A brief introduction to…Douglas Horse Tramway

Posted on Sunday 9 August 2015 by admin

The first in a new irregular series we take a look at the Douglas Horse Tramway with a brief history of the line and a description of the current operations of the tramway. Words by Ken Jones.

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Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | 10 Comments

Picture in Time: Croydon Tramlink CR4000s

Posted on Sunday 9 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

It’s a Picture in Time with a difference today as we are also appealing for information about these photos as Bob James is attempting to identify the two Croydon Tramlink CR4000s taken in these photos.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Boat 607

Posted on Friday 7 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Continuing our theme of Blackpool Boat Cars we head back to the northwest coast today for a view of 607 – this time when it was in between spells at Crich in 1993.

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Preparations start for Pleasure Beach tram display changeover

Posted on Friday 7 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Having spent three Illumination seasons alongside Pleasure Beach loop Brush Railcoach 290 is being prepared for a move before the 2015 Illumination season which will see it replaced by Centenary Car 641. It had originally been expected that 290 would end up in the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust’s compound in Wyre Dock but it is now known that it will be moved to Rigby Road Depot for further storage.

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NET Citadis named after Nurse of the Year

Posted on Friday 7 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Six of Nottingham Express Transit’s Citadis trams are now carrying names following the naming of 220 Kim Helm this week. As you may remember Kim was named as Nottingham’s Nurse of the Year earlier this year and one of the prizes of this is to see her name on the side of one of a tram in Nottingham.

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Going for a ride…

Posted on Thursday 6 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Another week, another round-up of when and where you can go for a ride on a traditional tram in the British Isles over the next seven days or so. Highlights this week include the conclusion of the WW2 Home Front event at Crich (daily until Sunday 9th August) whilst over the weekend of Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August the Heaton Park Tramway is part of a larger event across Greater Manchester with a Blackpool theme. And don’t forget all the other places listed below who are bound to give you a warm and friendly welcome…

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Balloon cars prepare for weekend events

Posted on Wednesday 5 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Two of the less-seen of Blackpool’s Balloon class in preservation, cars 702 and 721, have recently received a bit of TLC ahead of events this weekend being held by their respective owners, the Manchester Transport Museum Society and the North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust. Being in the best condition of the unrefurbished Balloons upon withdrawal, these two were always considered to be bargain buys and as such remain in good general condition despite both enduring periods of outside storage.

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Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 1 Comment

Win tickets to preview NET Phase Two

Posted on Wednesday 5 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Members of the public are being given the chance to win tickets for exclusive preview trips on the two new Nottingham Express Transit lines as preparations continue for the official opening later this summer. The trips will take place on Tuesday 11th (Beeston) and Wednesday 12th (Clifton) August departing from the two new termini at Toton Lane and Clifton Lane at 1100 and then heading off to Nottingham Station and then the depot.

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Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 2 Comments

Edinburgh Trams nominated for National Transport Award

Posted on Wednesday 5 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Edinburgh Trams have been nominated in the Rail Operator of the Year category at the National Transport Awards, which take place later this year. Those nominated in this category have been shortlisted based on performance, reliability, passenger growth, customer satisfaction and initiatives to improve service.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 3 Comments

Blackpool Boat 233 inaugurates the E Line

Posted on Wednesday 5 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Boat car 233 has finally started its operating career in the USA, almost two years after departing its country of origin. The tram has been undergoing some modifications since arriving in America and has also repainted in its original green and cream livery, eradicating the minty shade of cream it wore at Beamish Museum during its brief stint of service there in 2012-13. However, 233 has not yet entered regular passenger service but is being used for crew training on a regular basis.

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Swansea tram rescued for restoration

Posted on Tuesday 4 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

A tram which has been exposed to the elements for nearly 90 years has been rescued by the Amman Valley Railway Society (AVRS) with the long-term plan being the full restoration of the tramcar. The Swansea tram has been in use as a poultry shed since 1927 in the Black Mountains but forthcoming redevelopment works have meant that it has needed rescuing before it is lost forever.

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Posted in Amman Valley Railway Society | 11 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Boat 607

Posted on Tuesday 4 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Considering when I turned over all three of my tram calendars for August I was met by a photo of a Blackpool Boat Car what better excuse do I need to include more views of a Boat for today’s Picture in Time feature? This time we are featuring 607 during its loan spell of operation at Crich in the mid 1980s.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum, Picture in Time | 2 Comments

Bolton 66 meets the mayors

Posted on Monday 3 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

On Friday 31st July, the two heritage trams in service in Blackpool on the regular blue timetable were joined by Bolton 66 which was used to convey a private party, including two Mayors. The tram initially ran from Rigby Road depot to North Pier before heading south to the Pleasure Beach, where the guests disembarked to enjoy a visit to the theme park’s miniature railway before returning to the depot.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway | 1 Comment

Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1009

Posted on Sunday 2 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

As usual Sunday’s Picture in Time features a modern tram and this week we are heading to Manchester Metrolink with an image of T68 1009 in 1992.

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Snaefell Mountain Railway to celebrate 120th anniversary

Posted on Saturday 1 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

21st August 1895 saw the first public runs of a new railway on the Isle of Man – the Snaefell Mountain Railway. Now 119 years and 364 days later the Railway will be celebrating its 120th anniversary with a series of events taking place on Thursday 20th August 2015.

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Lost Trams: Seaton 7

Posted on Saturday 1 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

OK so its not really that lost – we know exactly where it is, at the back of the Seaton Tramway depot – but the latest tram to feature in our Lost Trams series is Seaton Tramway’s no. 7 which has spent the past eight years out of service with currently no plans in sight for it to carry passengers once again.

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Metrolink delays after car gets stuck on Airport line

Posted on Saturday 1 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

It seems that some motorists in Greater Manchester are never going to get the hang of reserved tram track as another car got stuck on the tracks at Barlow Moor Road on Friday 31st July causing delays for Metrolink services once again. The car managed to find its way on the tracks shortly before 1300 leading to all services between Cornbrook and Manchester Airport being suspended for almost an hour and a half as the vehicle was removed.  Photos on the Manchester Evening News website show that the car managed to get some way along the reserved track passing several No Entry signs on posts and also the “Tram Only” lettering on the road surface.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 8 Comments

Supertram Selfie competition announced

Posted on Saturday 1 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

To mark the 21st anniversary of Supertram in 2015, operators Stagecoach have teamed up with artist Pete McKee for a unique project which will see four users of the tram network immortalized in the artist’s unique style. To be involved in this project all you need to do is to take a selfie on a tram or at a tramstop and email it to competition@supertram.com by Monday 17th August. Each image should include either one or two people and the lucky winners will be contacted for further images and permission for their use.

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Enjoy Supertram services on a Sunday for just £1

Posted on Saturday 1 August 2015 by Gareth Prior

Stagecoach Supertram have announced that on all Sundays in August you will be able to purchase an all day unlimited travel ticket for just £1. Valid on all tram services, replacement bus services and the Supertram Link bus services the £1 ticket will be available from the onboard conductors on Sundays 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th August.

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Picture in Time: Pleasure Beach loop

Posted on Friday 31 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today Picture in Time is back in Blackpool as we take a look at Pleasure Beach loop in 1993, a time when it was not uncommon to see a large number of trams waiting to form specials along Blackpool Promenade. It may only be 22 years ago but once again things have changed in a relatively short time frame so let’s all get nostalgic once again.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 3 Comments