Picture in Time: Halle 902’s arrival at Crich

Posted on Monday 2 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Last month, the tenth anniversary of Halle 902‘s arrival at the National Tramway Museum – and indeed, in the United Kingdom – passed by largely unnoticed. However, by way of a belated acknowledgement, here are a couple of images showing the tram shortly after it reached its new home.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 1 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

We head back to Manchester this week for some more photos as Victoria re-opens to through stopping trams for the first time in a year…

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In Pictures: Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway 7 on show

Posted on Sunday 1 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

On Friday 27th February the Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway Society’s replica tram no. 7 was on show in North Wales once again this time in connection with a St David’s Day Parade. The Parade took place in Colwyn Bay and once this was finished the tram was displayed in Station Road giving support to the Restore Colwyn Bay Pier bid with the Heritage Lottery Fund in town on the day.

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In Pictures: Blackpool Heritage Driver Training

Posted on Sunday 1 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

As we reported a couple of days ago the last week has seen driver training on the heritage trams in Blackpool as preparations continue ahead of the 2015 operating season, which is due to commence on Saturday 28th March. On Friday 27th February Balloon 717 and Twin Car 272+T2 were in action and with thanks to Mervyn Williams we bring you images of the two trams in central Blackpool.

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Picture in Time: South Yorkshire Supertram 1001

Posted on Sunday 1 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today for our “Picture in Time” series we head to South Yorkshire for an image from the Supertram system with a view of 1001 on test before the system had opened.

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SNP to back more trams for Scotland? Just not in Edinburgh!

Posted on Friday 27 February 2015 by Gareth Prior

The Transport Minister on the Scottish Government, Derek Mackay, has stated that the SNP administration currently in charge may back new tram schemes north of the border as long as they fit in with other public transport. Although this is potentially good news for trams in Scotland in the same interview with a Sunday newspaper he said that the current tramway in Edinburgh would unlikely to receive any support from Holyrood.

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Heritage tram driver training steps up in Blackpool

Posted on Friday 27 February 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The last week of February 2015 was an interesting one in Blackpool, thanks to the appearance of several members of the retained traditional tram fleet being noted out and about on the tramway. This was part of a concerted effort to increase the pool of available drivers trained on the various different types of tram, and saw at least one tram used for five consecutive days.

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Ramsey interchange plans rejected

Posted on Friday 27 February 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Plans for a new transport interchange at Ramsey on the Isle of Man have been placed in serious doubt after local ministers rejected the proposals, which included the construction of a car park, bus storage and washing facilities as well as the tram and bus loading areas. The idea had already met with some opposition from island residents who felt that the Manx Electric Railway’s heritage was being compromised by such modern buildings.

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway | 1 Comment

Picture in Time: Blackpool Ex-Towing car 679

Posted on Friday 27 February 2015 by Andrew Waddington

After publishing some really old pictures recently, today’s archive pictures feature a scene that many readers of this site will be very familiar with – that of a classic Blackpool tramcar at the Fleetwood Ferry terminus, preparing to depart with another service run to Starr Gate. The tram pictured is Ex-Towing Railcoach 679 – a tram which is currently stored at Rigby Road awaiting attention in the workshops to restore it to an operational condition.

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Major disruption ahead for Croydon loop

Posted on Thursday 26 February 2015 by Gareth Prior

London Tramlink services around the Croydon loop will be suspended for 17 days around Easter to allow for the local Council to undertake works as part of its Connected Croydon programme. No trams will run between Reeves Corner and East Croydon in either direction between 28th March and 13th April and there will also be eight weekends between mid March and early July where the service is suspended.

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Posted in London Trams | 3 Comments

NET Phase Two daytime testing extends

Posted on Wednesday 25 February 2015 by Gareth Prior

Another small step towards the opening of Nottingham Express Transit Phase Two has been reached with daytime testing extended through Compton Acres on the Clifton line. The first daytime test runs took place on Tuesday 24th February and the sight of trams beyond Ruddington Lane will now be a regular occurrence as the extensive commissioning period continues.

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Hello M5000 3095!

Posted on Wednesday 25 February 2015 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink have welcomed another LRV to the city with the arrival of 3095 on Saturday 21st February. The vehicle made the now very familiar journey from mainland Europe via ferry to Hull and then across the country arriving at Queens Road Depot. It was soon unloaded and has now been moved into the workshops where it will undergo initial commissioning before undertaking mileage accumulation ahead of an entry into service.

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Picture in Time: Sheffield 264

Posted on Tuesday 24 February 2015 by Gareth Prior

Our “Picture in Time” today features another tram of the national collection, Sheffield 264. This is a tram which has not been used in passenger service at Crich since 1980 and requires workshop attention before it can once again become part of the operating fleet.

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Heaton Park depot track 1 takes shape

Posted on Tuesday 24 February 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Progress on the construction of the third and final track into the new Lakeside Depot at the Heaton Park Tramway, confusingly known as Track 1, has been nothing short of astounding since work on this task commenced earlier this month. In just a few short weeks, track has been laid right up to the depot doors – and on Tuesday 24th February another milestone was achieved, when rails were laid inside the building itself.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 22 February 2015 by Gareth Prior

We have some more photos for you this week on our main site update as we travel to Manchester and Croydon to bring you recent images:

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British Trams Online – The Future

Posted on Sunday 22 February 2015 by Gareth Prior

That headline is probably a bit more dramatic than needs be but it has probably got your attention! When I wrote the brief look back at 2014 a couple of months ago I mentioned that we would be having a complete review of British Trams Online and more specifically the content we have. The idea being that we will look at consolidating in those areas that people want to see and possibly stop some features and areas of the site that nobody actually bothers to read! The time of that review is now and so we want to hear from any British Trams Online reader who has any opinions.

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Picture in Time: Manchester Metrolink 1002

Posted on Sunday 22 February 2015 by Gareth Prior

With the Manchester Metrolink stop at Victoria now re-opened following a years closure as part of the “transformation” works in preparation for the construction of the Second City Crossing (2CC) today’s “Picture in Time” visits the old Victoria with an image of T68 1002 back in 1992 and as a bonus we also find the LRV elsewhere on the same day.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink, Picture in Time | 11 Comments

Metrolink services resume through Victoria

Posted on Saturday 21 February 2015 by Gareth Prior

After a year of disruption Manchester Metrolink services through Victoria have finally resumed, although initially not quite the full service which had been expected. It had originally been thought that Saturday 21st February would see a full Bury-Ashton under Lyne service return but in the end the Abraham Moss shuttle continued to run during the morning before this was extended to Piccadilly for “testing purposes”.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 10 Comments

In Pictures: Wolverhampton rail replacement works

Posted on Saturday 21 February 2015 by Gareth Prior

As we march towards, well, March and the planned reopening of the Midland Metro line between The Royal and Wolverhampton St George’s progress is continuing on the much delayed rail replacement project and with thanks to Michael Averill we are able to bring you another photo update of what has been happening recently.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Standard 147

Posted on Saturday 21 February 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today we have two “Pictures in Time” as we take a look at Blackpool’s Standard 147 in 1962 and 2009 – of course for a large period of time between these two years the tram was in the USA but both these images come from its time in Blackpool.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 2 Comments