In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams Latest

Posted on Tuesday 1 October 2013 by Gareth Prior

With Edinburgh Trams being in the news recently for more positive reasons than usual we are delighted to be able to bring you a couple of photos from the line showing just how far construction has now come on as preparations continue ahead of an opening next year. With thanks to Alasdair McFarlane for the photos.

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NET gear up for Goose Fair

Posted on Tuesday 1 October 2013 by Gareth Prior

The annual Goose Fair takes place at The Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham from Wednesday 2nd until Sunday 6th October and as usual Nottingham Express Transit will be running extra trams in connection with the event. On Thursday 3rd, Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October trams will be running every 6 minutes up until midnight and from 1500 on the first three days and all day over the weekend the popular family £5 unlimited travel ticket will be available. As a result of the Goose Fair The Forest Park and Ride is currently closed with prospective users advised to use Wilkinson Street instead.

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Manchester Metrolink Engineering Works: Sunday 6th October

Posted on Tuesday 1 October 2013 by Gareth Prior

Manchester Metrolink services through Victoria will once again be suspended on Sunday 6th October as work continues on “improving” the network. In addition there will be no trams between Altrincham and Timperely throughout the day with replacement buses put in place on all affected sections. The only tram services to operate will be Rochdale-Central Park, Timperley-Piccadilly, East Didsbury-Piccadilly and Eccles-Droylsden.

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Bridge moved into position over A52

Posted on Tuesday 1 October 2013 by Gareth Prior

Another bridge has been moved into position as work to construct Phase Two of Nottingham Express Transit continues. The latest structure will carry the trams over the A52 and is part of a series of structures which will eventually form a 300 metre long elevated tram route through the Queens Medical Centre, over the A52 and down into the University of Nottingham’s campus.

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No rest but plenty of sleepers at Heaton Park!

Posted on Monday 30 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The weekend of 28th & 29th Saturday was an extremely busy one for volunteers at the Heaton Park Tramway, with work to extend the track beyond the current Lakeside terminus into the new tram depot now getting underway. In just two days a significant number of sleepers had been set in place, with the first new rails also being laid on Sunday 29th September.

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Crich trams enter unfamiliar territory

Posted on Monday 30 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Saturday 28th September may have seemed like a normal day to visitors of Crich Tramway Village, but after most paying guests had left the site, two trams which are not part of the museum’s current operating fleet came out to play turning this into a quite remarkable day. Both trams duly ventured out onto the main line, one following a very long absence, and the other making its first ever trip to Glory Mine.

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Posted in National Tramway Museum | 2 Comments

Leeds 6’s last hoorah

Posted on Saturday 28 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

On Saturday 28th September, a private party was held at the Heaton Park Tramway for the birthday of one of the tramway’s most dedicated volunteer tram conductors. As the MTMS member in question hails from the city of Hull, it was agreed to operate Leeds 6 as a one-off on this special occasion, and the event was used to raise funds towards work on returning the car to its original guise as Hull 96. Indeed, this is likely to be the final time it carries passengers before regaining Hull livery.

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Heritage Trams this week…

Posted on Saturday 28 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Slightly later than usual, here is our weekly guide to what’s going on at the various heritage tramways in the UK and Isle of Man over the next week or so. All the information here is given in good faith but you are advised to check before travelling any significant distance with the organisations involved.

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East Anglia restoration update

Posted on Friday 27 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The September 2013 issue of the East Anglia Transport Museum’s quarterly newsletter is a ‘restoration special’, focussing largely on some of the long-running projects which are keeping volunteers at Carlton Colville occupied. The front cover features a striking image of Lowestoft 14, which has made impressive progress in the last couple of years, and as well as an update on its rebuild, news on Glasgow 488 is also provided within.

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Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | 1 Comment

Blackpool Transport support preserved trolleybuses!

Posted on Friday 27 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

When the East Anglia Transport Museum’s restored Portsmouth trolleybus 313 suffered a defect earlier this year, it was feared that this vehicle would have to miss the remainder of the 2013 operating season. However, help came from an unlikely source when, after being contacted by museum representatives, Blackpool Transport agreed to assist with getting the preserved trolleybus back on the road.

