Twin Set 672+682 launch confirmed

Posted on Wednesday 12 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The return to passenger service of Blackpool Twin Set 672+682 has been a highly anticipated event amongst tram enthusiasts ever since news broke that this set would be reactivated as part of Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram fleet earlier in the year. Now, the date for the rejuvinated Twin car’s reappearance has been set, for Friday 14th September.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Heaton Park depot fan progress: in pictures

Posted on Wednesday 12 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Since the highly successful Trans Lanc Rally event on Sunday 2nd September – which was reputedly one of the busiest days ever for the Heaton Park Tramway – work has continued on the extension to the existing terminus at Lakeside. This will see the current double-track layout join on with a new depot track fan, preceding the construction of the much-anticipated second depot within the grounds of the park.

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Pioneer Flexity2 receives new adverts

Posted on Tuesday 11 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The first of Blackpool’s Flexity2 trams, car 001, has become the latest of the class to receive external advertisements. In the now familiar style with advert banners along the roof sides and on the lower panelling of its centre section, 001 has been selected to promote The Sands Venue. This company is no stranger to the tramway of course, having advertised on Balloon 723 in less dignified fashion during 2010 and 2011. Indeed the tram still retains this advert but is unlikely to run again in this guise, if at all.

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Further attention for the Rocket

Posted on Tuesday 11 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Lancastrian Transport Trust owned illuminated Rocket tram 732 has received some further cosmetic enhancements since the illuminations switch-on took place on 31st August. The tram now sports external advertisements on the large panels on the side of its ‘launch pad’ for the first time since Whitegates’ estate agents removed their long-running association with the tram in 1998.

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Beamish create improved tram workshop

Posted on Tuesday 11 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Hardly a week seems to pass by of late when there is not some positive news to report on regarding some exciting development at Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, with regard to its extensive transport collection. Fresh from the superb repaints of two trams and the announcement of a major tram event for April 2013, the Museum is also refurbishing part of its depot complex for use as a dedicated workshop area.

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MER 19 involved in collision with bin lorry

Posted on Monday 10 September 2012 by Gareth Prior

One of the Manx Electric Railway Winter Saloons suffered minor damage on Tuesday 4th
September following an incident with a bin lorry in Groudle. The exact circumstances of the incident are not known but what is known is that MER Winter Saloon 19 was on a journey from Douglas to Ramsey when it came to hit a bin lorry on the Groudle Road crossing on King Edward Road, Groudle.

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Posted in Manx Electric Railway | 4 Comments

Norman Baker gets NET Phase Two Update

Posted on Monday 10 September 2012 by Gareth Prior

Transport Minister Norman Baker, who kept his job at the Department for Transport as part of the recent reshuffle, has been given an update on how the plan to extend Nottingham Express Transit is progressing during a visit to the City to launch a fleet of electric buses.

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Appeal for Ilkeston tram memorabilia

Posted on Monday 10 September 2012 by Gareth Prior

Erewash Museum is appealing for anyone who has any memorabilia, photographs or even just memories of the tramway in Ilkeston for a proposed exhibition to be held next year celebrating the 110th anniversary of the opening of the tramway in the town. The 3 foot 6 inch gauge tramway opened to the public on 16th May 1903 before closing on 15th January 1931. Anyone who can help is advised to contact Helen Martinez, museum manager, on 0115 907 1141 or email museum@erewash.gov.uk.

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Metrolink Service Performance Update

Posted on Monday 10 September 2012 by Gareth Prior

The latest service performance statistics on the Manchester Metrolink system have been  released on the TfGM Committee website – http://tiny.cc/6hffkw. This latest report gives details on periods 1, 2 and 3 between Monday 30th April and Sunday 22nd July 2012.

