‘Classic London’ event for Crich

Posted on Wednesday 12 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Crich Tramway Village have confirmed that it will be hosting a special London themed event (its third in four years) next summer, primarily to celebrate the return to service of London County Council 106. This tram has been undergoing an extensive body and mechanical overhaul in the museum workshop for over a year which is now approaching completion.

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Dundee tram depot set to become a museum

Posted on Wednesday 12 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

An historic tram depot in Dundee, built in 1901 is set for a new lease of life as the home of a collection of historic vehicles, including the Scottish city’s last surviving horse-drawn tramcar. The former Maryfield tram shed had been owned by Scottish Water but now, after four years of trying, it has been secured for use by a local museum group.

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Escape from Alcatraz – Blackpool tram style!

Posted on Tuesday 11 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

On Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th November, three of the preserved Blackpool trams from the collection of the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust made a great escape following a lengthy period of storage at Kirkham Prison, where they had resided since departing from Rigby Road in winter 2011/12. As well as Brush Railcoach 621 which has moved to Beamish (see separate story elsewhere), two other trams have been moved to another storage site in Fleetwood.

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A Brush car for Beamish

Posted on Tuesday 11 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The future of Blackpool’s pioneer Brush Railcoach has been secured, thanks to an unexpected but extremely welcome transfer of ownership. Following a period of storage at Kirkham Prison after being acquired by the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust, it has been announced that Blackpool Brush car 621 is to become a permanent part of the Beamish Museum transport collection, and departed from Kirkham on 11th November and undertake the longest journey of its life so far.

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Manx trams move out of Ramsey shed

Posted on Saturday 8 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

No sooner had the 2014 operating season come to an end for the Manx Electric Railway, than some of the more unusual items of resident rolling stock were thrust into the limelight with a series of moves designed to clear out the life-expired Ramsey car shed so that it can be demolished for replacement. A number of shunting moves had taken place before the tramway closed for winter, leaving four stored vehicles needing to be moved out.

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In Pictures: More from Manchester 765’s big day out

Posted on Friday 7 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

After featuring some images of Heaton Park resident Manchester 765 being loaded up for its short visit to Manchester city centre to help commemorate the centenary of the First World War (as well as its own centenary year!), we are now pleased to be able to share some more pictures showing the tram on display in the city on Tuesday 4th November.

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Burton & Ashby 14 is set to come home

Posted on Thursday 6 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

When it was discovered, just a few weeks ago, that Burton & Ashby 14 was being put up for auction as part of a mass sale of assets from the city of Detroit, few people were optimistic about the future prospects for this unique tram. However, a few people were determined to do all that they could to not only ensure that the tramcar would survive, but also that it would be returned to its home country – and it looks as though their hard work will pay off as the tram has been successfully purchased for preservation here in the UK!

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Heritage Trams this week

Posted on Thursday 6 November 2014 by Gareth Prior

For the last time this year we round-up just where you can find heritage trams operating over the next seven days just as things start to die down after a very busy 2014 season. You just have a few more days left to enjoy a ride on a tram in their natural habitat with the Blackpool Tramway Illuminations tours continuing until Sunday 9th November. Elsewhere we are down to the winter operators with Beamish, Birkenhead, Heaton Park and Summerlee all continuing to run trams. (We will have a full round-up of winter trams next Thursday).

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New Blackpool tram boss starts work

Posted on Thursday 6 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Transport’s new Managing Director Jane Cole began work at the company on Monday 3rd November 2014, earning her place in the history books as the first woman ever to manage the famous Blackpool tramway. Jane has wasted no time in speaking to the local press and giving a very promising early impression of her vision for the future of public transport in the seaside town.

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Five Blackpool trams put at risk

Posted on Thursday 6 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The future survival of the five Blackpool trams owned by Merseytravel has been placed in serious doubt, following the formal abandonment of the transport operator’s ambitious tram plans. The company had at one time hoped to take over control of the Birkenhead heritage tramway and expand the existing line to connect it to the new Wirral Waters development; however after various setbacks this takeover never happened and the tramway was eventually handed over to the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society instead.

