Metrolink 1021 goes for scrap

Posted on Saturday 1 November 2014 by Gareth Prior

Another week and another Manchester Metrolink T68 heads off for scrapping. This time the scrapping victim is 1021 which made the journey from Trafford Depot to Booths in Rotherham on Wednesday 29th October, leaving just two T68s and four of the T68A sub class in Manchester waiting to make their own trips for scrapping.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 4 Comments

In Pictures: Starlight Specials at Crich

Posted on Saturday 1 November 2014 by Gareth Prior

As we reported earlier this week the annual Starlight Specials taking place at the Crich Tramway Village have been expanded for 2014 with a full nine day spectacular for visitors. This event is a rare chance to travel on trams at the home of the National Tramway Museum after dark with the lights already installed on Blackpool 236 used to great effect and this year has seen fellow Blackpool car 167 also fitted with lights whilst the main Museum site has also been lit to good effect. Steve Kemp visited the Museum on 25th October and we grateful for him allowing us to share his photos with you.

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In Pictures: Non ATS vehicles go to Rochdale

Posted on Saturday 1 November 2014 by Gareth Prior

In another significant development on the Manchester Metrolink network non-ATS fitted vehicles are now able to operate on the Rochdale Railway Station to East Didsbury line following the transfer of the section between Victoria and Queens Road Junction to TMS operation. Previously it was possible for TMS only fitted vehicles to run onto the Rochdale line in an emergency but recent work now means they can run via the Irk Valley Junction during normal operations. This now means that M5000s 3062 and above can escape from just running on the Eccles and MediaCityUK services. Steve Kemp provides us with some photos from Sunday 26th October when 3089+3069 and 3072+3087 were in use on the Rochdale-East Didsbury service.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 6 Comments

In Pictures: Manchester Metrolink 3090 arrives

Posted on Saturday 1 November 2014 by Gareth Prior

As we reported last week the latest M5000 to be delivered to Manchester was due to arrive on Saturday 25th October and we featured it as it waited at Rotterdam docks for onward travel to the UK. As planned 3090 arrived at Queens Road Depot during the late morning of 25th October and Benjamin Worsley was on hand to record the arrival and has provided us with these photos.

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New DVD: Electric 50 The National Tramway Museum, Crich

Posted on Saturday 1 November 2014 by Gareth Prior

It probably hasn’t escaped your notice but 2014 saw the Crich Tramway Village – home of the National Tramway Museum – celebrate 50 years of electric tram operation with an incredible two day extravaganza taking place in September when 25 passenger trams plus three works cars operated. And now you can relive that weekend with the release of a new DVD (also available on Blu-Ray) from Bob Hodges Transport DVDs. The DVD features the cavalcades from both days alongside footage of all the trams in service at various points along the line and lasts for 75 minutes (the Blu-Ray is 90 minutes long) and can be purchased from the shop at Crich (if you’re quick considering it closes for the winter on Sunday!) or direct from http://www.bhtransportdvds.co.uk/. The DVD costs £12.50 and the Blu-Ray £18.

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Network Rail confirm Victoria redevelopment delays

Posted on Saturday 1 November 2014 by Gareth Prior

A statement released by Network Rail this week has confirmed what has been feared for some time – the redevelopment work at Manchester Victoria station, which includes major work on the Metrolink stop, has been delayed and will not now be completed until February 2015.

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Manchester Airport line gets ready for launch

Posted on Saturday 1 November 2014 by Gareth Prior

The latest piece of the Manchester Metrolink jigsaw to open – the Manchester Airport line – will welcome its first passengers on Monday 3rd November. In a break from tradition a special first journey will run on this line with a double tram departing Cornbrook at 0500 which all members of the public, including the media, are welcome to board for the trip to the Airport, where it is due to arrive at approximately 0540. The pair will then form the very first public departure from the Airport when they set off for Cornbrook at 0549. This will be a special one-off early morning journey on the Airport line with the earliest tram from Cornbrook the following day being at 0550.

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 3 Comments

Heritage Trams this week

Posted on Thursday 30 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

As the year draws to an end for most of Britain’s heritage tramways, we take our weekly look at all that is going on over the next seven days and where you can ride on a vintage tram in the UK. Highlights include the final few days of the operating season at Crich Tramway Village with the week of Starlight Specials now in full swing, whilst at Blackpool an enhanced heritage output is being employed on most nights this week due to high demand for illumination tours in connection with the school half-term holidays.

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Bid to save Burton & Ashby 14 launched

Posted on Thursday 30 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Tram enthusiasts are uniting in an attempt to rescue Burton & Ashby 14 from Detriot, following the recent announcement that this historic open-top tramcar is to be sold at auction on November 5th. There has been considerable interest in this tram shown by the enthusiast community and local people in Burton, prompting action to be taken. A meeting is being held at Burton-upon-Trent on Saturday 1st November to discuss an initial proposal to try and purchase the tram, with a possible view to returning it to the UK – although it must be stressed that this is a very early outline proposal at this stage.

