Picture in Time: Rigby Road Depot

Posted on Thursday 2 March 2017 by Gareth Prior

We take another look through the doors of Rigby Road Depot in 1972 for this edition of Picture in Time with several trams visible including the former Standard Car 143 whilst it was an engineering vehicle.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

Heaton Park to pay tribute to Bob Hill

Posted on Thursday 2 March 2017 by Andrew Waddington

On Sunday 5th March, the Heaton Park Tramway will be holding a special running day in tribute to Bob Hill, who sadly passed away recently. Bob was one of the key people involved in the tramway’s survival and development through a difficult period, and was serving as President of the Manchester Transport Museum Society at the time of his passing – however these barely scratch the surface of his contribution to British tram preservation, and it is therefore highly appropriate that tram enthusiasts have a chance to pay their respects.

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Picture in Time: Leicester 76

Posted on Tuesday 28 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Another tram which has been a very rare performer at Crich is the feature of today’s Picture in Time instalment – Leicester 76.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

Metrolink’s Second City Crossing opens

Posted on Monday 27 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

A seven year project to dramatically increase the Manchester Metrolink network is over following the opening of the Second City Crossing (2CC) between St Peter’s Square and Victoria via Cross Street and Exchange Square. Passenger services started on Sunday 26th February with all trams between East Didsbury and the Oldham and Rochdale line now using this stretch of track, all other cross city trams continue to use the original line along Mosley Street.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 8 Comments

Trams of all shapes and sizes for Blackpool ‘Winter Gold’ event

Posted on Monday 27 February 2017 by Andrew Waddington

The second ‘gold’ operating weekend for Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours took place on 25th & 26th February, with the now well established formula of six trams running to a timetable including one trip each to Fleetwood once again being used. This time however, there was the added novelty of a temporary heritage stop provided at St Chad’s Road, to serve a model tram event taking place that weekend at the Lyric Hotel.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 26 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

We have three small Photo Galleries for you this week:

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Posted in Docklands Light Railway, London Trams, West Midlands Metro | 5 Comments

In Pictures: New vinyls for Edinburgh Trams 261

Posted on Saturday 25 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams 261 has finally lost its advertising vinyls for Hogmanay with the tram now being used to advertise Scotland’s home Six Nations at Murrayfield which has easy access from the Edinburgh Trams line. It is expected that 261 will be used to advertise seasonal events throughout the year and this second set of vinyls is only really the start of its use for this purpose.

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Picture in Time: Stagecoach Supertram 119

Posted on Saturday 25 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

We are back to South Yorkshire for today’s edition of Picture in Time as we take a look at the by then Stagecoach Supertram system in 2003 with tram 119 the main focus of our attention.

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Blackpool’s February Gold output announced

Posted on Friday 24 February 2017 by Andrew Waddington

This weekend – Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th February – sees the second special ‘Gold’ running weekend for Blackpool’s heritage trams with an impressive turnout of six cars per day planned. In addition, the Tramway & Light Railway Society are hosting a model tram show at the Lyric Hotel, and a temporary heritage tram stop will be placed near the venue at St Chad’s Road to serve this event and add further novelty to the occasion.

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Storm Doris shuts down heritage tours for a day

Posted on Friday 24 February 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Wind gusts of up to 80mph battered Blackpool promenade on Thursday 23rd February, resulting in delays to the core tram service with LRVs operating at a lower speed than normal for safety reasons. The day’s heritage service was also cancelled entirely, the first time that this has ever happened due to adverse weather – although in fairness this is the first year that such a regular service has operated so early!

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Seating on the way for selected Supertram stops

Posted on Friday 24 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Over half of the stops of Stagecoach Supertram are about to be upgraded with the addition of seating in the coming weeks. The work to install seating will be started from Monday 27th February and is being undertaken by South Yorkshire PTE in partnership with Stagecoach Supertram.

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A step in the right direction for Brush car 298

Posted on Thursday 23 February 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Brush Railcoach 298 is perhaps one of the more overlooked trams in the national collection. Some significant restoration work was undertaken on this tram, which was the very first of its class to depart from Blackpool for preservation in the 1970s, many years ago with a view to it being completed at Crich. However, despite moving to Derbyshire more than a decade ago no further work has been undertaken on the tram – but that looks set to change in the next few years!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 45 Comments

Work set to start on new Seaton Tramway terminus in October

Posted on Thursday 23 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Make the most of the Victorian terminus at Seaton this year as it looks as if by Easter 2018 it will be a distant memory with work on the redevelopment expected to start this October. The new Seaton Tramway leaflet has confirmed the news with a revised service set to operate throughout October and during the pre and post Christmas period including a shuttle bus service running between the old terminus and Riverside Depot.

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British Trams Online homepage

Posted on Thursday 23 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

We are aware of an issue on the British Trams Online homepage where a login screen is appearing as soon as you access this. Please do not enter any details in this box as it is not connected to the website in any way. If you have already entered details into this we strongly advise you to change your login details.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Boat 600

Posted on Thursday 23 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Back to Blackpool for this edition of Picture in Time and we feature one of the popular Open Boat Cars. These photos date from 2007 and show the prototype of the class – no. 600.

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Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 20

Posted on Tuesday 21 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

It’s time for another edition of Picture in Time as we delve into the archives and today find ourselves on the Isle of Man in 1992. The tram feature in this edition is Manx Electric Railway Winter Saloon 20.

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

Second interim report released in Sandilands derailment

Posted on Monday 20 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch have released a second interim into the tragic derailment at Sandilands on 9th November 2016. Although containing a lot of the same information has released in the initial report it does also include some new information as well as updating the investigation activities which have taken place so far.

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Pink on blue!

Posted on Sunday 19 February 2017 by Andrew Waddington

A little piece of history was made by Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours on Sunday 19th February when, for the first time ever, modified Balloon car 713 was used on the basic ‘blue’ heritage timetabled service. This saw the tram employed between Pleasure Beach and North Pier for the day, working two trips to Cabin, and the other tram used was sister Balloon 717. This was also the first time that a tram carrying an all-over advert had been used on the ‘blue’ service.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 11 Comments

Work starts in Preston

Posted on Sunday 19 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

The much delayed and troubled Trampower project in Preston has taken a tentative step forward with the start of works to clear the old Preston to Longridge railway line. Plans are in place for a short demonstration line between Skeffington Road and Deepdale Street to be operated although no timeframe has yet been revealed.

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Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2550

Posted on Saturday 18 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

We take a look at one of the original non standard liveries on Croydon Tramlink as part of today’s edition of Picture in Time with a view of 2550 in its First colours.

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