Picture in Time: Newcastle 102

Posted on Tuesday 7 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

We’re off to Crich again for our latest installment in “Picture in Time” and this time we take a look at Newcastle 102 – another tram currently out of service. Today we see the tram in action in 1989.

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In Pictures: 675 goes solo

Posted on Tuesday 7 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Recent work in Blackpool Transport’s Rigby Road workshops on returning Twin set 675+685 to a serviceable condition has focussed on the trailer car, which has spent several weeks in the Paint Shop. However, attention is expected to turn towards its partner 675 imminently and it was seen being shunted around the depot on 7th July in preparation for work to commence.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

NELSAM gets accredited

Posted on Tuesday 7 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Some recent positive news from one of our newer names in the tramcar preservation movement comes from the North East Land Sea & Air Museum (NELSAM) which has recently been awarded accredited museum status by the Arts Council England. This is a huge honour for this attraction and bodes well for its future development, following the merging of some local groups to create a quality transport museum near Sunderland.

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Posted in North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 3 Comments

MER trailer topples over at Laxey

Posted on Tuesday 7 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The title of this report is not an exaggeration, unfortunately. On the morning of Tuesday 7th July, a serious accident occured on the Manx Electric Railway when Winter Trailer 58 derailed during a shunting move near Laxey Station, resulting in it toppling over onto its side. As a result all tram services between Laxey and Ramsey have been suspended and are unlikely to resume until around midday the following day (Wednesday 8th).

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway | 3 Comments

More details on Metrolink derailment incident

Posted on Tuesday 7 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

As investigations continue, more details have now emerged regarding a serious incident which occured on the Manchester Metrolink system late on Friday 3rd July. It has now become clear that two trams were affected; one which derailed, and another which sustained damage after being attacked by people throwing stones at the tram.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 11 Comments

A chance to visit Fleetwood’s tram graveyard

Posted on Sunday 5 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The open storage site at Fleetwood fish docks which is occupied by a large number of Blackpool tramcars is normally strictly off limits to members of the general public, but at 1230 on Saturday 18th July a limited number of guests will be able to view these trams for the first time since they arrived there.  Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 4 Comments

Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1007

Posted on Sunday 5 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

As we continue our way through the Manchester Metrolink T68 fleet the latest instalment of Picture in Time features 1007 which is, of course, the only modern light rail vehicle to have a guaranteed future in preservation having been acquired by the Heaton Park Tramway.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink, Picture in Time | 1 Comment

Vandals derail Metrolink tram

Posted on Saturday 4 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Saturday 4th July has seen considerable disruption for Manchester’s Metrolink network after a tram derailed late the previous night at St Werburghs Road. As a result of the incident, said to have been caused by an act of vandalism, services between East Didsbury and Deansgate Castlefield, and Cornbrook and Manchester Airport were cancelled with normal service not resuming until the evening.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 11 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 636

Posted on Friday 3 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

Picture in Time today returns to Blackpool as we take a look at Brush Railcoach 636 at a time when it carried a livery styled on the wartime green and cream in 1992.

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Going for a ride…

Posted on Friday 3 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

It is time again for us to take our weekly look at just where in the UK you can enjoy a ride on a traditional tramcar over the next seven days. With the summer now definitely here and the school holidays fast approaching, there aren’t that many big tram events in the next few weeks and the week ahead is a particularly quiet one – although that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of opportunities to go for a ride anyway!

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A bridge for Beamish

Posted on Thursday 2 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Although not directly relevant to trams, a recent addition to the massive collection of historic objects at Beamish Museum seemed interesting enough to warrant mention here. The museum has recently obtained a bridge dating from 1863 which was donated by Network Rail after being out of use for some time.

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Posted in Beamish Tramway | 1 Comment

Things that go bump in Cleveleys

Posted on Thursday 2 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

A road traffic collision involving a tram and a motor car at Cleveleys Square caused considerable disruption to tram services in Blackpool on Thursday 2nd July. Whilst the emergency services attended to the incident the tram service was terminated at Little Bispham whilst road traffic was also diverted for a time.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 18 Comments

Delays after contractor hits cable at St Peter’s Square

Posted on Wednesday 1 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

No sooner had the work at St Peter’s Square got started in earnest then Manchester Metrolink services came to a standstill after a contractor struck an uncharted cable during excavation works. The incident meant that a complete power failure was experienced at approximately 0830 on Monday 29th June leading to Metrolink services being suspended for approximately 30 minutes (with the Eccles line being affected for longer). Delays were also caused to traffic as a tram was stranded blocking London Road when the power failure hit. A statement was released apologising for the delays caused with Peter Cushing, TfGM Metrolink Director, commenting: “I want to apologise to those people affected by this morning’s incident. This caused significant and unacceptable disruption for commuters and I want to make it clear that I will be taking this up at the highest level with the contractor to understand how it happened, and to ensure it does not happen again. Repair work will take place overnight.”

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Latest on Supertram rail replacement works

Posted on Wednesday 1 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

The latest phase of rail replacement works on Stagecoach Supertram have now commenced with the first stage of these works being on South Street Bridge between the delta junction and Sheffield Station. As a result of these works trams on the Blue route from Malin Bridge are being diverted to run onto the Yellow route as far as Cricket Inn Road with the trams then running into the depot to reverse. These works are due to continue until the end of this week after which time Blue route trams will run through to Sheffield Station which will act as the terminus until the end of August. Photos showing the work which has been undertaken this week so far are provided by Stuart Cooke.

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NET Citadis to be named Stephen Lowe

Posted on Wednesday 1 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

The latest name to be added to a tram on Nottingham Express Transit is to be Stephen Lowe, a playwright who comes from Nottingham. Mr Lowe is said to be “Nottingham’s most successful playwright…ever” and has had over 40 plays and screenplays publically performed including one on fellow NET namee Brian Clough. He has also written many episodes of Coronation Street.

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Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | 1 Comment

It’s a yes to bikes on Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Wednesday 1 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

Following a successful two month trial it has been confirmed that bikes will be allowed to on board Edinburgh Trams permanently. During the trial, which was initially for one month but this was extended to two for further data to be collected, an average of 12 bikes a day were carried on the trams with the most popular boarding point being York Place.

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But it’s a no for dogs on Metrolink

Posted on Wednesday 1 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

A report is recommending that non-assistance dogs should not be carried on Manchester Metrolink following a lengthy consultation into whether it would be possible. The report has identified a number of key risks which raise concerns over both the safety of passengers and the welfare of dogs.

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Bolton 66 gets the blues

Posted on Tuesday 30 June 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Bolton 66 is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive trams in Blackpool, and for summer 2015 the tram has a new look thanks to some recently applied adverts for a brand new sponsor. Having last operated sans adverts as recently as Saturday 20th June, 66 was out again with blue advert banners applied just ten days later.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 2

Posted on Tuesday 30 June 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today “Picture in Time” is heading across the Irish Sea again and finds itself on the Isle of Man for a view of one of the original two trams still in existence – no. 2.

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Picture in Time | 2 Comments

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 28 June 2015 by Gareth Prior

More photos for you this week as we visit Midland Metro, Nottingham Express Transit and Blackpool:

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