Manx Electric Railway 125th anniversary celebration – more details announced

Posted on Friday 17 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Whilst most of us are still waiting to find out what is going to happen in 2017 Isle of Man Railways are going one step further by already announcing some outline details of what they will be doing to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Manx Electric Railway – in September 2018!

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Another tram leaves the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway

Posted on Friday 17 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Winter Saloon 27 has left the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway although unlike fellow Winter Saloon 28 which departed earlier this month this is just a temporary move to allow for the tram to undergo attention and it will be back at Strathallan again later this year.

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Repaints continue on the MER

Posted on Friday 17 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

As previously reported on these pages the workshops at Derby Castle have been very busy over the winter period with repaints aplenty underway ahead of an exciting year of new looks for various cars in 2017.

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Bad week for Metrolink

Posted on Friday 17 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

It has been another week which has seen several incidents causing delays on Manchester Metrolink with two pedestrians being hit by trams, a Police van collision and a points failure all causing delays for passengers.

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RIP Bob Hill

Posted on Friday 17 February 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Bob Hill, one of the leading figures of the Manchester Transport Museum Society and a hugely important person in the tram preservation scene, has sadly died. He was the MTMS President at the time of his passing, and had previously served as the Society’s Chairman on two separate occasions. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and those who worked alongside him at this very sad time.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, People | 1 Comment

Douglas horse trams to appear on TV

Posted on Friday 17 February 2017 by Andrew Waddington

The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway is set to star in an episode of BBC1’s rural current affairs programme Countryfile on Sunday 26th February. This episode will see presenters Ellie Harrison and Joe Crowley visit a number of sights on the Isle of Man, including the unique tramway. This will no doubt be great publicity for the island, and in particular for this line which has endured such a turbulent time in the recent past despite being such a key part of Man’s history.

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 1 Comment

Picture in Time: Blackpool Twin Car 673+683

Posted on Thursday 16 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

We have three photos of set 3 for you today as Picture in Time heads back to Blackpool with the feature tram being Twin Car 673+683.

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Beamish trams on the turn!

Posted on Thursday 16 February 2017 by Andrew Waddington

February has seen not one, not two, but three of the resident tramcars at Beamish Museum placed on a low loader! However, none of the cars have actually left the museum grounds, but this was simply a means of turning each of them around to even out the amount of wear and tear on their wheels and other vital components.

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Posted in Beamish Tramway | 6 Comments

Second City Crossing opening date announced

Posted on Wednesday 15 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

The latest piece of the Manchester Metrolink jigsaw will be opened to the public on Sunday 26th February – subject to the successful completion of final testing and commissioning. The “transformative” Second City Crossing runs from St Peter’s Square – which has enjoyed major reconstruction in preparation – to Victoria via Exchange Square with initially trams from East Didsbury to Shaw & Crompton/Rochdale Town Centre using the line.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 5 Comments

New voluntary Permanent Way Engineer appointed at Crich

Posted on Wednesday 15 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Dermot Kelly has been appointed as the voluntary Permanent Way Engineer at Crich Tramway Village. The new role has overall responsibility for managing for track infrastructure from ensuring it is safe for day to day operation through to the planning and executing of track upgrades and renewals.

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NET driver lands top award

Posted on Wednesday 15 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit tram driver Daniel Patterson has received an Employee of the Year Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the network. This accolade is presented annually to a member of staff following nominations from colleagues throughout the year.

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Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 2 Comments

Edinburgh Trams nominated for more awards

Posted on Wednesday 15 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams has been nominated in five categories at the 2017 Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. Taking place on Monday 27th February Edinburgh Trams has been nominated as Best Performing Business, Creative Marketing, High Growth, Excellence in Health and Safety and Young Leader of the Year.

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Defibrillators to be carried on all Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Wednesday 15 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Every tram in the Edinburgh Trams fleet is to carry a potentially life saving defibrillator as part of the St John and the City public access defibrillator project. The aim of the project is to place the devices at strategic sites across Edinburgh. The new defibrillators will not only be used if someone on a tram is taken unwell but can also be used if a member of the public suffers a cardiac arrest in the vicinity of a tram.

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An early start for daily heritage tours in Blackpool

Posted on Tuesday 14 February 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Due to the school half-term holidays taking place during February, Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have started running a daily heritage service – the earliest in the year that this level of service has ever been provided since the tramway’s light rail upgrade. Due to variation in the dates of school holidays, this will last for a fortnight. From 11th to 24th February, the familiar ‘blue’ service will be operating every day with two trams in use and this has already provided a few surprises!

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Picture in Time: Great Orme Tramway 4

Posted on Tuesday 14 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

And we are off to Wales for the next edition of Picture in Time as we go black and white for an image of the Great Orme Tramway in August 1963.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 12 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

We have another small collection of photos for you in this week’s main site update:

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In Pictures: Urbos 3 27 back in service

Posted on Sunday 12 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

No sooner had Midland Metro’s Urbos 3 27 undergone a test run then it returned to service with its first passenger runs in several months taking place on Saturday 11th February. Allocated to diagram three the tram left depot on the 0458 to Grand Central and then remained in service for the rest of the day. Of note is that one saloon of 27 has been fitted with new LED lighting with the other end still featuring the traditional strip lighting as carried on all other trams.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 2 Comments

Picture in Time: Docklands Light Railway 33

Posted on Saturday 11 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

Today in Picture in Time we are on our way to the capital for a look at the Docklands Light Railway. The unit we are featuring this time around is one of the B90s, no. 33.

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A new roll for Bispham Station

Posted on Saturday 11 February 2017 by Andrew Waddington

One of the most distinctive structures on the Blackpool tramway is without a doubt the impressive building on the seaward side of the tracks at Bispham. As well as providing shelter to passengers waiting for a tram, this once housed an inspector’s office and toilets, but the area has been somewhat neglected in the recent past – until now!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 9 Comments

In Pictures: Midland Metro Urbos 3 27 on test

Posted on Friday 10 February 2017 by Gareth Prior

After several months out of service – following a collision with a road vehicle in Wolverhampton – Urbos 3 27 is nearing a return to service with the tram undergoing a test run on Friday 10th February.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 1 Comment