Ambitious target set for Sheffield 264 restoration

Posted on Tuesday 13 August 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Having taken a bit of a back seat recently, the Beamish Museum tramway is currently the focus of much greater activity than has been the case for some time, with plans now in place for work to commence on Sheffield 264. This tram has been stored out of service for a considerable length of time and requires major workshop attention, which has been in the pipeline for several years. However, with several long-running projects now approaching completion, it is hoped to commence work later on this year.

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Up close and personal with Blackpool ‘Balloon’ 708

Posted on Monday 12 August 2013 by Andrew Waddington

During the ‘Tram & Transport Sunday’ event held at the North East Land, Sea & Air Museum in Sunderland on 11th August, British Trams Online was granted exclusive access to the inside of the most recent arrival of the various trams on site – Blackpool Balloon car 708. Time has not allowed 708‘s interior to be cleared out making it suitable for examination by visitors, so please excuse the fact that it looks a bit untidy at present!

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An eventful Sunday at Sunderland

Posted on Sunday 11 August 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The first ever ‘Tram & Transport Sunday’ event at the North East Land, Sea & Air Museum in Sunderland was held on Sunday 11th August, and was by all accounts, a resounding success. This was many people’s first opportunity to view the tramcar collection of the North East Electrical Traction Trust following their moves to the Sunderland site, where they have joined numerous aircraft and various other attractions at this fast-growing museum.

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Posted in North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 1 Comment

Middleton Railway ‘Festival of Transport’ details unveiled

Posted on Saturday 10 August 2013 by Andrew Waddington

More details have now been revealed for the 2013 Middleton Railway ‘Festival of Transport’ event, which is being held over the August Bank Holiday weekend. An exciting programme of events is planned to cater for people with an interest in just about any form of transport – but naturally what we are most looking forward to is the operation of Leeds horse tram 107 for the first time in over a century!

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Heritage Trams this week…

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Gareth Prior

Our weekly look at when and where you can travel on heritage trams in the UK and Isle of Man. 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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In Pictures: Edinburgh Trams In Action

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Gareth Prior

Progress is continuing in Edinburgh ahead of an opening for the much delayed tram system with a large amount of driver training and testing now taking place on a regular basis between Gogar depot and Edinburgh Airport. This photo update shows some images of trams in action and also a look at some of the latest construction work across the system.

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Posted in Edinburgh Trams | 4 Comments

Tramlink services disrupted after RTC

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Gareth Prior

Tramlink services between East Croydon and Sandilands were suspended for just over 30 minutes on Sunday 4th August following a road traffic collision – not involving a tram. The collision took place at approximately 1730 on Addiscombe Road and after the emergency services attended the scene trams were able to resume normal services shortly after 1800.

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Woodlands Road stop closure confirmed

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Gareth Prior

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) have confirmed that Woodlands Road stop on the Bury line of Manchester Metrolink can close following the publication of a Closure Ratification Notice. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) must now display the Notice for four weeks at the stop after which they may officially close the stop. However it has been announced that the stop will not close until the nearby new stop at Queen’s Road is completed and open for normal tram services.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 2 Comments

In Pictures: More from Emergency Vehicles Day at Crich

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Gareth Prior

Emergency Vehicles Day took place at the Crich Tramway Village on Sunday 4th August and as already reported on this website the highlight for the tram enthusiast was the display of New York 674 on the Traverser with rare access for passengers on board the tram. With thanks to Hazel Quarmby we are able to provide you with some more photos from the day.

