’s archive image we are again in 1979 for a view of a tram which hasn’t run in passenger service for over 20 years but at this time was a firm part of the operational fleet – it is Paddlebox no. 25.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 25

Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 8 – Saturday 8th September

Posted on Friday 7 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

And so we reach the end of an eight day spectacular on the Isle of Man with the final day of the MER 125th Anniversary events. The final day will see both unusual and colourful combinations in service whilst the evening will see a the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway joining in with a small cavalcade. For the last time read on for our reminder preview of what just will be going on….

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Event Previews, Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 8 – Saturday 8th September

In Pictures: Glasgow 812 as you’ve never seen it before!

Posted on Friday 7 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

In the last full week of the school summer holidays a special event was held at Crich with children – of all ages! – encouraged to get involved at the museum building with Lego bricks. This included creating a mosaic of Glasgow 812 using Lego which was built in the Bandstand at Victoria Park – and it was an incredible sight!

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: Glasgow 812 as you’ve never seen it before!

Next stage of Birmingham Westside extension to start

Posted on Friday 7 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Monday 3rd September will see the next stage of works to extend West Midlands Metro start with Paradise Circus closed to traffic in both directions. This is part of the Birmingham Westside extension from Victoria Square to Centenary Square.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Next stage of Birmingham Westside extension to start

Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 7 – Friday 7th September

Posted on Thursday 6 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

There will be plenty to see and do tomorrow on the Manx Electric Railway with every operational tram – including works cars and trailers – set to be included in a mass cavalcade through Laxey Station. Coupled with an intensive timetable and illuminated tram and trailer what’s not to like! Read on for our full events reminder…

Continue reading →

Posted in Event Previews, Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 7 – Friday 7th September

In Pictures: Trafford Park extension bridge installation starts

Posted on Thursday 6 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Work on building the Manchester Metrolink extension from Pomona to Trafford Park is continuing at a pace with the weekend of 1st and 2nd September seeing the start of major works to install beams for the connecting ramp between Pomona Viaduct and the route alongside the Manchester Ship Canal. This is the first weekend of major bridge works with 8th and 9th September seeing work to install the Bridgewater Canal bridge steelwork. Steve Hyde went out on 2nd September to see the work completed at Pomona.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on In Pictures: Trafford Park extension bridge installation starts

Picture in Time: Luas Sandyford Depot

Posted on Thursday 6 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Thursday’s are back to Picture in Time again this month with our look at archive images of light rail taking the slot. In this instalment we are in Ireland for a view at Sandyford Depot.

Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Luas, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Luas Sandyford Depot

Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 6 – Thursday 6th September

Posted on Wednesday 5 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Tomorrow will see the first of two special timetables in consecutive days  running on the MER as the celebrations for the 125th Anniversary start to ramp up towards the end of the week-long event. As always continue reading for a reminder of just what is due to take place…

Continue reading →

Posted in Event Previews, Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 6 – Thursday 6th September

In Pictures: NET Shipstone Street trackwork

Posted on Wednesday 5 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Having previously looked at the rail replacement worksite just beyond the stop at The Forest we now take a look at the area around Shipstone Street which was also a hive of activity during the closure. All work was completed on schedule allowing a full service to resume as planned on Monday 3rd September with these views showing the almost complete worksite on Friday 31st August.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on In Pictures: NET Shipstone Street trackwork

In Pictures: Ratchet Car 14 relaunched

Posted on Wednesday 5 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

For the first time since 1978 – by our reckoning that’s 40 years ago! – Ratchet Car 14 has officially carried passengers following its launch back into service on Monday 3rd September as the Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary events continue.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Ratchet Car 14 relaunched

Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 5 – Wednesday 5th September

Posted on Tuesday 4 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

The week-long celebration of the Manx Electric Railway continues tomorrow as it moves into the second half of the events. Groudle will be centre-stage tomorrow with the Tunnel Cars and Crossbench’s also playing major roles as the excitement just keeps on coming! Read on for more…

Continue reading →

Posted in Event Previews, Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 5 – Wednesday 5th September

Event Review: ‘Simply Trams’ at Crich Tramway Village, 1st September 2018

Posted on Tuesday 4 September 2018 by Andrew Waddington

For 2018, the annual enthusiasts event at Crich Tramway Village was given a brand new name – ‘Simply Trams’ – and the main theme was that of ‘Birthdays & Anniversaries’, with Blackpool & Fleetwood 2 returning to service for one day only as the star of the show. In addition to this, the event promised the usual mix of an intensive tram service using all available trams, works cars operating, photographic opportunities, a sale of archive materials, working model trams and more. Read on to find out more about what happened on the day…

Continue reading →

Posted in Event Reviews, National Tramway Museum | 2 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 633

Posted on Tuesday 4 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Back to the early 1990s for today’s edition of Picture in Time as we take a look at a Brush Car which looks very different today – 633.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 633

In Pictures: MER 1 heads to Laxey

Posted on Tuesday 4 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

The big 125th Anniversary of the Manx Electric Railway events kicked off on Saturday 1st September and despite some wet weather it doesn’t seem to have dampened spirits of the assembled enthusiasts with plenty to keep any visitor occupied. On Sunday 2nd September events were centred around Laxey with a special birthday party with a Travelling Post Office on hand to sell special sets of stamps to commemorate the occasion.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on In Pictures: MER 1 heads to Laxey

Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 4 – Tuesday 4th September

Posted on Monday 3 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

The halfway point of the Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary events is reached tomorrow and it is hoped that it will be a day of the Crossbench with a special photo evening – weather permitting of course! Read on to find out more on what is scheduled to be taking place…

Continue reading →

Posted in Event Previews, Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 4 – Tuesday 4th September

In Pictures: Ratchet Car 14 to the rescue!

Posted on Monday 3 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

It was meant to be just a normal test run as final preparations were made ahead of its official launch a few days later but on Friday 31st August Ratchet Car 14 was pressed into service to pick up some passengers from Laxey – the first-time normal fare paying passengers could enjoy a ride on a Ratchet Car since 2000 when 18 last ran!

Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Ratchet Car 14 to the rescue!

Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 3 – Monday 3rd September

Posted on Sunday 2 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

We reach the third day of the MER 125th Anniversary events tomorrow and its a big day as Ratchet Car 14 will be launched into service after its major overhaul by paid staff and volunteers. And there is plenty more on top of that to keep you occupied – read on for more details.

Continue reading →

Posted in Event Previews, Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 3 – Monday 3rd September

Get to me to the Register Office on time – by Rainbow tram!

Posted on Sunday 2 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

I think many reading this website will agree that if you have to get married then you might as well get there in style and what better to do so than by tram?! Whilst in Blackpool you can hire a heritage tram to the business the rest of the country isn’t quite as lucky but that didn’t stop a couple in Manchester from managing to hire a M5000 to get them from Stretford to Manchester City Centre for their ceremony.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Get to me to the Register Office on time – by Rainbow tram!

Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 2 – Sunday 2nd September

Posted on Saturday 1 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

Day 2 of the MER 125th Anniversary events sees the big birthday party at Laxey with the three 1s on display for photos for much of the day along with a chance to see behind the scenes at Laxey Car Sheds. Read on for day two’s preview!

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Event Previews, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | Comments Off on Manx Electric Railway 125th Anniversary: Day 2 – Sunday 2nd September

Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 22

Posted on Saturday 1 September 2018 by Gareth Prior

With the 125th Anniversary events of the Manx Electric Railway now underway where better than the Isle of Man for today’s edition of Picture in Time. We head back to 1979 for this image showing Winter Saloon 22.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 22