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In Pictures: Manchester 765’s day in the city

Posted on Wednesday 5 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

On Tuesday 4th November, the 100 year-old tramcar Manchester 765 from the Heaton Park Tramway was displayed in the Manchester city centre. As well as celebrating its own centenary year, the tram was also there as part of the commemorative events to mark 100 years since the outbreak of World War One, and the opportunity was also taken to promote the future Cross City extension of Metrolink as well.

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MER pay tribute to the Tunnel cars

Posted on Wednesday 5 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The penultimate day of the 2014 season on the Manx Electric Railway saw this amazing transport system play host to its now established annual ‘Winter Photography Event’, and this year the star attractions were the four remaining Tunnel cars in recognition of their 120th anniversary year. Cars 5, 6, 7 and 9 all featured prominently in this superb event which included a parallel run, some unusual workings and behind the scenes tours.

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Metrolink Airport line opens to passengers

Posted on Monday 3 November 2014 by Gareth Prior

The Manchester Metrolink extension to the Airport has now officially opened to the public with the first fare paying passengers welcomed onboard double unit 3080+3070. These two vehicles operated the first journey on Monday 3rd November departing Cornbrook at 0500 for the Airport which was an extra passenger service added for just one day to cater for the crowds expected to want to travel on the first service of the day, as has been traditional as extensions have opened in the past few years.

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In Pictures: Blackpool Boat 228 in San Francisco

Posted on Monday 3 November 2014 by Gareth Prior

San Francisco was the place to be over the weekend of 1st and 2nd November as MUNI held a heritage weekend using historic buses and trolleybuses alongside four historic trams and the normal Milan and PCC cars. Of most interest to us was the use of Blackpool Boat 228 – a long term resident in San Francisco – and on the first day of the weekend this tram departed the depot at about midday before running empty along Market Street to the Ferry building. It then entered service on specials between there and Pier 39.

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Trafford Park Metrolink extension confirmed as part of major devolution deal

Posted on Monday 3 November 2014 by Gareth Prior

Monday 3rd November certainly seems to have been a good day for Manchester Metrolink as not only has the Airport extension opened to the public but it has also seen confirmation of the Trafford Park extension as part of the deal to bring an elected Mayor to Greater Manchester. Chancellor George Osborne visited the area – and even found time to enjoy a ride on the Airport extension – to officially announce the new deal which will see the Mayor have power over not only transport policies but also social care, housing and Police budgets.

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NEETT’s Blackpool trams move in

Posted on Monday 3 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Monday 3rd November was a momentous day for the North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust, as it was on this date that the last of their collection of historic Blackpool trams were moved into secure undercover accommodation. Both of the Balloon cars currently residing at the premises of the North East Land, Sea & Air Museum near Sunderland were moved inside the Trust’s new tram shed on November 3rd, ending a lengthy spell of outside storage for the two trams.

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Grimsby & Immingham 26 back in action

Posted on Monday 3 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Pleasing news from the Beamish Museum tramway concerns Grimsby & Immingham 26 (alias Gateshead 10) which is now back in service on a restricted basis following several months of inactivity. The tram was noticeably absent over the summer season due to worn tyres, but this period of storage has allowed it to be retained as an emergency reserve car which is now being used at exceptionally busy periods now that the cooler autumn days are upon us.

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Heritage trams descend on Starr Gate – again!

Posted on Monday 3 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Following the completion of works on the road junction at Manchester Square in Blackpool after months of chaos, it had been hoped that the disruption affecting access by trams to and from the Rigby Road site was at an end. However, this was not to be! It may be remembered that trams had to be guided through the work site for several months and this resulted in the heritage fleet being stabled at Starr Gate for quite some time earlier in the year, finally moving back to their normal home during the summer.

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In Pictures: Bye bye Box 40!

Posted on Monday 3 November 2014 by Andrew Waddington

As reported previously, Wednesday 29th October witnessed the departure of both Blackpool & Fleetwood Box 40 and Blackpool Balloon 711 from the National Tramway Museum at Crich, with both trams heading back home to Blackpool. We are pleased to bring you further images showing Box 40 leaving the museum on this day.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 2 November 2014 by Gareth Prior

We have another three Photo Galleries for you this week on the main site update of British Trams Online as we bring you images from Crich, Manchester Metrolink and London Tramlink:

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