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Peter Cushing apologises to Metrolink passengers after week of woe

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Gareth Prior

Peter Cushing, TfGM’s Metrolink Director, has publically apologised to passengers affected by a catalogue of unrelated delays and service suspensions which caused major delays at a time when large crowds were in the town attending the Ashes Test Match at Old
Trafford.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 5 Comments

In Pictures: Pharos Street tram shelter gets some TLC

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Gareth Prior

The original and now unique cast iron tram shelter in Pharos Street, Fleetwood is getting some much needed TLC thanks to the Community Payback team. This shelter is situated close to the Heritage Tram pick-up stop and has looked in need of some attention for some time and this is now taking place. It has already been given a full coat of black and the casting details are now being picked out in gold paint. Once they have got an “order to work at heights” sorted out they will turn their attention to the roof before the bollards and benches in the vicinity are spruced up as well.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

In Pictures: Supertram trackwork at City Hall

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Gareth Prior

Over the weekend of 3 and 4 August there was track replacement work at City Hall, one of the extra weekend jobs taking place on Stagecoach Supertram as life expired track is replaced. With thanks to Stuart Cooke we bring you photos of some of the work involved.

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London Tramlink Engineering Works: Monday 19th to Wednesday 28th August

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Gareth Prior

Major track replacement works will take place in central Croydon over two phases during the second half of August which will see changes to services with the New Addington-Wimbledon service cut in two and during the second phase trams around the central Croydon loop being terminated at East Croydon.

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Posted in London Trams | 2 Comments

Manchester Metrolink Engineering Works: Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 August

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Gareth Prior

Further engineering works will affect Manchester Metrolink services over the weekend of Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August with no trams able to operate through the Victoria area. As a result there will be no services on the Bury line at all and trams from Rochdale will terminate at Central Park on both days. Trams will continue to run from Altrincham to Piccadilly, Droylsden to Eccles, East Didsbury-Piccadilly and Rochdale-Central Park.

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Stagecoach Supertram Engineering Works: Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 August

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Gareth Prior

More track replacement work will be taking place on Stagecoach Supertram over the weekend of Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August, this time in the Infirmary Road/Albert
Terrace Road area. Trams on the Yellow route will run from Meadowhall to Shalesmoor and on the Blue route from Halfway to Spring Lane. Replacement bus services will cover the other sections of these routes. The engineering work on Park Grange Road will also be continuing.

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NET Event Ticket extended to Capital FM Arena events

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Gareth Prior

The recently launched £2 Event Ticket on Nottingham Express Transit has now been  extended to anyone with tickets for any event at the Capital FM Arena, this includes not only Nottingham Panther ice hockey games but any concert or other event. The ticket can either be purchased from the Capital FM Arena when booking tickets for an event or on board a tram on the day when presenting an event ticket.

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Liverpool 245 launch postponed again

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Unfortunately, further delays to the ongoing work to restore Liverpool ‘Baby Grand’ 245 to an operational condition for service on the Birkenhead heritage tramway, have meant that plans to launch the car this summer have had to be dropped. The Heritage Lottery Fund, who are helping to fund the project, have agreed to a revised deadline with 245 now due for completion at the end of this year.

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What, no Acdo?

Posted on Thursday 8 August 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Bolton 66 made a special appearance on the Blackpool tramway for a private hire on the evening of Wednesday 7th August, without one of its most recognisable features. The popular 1901-built tram has recently lost its long-running adverts for ‘Acdo’ washing powder, leaving it free of any external advertisements for the first time since 1992.

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Blackpool Transport announce details of August ‘Extramaganza’!

Posted on Wednesday 7 August 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The fourth and final Bank Holiday weekend of 2013 takes place over the weekend of 24th to 26th August, and will naturally see the return of Blackpool’s heritage trams to their rightful place on the promenade. This weekend will, as expected, see the eagerly awaited return to use of Open Boat 602, as well as a whole host of other treats – and following the success of the static appearance of Centenary car 648 on Hopton Road for a previous heritage tram event, further photo opportunities are planned, featuring a number of non-operational cars!

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

Foundations for the future laid at Heaton Park

Posted on Tuesday 6 August 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Another exciting step forwards in the project to create a second tram depot at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway was achieved on Tuesday 6th August, when some local dignitaries were invited to the park for the unveiling of a commemorative stone within one of the walls of the new building.

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