A record-breaking Bank Holiday in Blackpool

Posted on Monday 31 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Blackpool’s heritage trams were once again out in force with the now familiar gold timetable in operation on both Sunday 30th & Monday 31st August. Normally six trams would be used for this, which is pretty good going – but on the Sunday an extra driver was available, allowing seven heritage cars to run simultaneously: a new record for the post-upgrade era.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on A record-breaking Bank Holiday in Blackpool

Ride the Lights by Frigate

Posted on Monday 31 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have decided to capitalise on this year’s ‘Ride the Lights’ event on Tuesday 1st September, with a special illuminations tour being offered on Frigate 736. As has become an annual tradition in Blackpool, a preview of the illuminations is available a few days before the big switch-on with the promenade closed to all road traffic except cycles – and of course, the trams will be running throughout!

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Ride the Lights by Frigate

Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2552

Posted on Sunday 30 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

We are back in Croydon for today’s Picture in Time image as we find CR4000 2552 operating a test run before the system opened to the public.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink 2552

Black & white blinds for a red & white Balloon

Posted on Saturday 29 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Almost exactly one year after debuting in service in its recreated red & white ‘Routemaster’ livery as first seen in 1991, Blackpool Balloon 701 now has an even more authentic appearance thanks to the addition of black and white destination blinds to the car. These use a style of lettering which is appropriate to this tram and the time when it previously ran in this colour scheme.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 8 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool OMO 4

Posted on Friday 28 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

It’s back to 1974 for our latest edition of “Picture in Time” as we find ourselves in Fleetwood for a view of Blackpool OMO 4 in operation.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | Comments Off on Picture in Time: Blackpool OMO 4

Edinburgh Trams service change: Monday 31st August

Posted on Friday 28 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Due to the closure of Princes Street for the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert on Monday 31st August, Edinburgh Trams services will  only run between Edinburgh Airport and West End Princes Street from 1930. The last full length tram will depart Edinburgh Airport at 1833 and from York Place at 1916. The fireworks start at 2130.

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on Edinburgh Trams service change: Monday 31st August

Tramways reopen after trackworks

Posted on Friday 28 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

The past week has seen two tramways reopen following major trackworks with Stagecoach Supertram now operating full services across the whole network after another summer of rail replacement whilst Manchester Metrolink services are now able to travel through St Peter’s Square again following the first stage of works there.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink, South Yorkshire Supertram | 1 Comment

Going for a ride…

Posted on Thursday 27 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

It’s time, once again, for our weekly round-up of when and where you can enjoy a ride on a traditional tram in the British Isles over the next seven days or so. As it is Bank Holiday weekend it means there is another enhanced period of Heritage Tram operation in Blackpool (the 4 tram green service on Saturday 29th and the 6 tram gold service on Sunday 30th & Monday 31st) whilst down at the Crich Tramway Village there is a Bank Holiday Fun Fair. Elsewhere around the country there will be plenty of traditional trams waiting for you to go for a ride…

Continue reading →

Posted in Going for a ride | Comments Off on Going for a ride…

Another Citadis naming

Posted on Thursday 27 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Nottingham Express Transit have named another of their Alstom Citadis trams with the latest vehicle to receive a name being 234 – the highest numbered tram yet to receive a number. It now carries the name George Africanus, who was Nottingham’s first black entrepreneur having been brought to England in slavery aged 3 in 1766.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Another Citadis naming

In Pictures: Tramlink 2560 spotted in daylight

Posted on Wednesday 26 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Since being delivered to Croydon back on 4th May 2560 – the seventh Stadler Variobahn for the Tramlink network and the first of the second batch – has not been seen out of the depot confines often in daylight hours but all that changed on 26th August when it made an appearance on a test run. 2560 was taken out of the depot on a typical summers day visiting various different parts of the system including Elmers End. Since delivery the tram has spent most of its time at Therapia Lane but has previously made some nocturnal test runs.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | 1 Comment

Isle of Man Government pledge to move horse trams to Promenade walkway

Posted on Wednesday 26 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

The future of the Douglas Horse Tramway and just where the tracks should be going forward never seems to be far from the news on the Isle of Man and the latest instalment of this apparent never ending saga has seen the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) confirm that they fully intend to move the tramway off the road and onto the Promenade walkway – a move which is bound to cause controversy.

Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 8 Comments

No more horse trams for Crich in 2015

Posted on Wednesday 26 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Unfortunately the last of the planned Horse Tram Days at the Crich Tramway Village for 2015 – which was due to take place on Wednesday 16th September – has had to be cancelled. As you may remember the regular horse-tram driver who attends the horse operation at Crich alongside horse Joseph was recently involved in an accident and remains incapacitated. Several successful Horse Tram Days took place earlier in the season and it is unfortunate that there has been a premature end in 2015 but all at British Trams Online wish the horse-tram driver a swift recovery.

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 2 Comments

Book review: Journey on the Manx Electric Railway

Posted on Wednesday 26 August 2015 by admin

A very comprehensive study of the journey from Derby Castle in Douglas to Ramsey by Manx Electric Railway, stopping to admire the many features along the route including the lovely Glens, towns and villages, plus the other transport gems encountered along the way such as the Douglas Bay Horse Trams, Groudle Glen Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Great Laxey Mines Railway and so on. Featuring a lovely selection of photographs, largely previously unseen, and mainly from the early 1960’s right up to earlier this year.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Reviews | 2 Comments

A brief introduction to…. Nottingham Express Transit Phase Two

Posted on Wednesday 26 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

In the second of our new series of brief introductions to the tramway of the British Isles we take a look at the new Phase Two extensions of Nottingham Express Transit with the new routes, stops, timetable and trams all looked at.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 2 Comments

Blackpool Brush 290 goes undercover

Posted on Wednesday 26 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

After the trials and tribulations of the last few weeks Blackpool Brush 290 is finally undercover again following its removal from its display track at Pleasure Beach in the early hours of Wednesday 26th August. As previously reported on British Trams Online there was a previous aborted attempt to move the tram but following recent attention from Blackpool Transport’s fitters the second attempt was far more successful and 290 (627 if you prefer) is now once again to be found in Rigby Road Depot.

Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | Comments Off on Blackpool Brush 290 goes undercover

In Pictures: Hull 96 sees daylight again

Posted on Wednesday 26 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The renovation of Hull 96 at the Heaton Park Tramway continues to make impressive progress ahead of its planned October launch. On Tuesday 25th August, the tram was briefly brought outside to allow Blackpool 623 to be placed over the inspection pit for servicing, allowing a good view of the most recent work carried out on the car.

Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Hull 96 sees daylight again

Nottingham Express Transit Phase Two opens!

Posted on Tuesday 25 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Three years after construction began – and 12 years after the first discussions – Phase Two of Nottingham Express Transit has opened to the public with the first trams departing the two new termini, at Clifton South and Toton Lane, shortly after 0600 on Tuesday 25th August 2015. As is always the case when a new tram line opens in the UK the first day of public journeys were busy and friendly affairs with many people – both local and not so local – eager to try out the trams as soon as they can.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 3 Comments

Picture in Time: Metropolitan Electric Tramways 331

Posted on Monday 24 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Metropolitan Electric Tramways 331 is a tram which has featured before in our archive photo series, following its restoration to passenger-carrying status at Crich in its latter day identity as Sunderland 100. However, a little known fact about 331 is that it actually first ran at Crich in the 1970s – and so we are turning the clock back to 1974 to see the tram on an early trial run at the museum.

Continue reading →

Posted in Picture in Time | 1 Comment

NET Phase Two opens Tuesday 25th August

Posted on Monday 24 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Tuesday 25th August – as well as being only 4 months until Christmas! – will see Nottingham Express Transit expand with the opening of the two Phase Two lines serving Clifton and Chilwell. Shortly after 0600 services will commence from both Clifton South and Toton Lane marking the start of a new era of efficient and modern public transport for the local residents of the areas now served by Nottingham Express Transit.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 2 Comments

680 set to run in Blackpool this month!

Posted on Sunday 23 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Following the exciting news of Blackpool 680‘s arrival at Rigby Road on Friday 21st August, no time has been wasted in preparing the tram for service and it has now been revealed that it will make its public debut over the August Bank Holiday weekend! Of course the tram is on loan from Heaton Park for an initial two year stay, although there is a good chance that this could be extended.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on 680 set to run in Blackpool this month!