In Pictures: Unusual moves at Starr Gate

Posted on Wednesday 20 December 2017 by Andrew Waddington

There has been some disruption to the Blackpool tramway’s southern terminus at Starr Gate this week, with a short section of the northbound running line closed at this end of the line on 19th & 20th December. During this time some essential track maintenance has been taking place, with some rail grinding seemingly being carried out.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Loan Trams: Blackpool Coronation 304

Posted on Wednesday 20 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

In the autumn of 2012 one of the popular Coronation Cars from Blackpool went on loan to Beamish for a short period having been made homeless a few weeks previously when it was moved away from Rigby Road Depot because of a strained relationship between its then owners, the Lancastrian Transport Trust and Blackpool Transport.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Events: Nottingham Express Transit Opens as do extensions

Posted on Wednesday 20 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

Cast your mind back 15 years and Nottingham Express Transit was still under construction with the opening not coming until 2004. Since then we have also seen two extensions constructed and opened.

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In Pictures: Ipswich 33

Posted on Tuesday 19 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

We recently featured Ipswich 33 on these pages as it is normally seen at the Ipswich Transport Museum surrounded by other vehicles of local interest. What is, however, not often seen is the interior of the tram but in this article we take a look at the tram again including some lower and top deck images. Photos from Bryan Grint.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Tram Loans: London County Council 106

Posted on Tuesday 19 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

The very first short-term tram loan at the East Anglia Transport Museum, London County Council 106 made the trip from Crich in July 2016 to play its part at a special London Event at Carlton Colville.

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Around the World in 18 Trams: Prague 8396 & 8397

Posted on Tuesday 19 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

This around the world tour probably wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Prague and that is exactly where we find ourselves today with a view of a couple of Tatra trams.

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Flexity 018 completes Blackpool’s latest tram order

Posted on Monday 18 December 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Following hot on the heels (wheels?) of 017, Blackpool’s tram fleet expanded again on Friday 15th December, with the arrival of Flexity 018 – the second of the two brand new trams ordered from Bombardier to assist with service demands when the extension to North Station opens.

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An early Christmas present in the Midlands

Posted on Monday 18 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

Dudley, Stourbridge & District 5 has returned to service at the Black Country Living Museum following the completion of its £120,000 overhaul. The tram re-entered service on Monday 18th December at the culmination of the five year project to get it back to the tracks.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Tram Loans: Leeds 6

Posted on Monday 18 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

It was the loan which went on a lot longer than had been originally thought as Leeds 6 made the trip from the Heaton Park Tramway to Beamish.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Events: Blackpool Anniversaries

Posted on Monday 18 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

We did say when we launched this series that in order to fit everything we wanted to in we would be cheating and that is exactly what we are doing today as we look at Blackpool Anniversaries. There have been two main anniversaries over the 15 years: the 125th and 130th anniversaries.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Tram Loans: Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40

Posted on Sunday 17 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40 is a tram which is officially on loan to Blackpool from the Tramway Museum Society but for the purposes of this series we actually feature when the tram went back to Crich for the Electric 50 celebrations in 2014.

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Around the World in 18 Trams: Nordhausen 80 & 103

Posted on Sunday 17 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

A small tram system totalling only 5.5km can be found in the town of Nordhausen, Germany and that is where our around the world trip finds us today.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Tram Loans: Manchester 765

Posted on Saturday 16 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

Another tram which has enjoyed loan periods at two separate tramways over the past 15 years is Manchester 765, a tram which usually resides in its home city at the Heaton Park Tramway but has also been seen in Blackpool and at Beamish.

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In Pictures: North Station extension preparatory works

Posted on Saturday 16 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

As we have reported on these pages previously the preparatory works for the extension of the Blackpool Tramway up Talbot Road to North Station commenced during November. This first stage of the works will see utilities moved out the way from the alignment of the tramway as well as some infrastructure changes to allow the tracks to be laid, presumably during 2017. Glyn Hill has been in town to see current progress on the works.

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British Trams Online at 15 – Events: Variobahns introduced on Tramlink

Posted on Saturday 16 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

In preparing this series we have tried to include as many different tramways across the UK but when we came to look at London Tramlink we had to think what key events have actually taken place over the past 15 years. Having opened before British Trams Online started and not having seen any extension built it has been one of the most consistent tramways in this period but one significant event was the introduction into service of a new class of tram – the Stadler built Variobahn.

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Damning report released into tram-train pilot

Posted on Friday 15 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

It has been delayed, it is well over budget and now the tram-train pilot – which will eventually run between Sheffield and Rotherham – has been heavily criticised by the Public Accounts Committee. As well as being very critical of the way the project has been managed the Committee also have concerns over the benefits of the project and lessons for the future.

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Fares to increase on Midland Metro

Posted on Friday 15 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

As from Tuesday 2nd January 2018 most fares will be increased on Midland Metro although City Hop and Group Fares will remain frozen at 2017 prices. In all cases all fares will still be cheaper for those paying by Swift Pay as You Go smartcard.

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Around the World in 18 Trams: Zurich 1307 with trailers 620 and 616

Posted on Friday 15 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

We have a real golden oldie for you as we continue our world tour of trams. We visit Zurich in 1959 for this latest image.

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In Pictures: Edinburgh mock-up gets ready for Christmas

Posted on Thursday 14 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

It isn’t long until Christmas (only 11 days to go!) and Edinburgh Trams is getting into the festive spirit. We have already seen tram 276 in its special Christmas/Hogmanay livery but up at Edinburgh Airport the mock-up tram – now in use as an information centre – is now all dressed up for Christmas!

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In Pictures: More snow for Midland Metro

Posted on Thursday 14 December 2017 by Gareth Prior

After its first dusting of snow the West Midlands has continued to be at the forefront of the heavier snowfall for the country (as far as trams are concerned anyway) with two more periods of the white stuff falling on Midland Metro. The heaviest snowfall came on Sunday 10th December which saw 5 inches on the ground in places causing problems for local bus services although nothing major for Midland Metro services. Andy Walters braved the cold for us again.

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