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Posted in East Anglia Transport Museum | 4 Comments

Heaton Park update: your depot needs you!

Posted on Thursday 26 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The construction of the new Lakeside Depot at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway is now at a very advanced stage, with the ground inside the new structure being levelled out earlier this week in readiness for the laying of the first rails within. The ground from the current Lakeside terminus to the building has also been moved, creating a gentle slope for the trams to move up and down, whilst the adjacent area is also being cleared of potentially problematic tree branches.

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In Pictures: More from the Rocket!

Posted on Wednesday 25 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following on from the recent report about Blackpool’s illuminated Rocket tram 732 – which has now received further enhancements in the shape of a troop of astronauts on the Gynn Square roundabout – we are pleased to bring you more photos of this iconic tram, courtesy of Darren Bloxham who photographed the revised Gynn roundabout display during a recent holiday at Blackpool.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 4 Comments

This week on British Trams Online…

Posted on Tuesday 24 September 2013 by Gareth Prior

Our later than planned main site update for this week is now online with more photos added for you to have a look alongside an article, and we have more to come in the next few weeks!

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T68 1011 goes to meet its maker

Posted on Tuesday 24 September 2013 by Gareth Prior

History was made late on Saturday 21st September when the two sections of Manchester Metrolink T68 1011 was removed from Exchange Square, where it had been used as an obstacle for a motorbike trial, for transport to Booths in Rotherham – a scrap merchants. As you may remember 1011 had been stripped of all useful components at Trafford depot in the past few weeks and was also reliveried into the new Metrolink colours before being transported into the city centre for its important role in the Red Bull Trials.

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In Pictures: Shalesmoor Stagecoach Supertram Engineering Works

Posted on Tuesday 24 September 2013 by Gareth Prior

Another set of track replacement work on Stagecoach Supertram took place over the weekend of 21st and 22nd September with track in the Shalesmoor area being up for attention. The track being replaced was within the stop itself and on the curve leading up to the stop from the direction of the city. Throughout the weekend no services were able to run on the Blue and Yellow routes from the city centre to Malin Bridge and Middlewood with buses in use instead.

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Crich Tramway Village Enthusiasts’ Day 2013

Posted on Tuesday 24 September 2013 by Gareth Prior

The annual Enthusiasts’ Day at the Crich Tramway Village took place on Saturday 14th September. As usual the day saw some rare trams out of the depot and Exhibition Hall on display for the visiting enthusiasts with two main line-ups plus an intensive tram service using different trams in the morning and afternoon. Gareth Prior reports.

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The tram with an identity crisis

Posted on Monday 23 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Ex-Blackpool Replica Vanguard 619 has beem known as Heaton Park 7 since adopting a new red and white livery in 2011, at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway. However, the tram is now set to be renumbered yet again, when it reverts to its previous number of 619 when it receives remedial workshop attention next year, ahead of a return to regular use.

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Revised appearance for Heaton Park trams

Posted on Saturday 21 September 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Manchester Transport Museum Society have now revealed exciting plans for some of the vehicles within the fleet at the Heaton Park Tramway. Not content with the expected increase in the number of trams on site when the new Lakeside Depot is completed later this year, the MTMS have decided to exhibit some of its trams in different liveries, which it is felt will better suit their historic value.

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A new life for T68 1011

Posted on Friday 20 September 2013 by Gareth Prior

Withdrawn Manchester Metrolink T68 1011 has found a new purpose in life after it was chosen to be part of the Red Bull City Trial taking place in the city centre on Saturday 21st September. The Red Bull City Trial is a global motorcycle event which sees an elite group of trial riders make their way over a course of huge, specially designed obstacles including 1011.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 7 Comments

Edinburgh Trams announce ticket prices

Posted on Friday 20 September 2013 by Gareth Prior

It has been confirmed by the City of Edinburgh Council that ticket prices on the tram network will match the equivalent fares on Lothian Buses. This will mean that single tickets will cost between £1.50 and £4.50 with a network wide all day ticket (valid for travel on both the tram and buses) will be £8.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 3 Comments