First track laid on Trafford Park line

Posted on Friday 2 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Showing that things never seem to stay still on Manchester Metrolink the first track has now been laid on the Trafford Park line – ahead of its scheduled opening in 2020. The first track was laid at Parkway Circle with Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester, Cllr Sean Anstee, Leader of Trafford Council, and Cllr Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, all on hand for the usual photographic opportunity.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 2 Comments

In Pictures: First Gold event of 2018 in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 1 February 2018 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours kicked off 2018 in splendid style on the weekend of 27th & 28th January, with a special ‘Gold’ weekend featuring a regular service to Starr Gate and a larger than usual number of heritage tours operating to Fleetwood as well. Six trams ran on both days, and what follows is a brief summary of the action from that weekend.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: First Gold event of 2018 in Blackpool

Picture in Time: Blackpool Jubilee 762 & Balloon 712

Posted on Thursday 1 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today we are back in 1987 for this latest archive view from Blackpool as we take a look at two trams operating on the Prom during the main summer season.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Blackpool Jubilee 762 & Balloon 712

Douglas 1 heads to Laxey as preparations continue for MER 125 events

Posted on Thursday 1 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

It may still be seven months away but preparations are already underway for the Manx Electric Railway 125 events which take place between 1st and 8th September. One of the early highlights looks set to be the unique operation of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 1 at Laxey Station on the MER – and in preparation the tram was taken to Laxey earlier this week for a test run!

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | Comments Off on Douglas 1 heads to Laxey as preparations continue for MER 125 events

In Pictures: Metrolink Airport services extended to Victoria

Posted on Wednesday 31 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

Sunday 28th January saw the introduction of a new timetable on Manchester Metrolink, the main highlight of which was the extension of services on the Manchester Airport line from Deansgate-Castlefield to Victoria (except for the early bird services). These services run via the original city crossing via Market Street and finally bring passengers from the Airport directly into the city centre.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 5 Comments

In Pictures: New advert for Edinburgh Trams 271

Posted on Tuesday 30 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

We’ve become used to bringing you news of adverts for C R Smith in Edinburgh but now a second commercial sponsor has come to the fore in the Scottish capital with Qatar Airways now advertising on 271. As has become the norm in Edinburgh the advert only features full height adverts on the third and fifth sections with the other sections of the tram only featuring adverts above the windows.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 1 Comment

Picture in Time: London Transport 1858

Posted on Tuesday 30 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

The chances are if you have visited the East Anglia Transport Museum over the past few decades you will have enjoyed the sight of London Transport HR/2 1858 operating along the museum’s tramway. But in this edition of Picture in Time we take a look at the tram during restoration at the Carlton Colville site in 1973.

Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: London Transport 1858

RAIB launch investigation into buggy drag on NET

Posted on Monday 29 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

The RAIB have confirmed that they are to undertake a full investigation into an incident on Nottingham Express Transit which saw an empty pushchair trapped in the doors of a tram and dragged along between two stops. The incident happened on Friday 15th December 2017 but news of it has only just been released at the start of the RAIB investigation.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 2 Comments

Details released for Rush Hour on the Railways

Posted on Sunday 28 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

The first special event of 2018 on the Isle of Man will once again be Rush Hour on the Railways which takes place over the Easter weekend between Friday 30th March and Monday 2nd April. This four day “celebration of Isle of Man Railways” will have events mainly across the Manx Electric Railway and Isle of Man Steam Railway with the highlight for tram enthusiasts likely to be an intensive service on the MER on 1st April.

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off on Details released for Rush Hour on the Railways

Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2531 & 2546

Posted on Saturday 27 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

A double helping of trams in adverts for you in this edition of Picture in Time as we head back to the year 2000 and Croydon Tramlink.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2531 & 2546

In Pictures: Triple tram hire in Blackpool

Posted on Friday 26 January 2018 by Andrew Waddington

One week ahead of the first public running day for Blackpool’s heritage trams in 2018, a particularly interesting private hire took place for an enthusiast’s birthday, utilising three different trams across the day. Most noteworthy of all was the inclusion of what was almost certainly the first ever January working by a Boat car!

