This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 28 April 2013 by Gareth Prior

It’s a bumper week of uploads on British Trams Online this week with five new Photo Galleries and an article alongside all the usual updates:

Gallery 358: Manx Electric Railway Easter 2013 – http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery358.html

Gallery 359: Docklands Light Railway March & April 2013 – http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery359.html

Gallery 360: Manchester Metrolink T68s on the Eccles Line – http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery360.html

Gallery 361: Nottingham Express Transit Noel Street crossover relay Easter 2013 – http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery361.html

Gallery 362: More Beamish Great North Steam Fair 2013 – http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery362.html

Article: Manx Electric Railway Easter 2013 – http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/mer-easter13.html

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And then there were three…

Posted on Friday 26 April 2013 by Gareth Prior

There are now only three T68As available for service on Manchester Metrolink following the withdrawal of 2002. The tram last operated services between Piccadilly and Eccles during the evening of Wednesday 24 April after which it returned to Queen’s Road depot where it remains whilst the ATS and VRS equipment is removed for further use.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 13 Comments

Latest Wolverhampton city centre Metro extension plans go on show

Posted on Friday 26 April 2013 by Gareth Prior

Centro have unveiled their latest plan to extend Midland Metro into Wolverhampton city centre with the public and business community being given the opportunity to give their views on the £15 million proposals. The extension would see trams run along Piper’s Row and service the bus station before terminating at the railway station.

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Posted in West Midlands Metro | 4 Comments

Heritage Trams for the Next Week…

Posted on Friday 26 April 2013 by Gareth Prior

As part of our feature “Support our Heritage Tramways” we will continue to bring you a weekly look at when and where you can travel on heritage trams across the UK. Once again if you know of any errors or omissions please let us know and we will make the change. 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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Tramlink services stopped between Woodside and East Croydon after attack

Posted on Friday 26 April 2013 by Gareth Prior

The British Transport Police stopped all trams between Woodside and East Croydon for a time shortly before 1800 on Thursday 25 April after a large group of youths attacked three men leaving a tram at Woodside tramstop. Reports have said that the youths started to throw objects at the men as they attempted to leave the tram with at least four windows being smashed. The damage sustained by tram meant it had to be taken out of service and returned to depot and the BTP were called to investigate the incident. They were due to return to Woodside the following day to provide reassurance whilst an investigation into the incident is said to be ongoing.

Posted in London Trams | 2 Comments

Tram trackworks completed at St Andrew Square

Posted on Friday 26 April 2013 by Gareth Prior

All track works around St Andrew Square in Edinburgh city centre have been completed with the area returning to public use from Friday 26 April. This is the first of four major city centre worksites which will be completed during 2013 and is another sign of recent progress as plans to return trams to the city start to come to fruition.

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Blackpool heritage tram allocations for May Day weekend

Posted on Friday 26 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

As extensively reported already on British Trams Online, the second stint of extensive heritage tram operation in Blackpool this year will occur over the forthcoming May Day Bank Holiday weekend, 4th to 6th May inclusive. Highlights of this period will hopefully include the re-launch of Brush Railcoach 631 on Saturday 4th May, subject to completion of its heritage makeover, and the return to service of Balloon car 701 for the first time since 2010 the following day. A full rundown of the provisional schedule of events is provided below.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 6 Comments

Historic Blackpool trams moved to Starr Gate

Posted on Friday 26 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

In a surprise move, two of Blackpool’s heritage trams have been transferred to Starr Gate depot, along with at least one of the modified ‘B Fleet’ Balloon cars. The two oldest native trams in the fleet, Fleetwood Box car 40 and Standard 147, have both been moved along with Balloon 713, although the reason for these movements currently remains a mystery.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

Chesterfield welcomes back an old friend for Arts Festival

Posted on Friday 26 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

As previously reported on British Trams Online, Crich Tramway Village have received a request from Chesterfield Borough Council, for horse drawn tramcar Chesterfield 8 to make a special guest appearance at the first ever Chesterfield Community Arts Festival. Following discussions with the Science Museum, London (who retain ownership of this tram which is on long-term loan to Crich) it has been agreed that the tram will be available for display in its former home town on Saturday 4th May as part of the event.

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Lisbon 730 returns to Birkenhead

Posted on Thursday 25 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The events to mark 40 years of tram operation at Beamish, the Living Museum of the North officially came to an end on Wednesday 24th April when Lisbon 730 became the second and final of the visiting tramcars to leave the museum. Having undergone some preparatory work ahead of its second road journey of the month earlier in the week, 730 bid farewell to the North East on April 24th, arriving back home later the same day.

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Blackpool Transport put the trams in Tram Sunday!