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Special Supertram Park and Ride offer launched

Posted on Monday 10 September 2012 by Gareth Prior

Between Sunday 16th September and Saturday 13th October a special offer is available for anyone using the Park and Ride sites on Stagecoach Supertram at Nunnery Square or Middlewood. Passengers can pay just £3.90 for a day’s Supertram travel and get a full days parking for free (the offer only extends to the driver of the vehicles, any extra passengers must pay as normal)! To take up this special offer passengers just need to buy a Park and Ride ticket from the machine at the site and then show it to the conductor on the tram. This ticket must be retained as it is used to operate the barrier to exit the Park and Ride sites.

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Oldham’s King Street reopens to traffic after Metrolink construction works

Posted on Monday 10 September 2012 by Gareth Prior

King Street in Oldham reopened to traffic on Monday 10th September following the completion of utility diversion and track laying work for the Manchester Metrolink extension to Oldham town centre, which is due to open in 2014.

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Beamish Power from the Past 2012

Posted on Sunday 9 September 2012 by Gareth Prior

This year’s Power from the Past event at Beamish, the Living Museum of the North took place between 30th August and 2nd September and as has come to be expected featured a myriad of vintage vehicles across the site both resident and visiting. Gareth Prior reports from the event.

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Beamish Museum confirm April 2013 tram event

Posted on Sunday 9 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Following a few hints and a healthy dose of speculation, Paul Jarman, the Keeper of Transport at Beamish Museum, has finally confirmed that a big tram event will be staged at the open-air museum in April 2013. This will be held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of tram operation at Beamish, and has been given the imaginative working title ‘Our Friends – Electric’.

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672+682: the Twin car that got the cream!

Posted on Sunday 9 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Following a number of rather depressing news items involving Blackpool trams, it is pleasing to report that Twin set 672+682 is almost ready for a return to service on its native rails. The trams have been superbly repainted in their original all-over cream livery complete with green lifeguards, bogies and lining-out, and the lucky few who have already seen the trams have already said that the end result looks absolutely stunning!

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Lancastrian Transport Trust issue statement on tram moves

Posted on Sunday 9 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

The Lancastrian Transport Trust have received some criticism from tram enthusiasts over the past few days, after moving six of their preserved Blackpool trams from Rigby Road to outside storage on the outskirts of Blackpool. Now, the charitable organisation has released a lengthy statement which explains the reasoning behind this decision and why such an unfortunate situation has arisen.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 13 Comments

Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust Update

Posted on Saturday 8 September 2012 by Gareth Prior

The two Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust trams which are stored outside at Kirkham Prison are to be covered up to prepare them for the onset of the winter weather to try and protect them during their outside storage. The two trams stored outside at the prison are privately owned Twin Motor Car 673 and Centenary 641 with the former already starting to receive the heavy duty protection.

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LTT trams retreat from Rigby Road

Posted on Friday 7 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

All of the preserved trams owned by the Lancastrian Transport Trust have now escaped from the Rigby Road depot at Blackpool, with the last six remaining trams having left within a four-day period early in September 2012. Following on from the previously reported moves of Brush cars 259 and 632, these trams have now been joined in open storage by OMO 8, Coronation 304 and Balloon cars 704 and 715.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 4 Comments

Preserved Brush cars end up outside

Posted on Wednesday 5 September 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Following on from the former Permanent Way gang car 259, Brush Railcoach 632 became the second of the Lancastrian Transport Trust’s preserved Blackpool tramcars to leave Rigby Road for pastures new this week. Unfortunately, both of these trams have been placed in outside storage due to unforseen problems with their intended new home.

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Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 6 Comments

1010 becomes eighth T68 to be withdrawn

Posted on Wednesday 5 September 2012 by Gareth Prior

Another historically significant T68 has been withdrawn from service with the “Royal  Tram” 1010 running its last journeys on 2nd September – becoming the eighth of the initial 12 to end its Metrolink career.

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More Metrolink delays after overhead damage

Posted on Wednesday 5 September 2012 by Gareth Prior

Unfortunately there were further delays to Manchester Metrolink services through Manchester City Centre on Tuesday 4th September because of overhead line damage. This
damage was caused by scaffolders working on the Primark Building on Market Street.

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Posted in Manchester Metrolink | 1 Comment