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

Birmingham Westside extension works carry on

Posted on Friday 26 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

The Birmingham Westside extension of Midland Metro will move into its next phase of construction from Monday 29th January which will see Broad Street closed to all but buses, taxis and service vehicles for the long-term. This extension is due to open in two phases between 2019/20 and 2021 and will see trams running through Centenary Square to Edgbaston, extending from the current Grand Central terminus.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Birmingham Westside extension works carry on

Tram allocations revealed for first Blackpool ‘gold’ event of 2018

Posted on Thursday 25 January 2018 by Andrew Waddington

The first ‘Gold’ operating weekend of 2018 for Blackpool’s Heritage Tram Tours is almost upon us, and following the exciting news that a heritage service will operate over the entire system on Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th January, the planned vehicle allocations for both days have now also been revealed. Please note that the advertised trams are all subject to change.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Tram allocations revealed for first Blackpool ‘gold’ event of 2018

Picture in Time: Blackpool Twin Car 676+686 & Balloon 710

Posted on Thursday 25 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

We are on the way back to 1981 for today’s Picture in Time image as we find ourselves at Pleasure Beach for a couple of views featuring two trams.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Blackpool Twin Car 676+686 & Balloon 710

In Pictures: Shunting in the snow at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 24 January 2018 by Andrew Waddington

With further significant progress on the depot refurbishment works at Crich Tramway Village, yet another major shunting operation took place at the home of the National Tramway Museum on Saturday 20th January. Depot 4 now appears to be completed, enabling it to be filled with trams, whilst Depot 3 has now been emptied to allow the new wall insulation to be installed.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on In Pictures: Shunting in the snow at Crich

In Pictures: LCC 1 restoration progress

Posted on Wednesday 24 January 2018 by Andrew Waddington

Whilst the big news from Crich Tramway Village this winter may be the ongoing depot refurbishment works – more on which will appear on this website shortly – the reconstruction of London County Council 1, alias ‘Bluebird’, has certainly not been forgotten. As these recent pictures show, the car is now beginning to look much more tram-like.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

Chance to cover all parts of Crich Tramway Village

Posted on Tuesday 23 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

The Branch Line Society are to repeat their highly successful tour of the Crich Tramway Village on Sunday 15th April 2018. Booking for the Crich Tramway Traverser is now open and is available to all, not only members of the Branch Line Society.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on Chance to cover all parts of Crich Tramway Village

Picture in Time: Dudley, Stourbridge & District 5

Posted on Tuesday 23 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

Shortly before Christmas we saw the return of Dudley, Stourbridge & District 5 to service at the Black Country Living Museum following the completion of a major overhaul and in this edition of Picture in Time it is that tram we feature, but in its first period of operation in preservation.

Continue reading →

Posted in Black Country Living Museum, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Dudley, Stourbridge & District 5

In Pictures: Aberdeen Horse Tram 1

Posted on Monday 22 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

Last year Aberdeen Horse Tram 1 spent four months on display at the old Constitution Street tram depot in Aberdeen, now the Aberdeen Science Centre, on a temporary loan as part of the Silver Stories events – a rare chance to see a tram in its former home. At the time we saw the tram as it was transported from its usual home at the Grampian Transport Museum to the Science Centre but now with thanks to William Brown we can show the tram during its brief display.

Continue reading →

Posted in General | Comments Off on In Pictures: Aberdeen Horse Tram 1

Planning permission given for new depot and stables – but Summer Hill will continue to be used in 2018!

Posted on Sunday 21 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed that the Department of Infrastructure’s planning application for a new temporary horse tram structure on part of the former Summerland complex adjacent to Derby Castle has been approved. However, at the same time it is also confirmed that Summer Hill stables will continue to be used in 2018!

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | Comments Off on Planning permission given for new depot and stables – but Summer Hill will continue to be used in 2018!