Posted on Thursday 25 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following a few disapointing years, it is pleasing to confirm that Blackpool Transport will be supporting the annual Fleetwood Transport Festival – more commonly known as Tram Sunday – by providing a special heritage tram service. The 2013 event takes place on Sunday 21st July, and is expected to feature two historic trams operating between Fisherman’s Walk and Thornton Gate.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 9 Comments

Alderman E.E. Wynne dies

Posted on Thursday 25 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Former Blackpool Councillor Alderman E.E. Wynne has passed away at the age of 96, shortly after having a Blackpool tram named after him. Wynne died earlier this month, mere weeks after attending the unveiling of his name in gold letters on both ends of Flexity 002. He was the first person to have one of the new Blackpool Flexity2 trams named in his honour, recognising his many years of service with the local Council.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, People | 2 Comments

Fleetwood Tram Museum changes venue

Posted on Thursday 25 April 2013 by Gareth Prior

The proposed Fleetwood Tram Museum is on the move – even before its opened! Initial plans released by the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust would have seen the historic former Copse Road Tramroad Depot being used to house trams from the Trust’s collection but following the offer of land close to the Fleetwood Ferry tramway stop a decision has now been made to pursue this option instead.

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Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 4 Comments

NET fares reviewed

Posted on Thursday 25 April 2013 by Gareth Prior

Following a comprehensive review of fares on Nottingham Express Transit a new fare structure has been announced with many of tickets remaining at current levels although there will also be some increases. Day and weekly tickets will remain at their current price (£3.50 and £15 respectively) when the new structure is introduced from 5th May with others seeing a small decrease or increase.

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Preparations start for Metrolink Second City Crossing

Posted on Thursday 25 April 2013 by Gareth Prior

Contractors are to undertake “trial hole” investigations of the pipes and cables under the road in Princess Street, Manchester City Centre over the next ten days as part of the preparatory works for the Metrolink Second City Crossing (2CC). The work will help to “inform the proposals” of the second crossing and will mean that one lane of traffic will be closed on Princess Street whilst a temporary bus stop will be put in place outside Tesco Metro to replace the stop outside Costa Coffee. During the 10 day period there will be a number of different road closures and traffic diversions put in place to allow the work to be undertaken and these will be clearly signposted.

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A taste of Eastbourne at Seaton

Posted on Thursday 25 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Seaton Tramway in Devon have just announced details of a special operating day on Saturday 8th June which will offer visitors even more of a nostalgic experience than usual. On this day it is intended to operate a five car service, using only vehicles which originate from the former tramway at Eastbourne – these being cars 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12.

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Posted in Seaton Tramway | 1 Comment

Glasgow 1068 boosts Crich running fleet

Posted on Tuesday 23 April 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following a highly succesful period of operation at the Beamish Museum’s Great North Festival of Transport, Glasgow 1068 left the North East on Tuesday 23rd April, for the return journey to Derbyshire. The tram arrived back at Crich Tramway Village later the same day where it was unloaded in the museum street before being moved to the depot area, where it is expected to be made available for service imminently. Meanwhile, back at Beamish, fellow visiting tram Lisbon 730 has undergone preparation for its next road journey and it is due to be transported back home to Birkenhead on Wednesday 24th April.

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Posted in Beamish Tramway, National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Tuesday 23 April 2013 by Gareth Prior

Just in case you have missed recent uploads to the main British Trams Online site here is what is now there for you to enjoy:

Gallery 355: Our Friends Electric – Beamish (http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery355.html)

Gallery 356: Manchester Metrolink Construction Update (http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery356.html)

Gallery 357: Great North Steam Fair 2013 at Beamish (http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery357.html)

Article: Great North Festival of Transport (http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gnfot13.html)

Plus there have been updates to the Diary of Events (http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/diary.html) and numerous Fleet Lists have also been updated (http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/fleets.html).

This coming weekend should also see many more photos being added.

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Ipswich Transport Museum awarded HLF support for Cambridge Horse Tram

Posted on Tuesday 23 April 2013 by Gareth Prior

The Cambridge Horse Tram at the Ipswich Transport Museum in Suffolk is set to be restored following the award of £49,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Museum found out the good news on 16th April and will now be able to proceed with the restoration of the tram over the next five years which will be able to be seen by visitors throughout the work.

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Posted in Ipswich Transport Museum | 2 Comments

Testing starts to East Didsbury

Posted on Tuesday 23 April 2013 by Gareth Prior

After a quiet few weeks since the opening of the Manchester Metrolink extensions to Droylsden and Rochdale Railway Station testing has now commenced on the section of the South Manchester Line from St Werburgh’s Road to East Didsbury which is due to open this summer. M5000s 3059 and 3061 were in use on these initial tests on Monday 23rd April – funnily enough these two trams were also used for the first tests beyond Droylsden on the East Manchester Line earlier this year.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 3 Comments