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Posted in Burton & Ashby 14 | 3 Comments

Box 40 & Balloon 711 go back to Blackpool

Posted on Wednesday 29 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Following a highly enjoyable period of operation at the Crich Tramway Village during 2014, both Blackpool trams Box 40 and Balloon 711 left their temporary home in Derbyshire on the afternoon of Wednesday 29th October. Having participated in this year’s ‘Electric 50’ event as well as the excellent Blackpool tram running day a few weeks ago, both cars are now heading back home to Blackpool.

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Exciting plans for Leicester tram depot revealed

Posted on Tuesday 28 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The Leicester Transport Trust have confirmed plans which could see a local tram depot which still stands today, revamped for use as a Road Transport Heritage & Research Centre. The organisation have been leasing the Stoneygate tram depot, which is believed to date from 1904, since April 2013 with a view to securing full ownership of this historic building in the future, subject to obtaining the required funding to develop their proposals.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

An auspicious day for Liverpool 245

Posted on Monday 27 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The long-awaited entry into public service of Liverpool 245, the sole survivor of the much admired ‘Baby Grand’ class of tramcar in the UK, took a step closer towards becoming a reality on Sunday 19th October. On this date, the tram undertook its first run along the full length of the Birkenhead heritage tramway, ahead of a more intensive programme of testing getting underway.

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Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 9 Comments

Halloween comes early at Crich

Posted on Sunday 26 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

One of the most popular annual events to be staged at Crich Tramway Village, the Starlight Halloween event, has been expanded for 2014 to run for a full nine days, covering the whole of the school half-term holiday week in late October. A few innovations for this year joined the usual spectacle of special lighting effects in the village to create a very special atmosphere, with the highlight being provided by decorations fitted to Blackpool 167.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Friday 24 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

This week we bring you photos from Stagecoach Supertram in September & October as we continue to catch-up with our photo tour of the UK’s tram and light rail systems. You can find those photos at http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery488.html and we also have a few Fleet List (http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/fleets.html) updates for you as well.

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Is this the end for the return of trams to Preston?

Posted on Friday 24 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

It looks as if the proposal for trams to return to Preston is over following the release of a document recommending the rejection of the latest planning application submitted by Trampower. This planning application was submitted earlier this year and was for a much reduced line between the old coal yard off Deepdale Street and the rear of St Chads Road (totalling only 0.45km) which was a far cry from the original four line plans originally proposed.

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Posted in Preston Trampower | 3 Comments

Another T68 leaves Manchester

Posted on Friday 24 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink have waved goodbye to another T68 with the departure of 1017 late on Thursday 23rd October. This is the 19th of the combined T68/T68A fleet to make the move across to Booths in Rotherham for scrapping and there are now just seven of the vehicles still waiting to be sent for scrapping.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 6 Comments

Bus and tram collide in Shandwick Place

Posted on Friday 24 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

For the third time in as many months there has been a high profile collision between a bus and a tram in Edinburgh City Centre. This accident took place on Shandwick Place and saw a bus scrape along the side of a tram on 22nd October shortly before 1500. The tram suffered not insignificant damage which not only included scrape marks but also a hole below the cab side. It is not know what caused the accident but tram services were suspended for 15 minutes whilst the vehicles were removed back to their respective depots.

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 4 Comments

London Tramlink Engineering Works: 25th October to 2nd November

Posted on Friday 24 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

London Tramlink services will be suspended between Mitcham Junction and Ampere Way from Saturday 25th October until Sunday 2nd November in connection with double tracking work on the Wimbledon branch in the Beddington Lane area. During the work a replacement bus service will run between the two stops calling also at Beddington Lane and Therapia Lane. Tram services will run as normal between Wimbledon and Mitcham Junction, New Addington and Ampere Way, Elmers End/Beckenham Junction to West Croydon.

Posted in London Trams | 1 Comment

Burton & Ashby 14 up for auction

Posted on Friday 24 October 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The future of Burton & Ashby 14 has been thrown into some doubt, following the surprising revelation that this unique open top tramcar is being offered for sale as part of a large auction after being deemed surplus to requirements by its present owners. The tram was exported to America many years ago and for a while it delighted visitors to a tourist line in Detroit, but has since languished in storage for some time after this tramway closed down a decade ago.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 21 Comments

In Pictures: Glasgow 488 restoration progresses

Posted on Thursday 23 October 2014 by Gareth Prior

It’s not often that when you think of a tram restoration you think of it as taking place in Wales, but that is, of course, exactly where the major restoration of Glasgow 488 – repatriated from France last year – is being undertaken. More specifically the work is being done by the renowned Boston Lodge workshops at the Ffestiniog Railway and a recent Behind the Scenes weekend at the railway allowed David Mee to provide us with this update on recent progress on restoring the tram to operational condition.

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Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | 2 Comments