R.I.P. Richard Lomas

Posted on Saturday 26 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Richard Lomas, one of the longest-serving active members of the Tramway Museum Society, has sadly died. Richard passed away peacefully following a fairly long illness in the early hours of Friday 25th May. He had spent a lengthy spell in hospital suffering from pancreatis, but after going home he was re-admitted a few days ago when he was diagnosed with septicemia and pneumonia, which proved to be too much for him to fight.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum, People | 5 Comments

Trams celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee

Posted on Saturday 26 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Many people across Great Britain are celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in early June, with the late spring Bank Holiday extended by one day to give many workers a four-day weekend. Britain’s tramways have not been left out of this time of celebrating, with two of the country’s most popular museum lines planning special events to mark the occasion, whilst another organisation is actually repainting a tram in a special commemorative livery.

Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust, Heaton Park Tramway, National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on Trams celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee

Boat car sails to Glory Mine

Posted on Friday 25 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

Another major milestone in the restoration of Blackpool Boat car 236 for operation at Crich Tramway Village, home of Britain’s National Tramway Museum, took place on Wednesday 23rd May when the tram ran all the way to Glory Mine on test for the first time since its arrival on site one month previous.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 3 Comments

Flexity versus motor car – Round 1!

Posted on Friday 25 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

There have been a whole host of noteworthy firsts involving Blackpool’s brand new Flexity2 trams in the past few weeks, but an unwanted first occured on Tuesday 22nd May. For the first time, a member of the class was involved in a collision, with car 014 having an argument with a motor car at one of the remaining tramway/road crossings. This tram had only entered service a few days earlier and is currently the newest tram in Blackpool!

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

New blood for Fylde Tramway Society

Posted on Friday 25 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

At a time of major change for the Blackpool tramway, it seems highly appropriate that the Fylde Tramway Society, which was formed to support the retention of the system back in 1971 when its future looked increasinly bleak, is also in a period of change. The recent Convention weekend saw the confirmation that a number of new Committee members have been appointed, which will give the Society a fresh feel for the tramway’s new era.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway, People | Comments Off on New blood for Fylde Tramway Society

Blackpool trams to star at Crich seaside event

Posted on Monday 21 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

More details are now available regarding the planned launch into passenger service of newly restored Blackpool ‘Boat’ car 236 at the Crich Tramway Village on Sunday 3rd June, as part of the ‘Beside the Seaside’ event being held over the late spring Bank Holiday weekend. Although primarily an event targeted at families rather than tram enthusiasts, the launch of 236 has created the ideal excuse to create some additional interest involving the Musuem’s large collection of Blackpool trams.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

Blackpool ‘Balloon’ set for open-top restoration

Posted on Sunday 20 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

What could potentially be one of the most exciting projects involving a recently preserved Blackpool tram has been announced, as part of a collaboration between the Manchester Transport Museum Society and the North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust. It has been confirmed that plans are afoot for Blackpool Balloon 708 to transfer to the North East, where it will hopefully be the subject of a complete restoration to its original open-top condition!

Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 8 Comments

Access Tram restored to service

Posted on Sunday 20 May 2012 by Andrew Waddington

It is pleasing to report that the sole wheelchair-accessible tram at Crich, Berlin 223 006-4, has finally returned to use following a prolonged overhaul and repaint. The car last ran in passenger service in September 2011 and since then its appearance has been radically altered thanks to a complete external repaint in its original cream livery with grey roof and black lining-out.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Tramway Museum | Comments Off on Access Tram restored to service

TfGM put TWAO application into for Second City Centre Crossing

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

Transport for Greater Manchester have moved a step closer to getting the much needed Second City Centre Crossing by putting an application into the Department for Transport for a Transport and Works Act Order. This is the formal process required to secure the legal powers to build and operate the line which will go from St Peter’s Square to Manchester Victoria via Princess Street, Cross Street and Corporation Street.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on TfGM put TWAO application into for Second City Centre Crossing

Variotram 2558 touches down at Therapia Lane

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

The deliveries of the Variotrams for London Tramlink is nearing completion with the arrival of the fifth (of six) of the Stadler built trams at Therapia Lane during the evening of Friday 18th May. Number 2558 joins its four sisters in the UK of which several have been seen in service so far.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | 1 Comment

Two more Flexities debut in service

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

Friday 18th May saw two more Flexity2 trams make their passenger debuts on the reinvigorated Blackpool Tramway when both 013 and 014 were used in service for the very first time. Unlike some of the earlier examples both trams had already had their full branding applied before entering service (indeed all trams currently in Blackpool are now carrying numbers following the departure of 002 back to Germany last week).

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on Two more Flexities debut in service

Lost Trams 1: Nottingham 112

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

We have recently been contacted by someone whose father has an old tram in their garden and as they included some photos of the tram what better excuse than to start a new occasional series on these pages – Lost Trams! The subject of the first of this series is Nottingham 112 which was originally built in 1907 by Milnes Voss and was a Balcony double-decker. The photos show that the tram seems to still be in a fairly good condition and has been well looked after since it has been used as a shed.

Continue reading →

Posted in Lost Trams | 2 Comments

Tramlink 2548 returns to fleet livery

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

After approximately six weeks carrying a bright and pink vinyl wrap advert for Magnum
Infinity, London Tramlink’s 2548 has returned to fleet livery. The tram was last seen in its advert on Saturday 12th May but by Tuesday 15th May was noted in service in the lime green, blue and white Tramlink livery. Hopefully – from the viewpoint of a photographer anyway! – this will be first of several trams to receive all over adverts in the future on Tramlink as it certainly adds to the colour of the modern tramway systems.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | 1 Comment

Trams start testing to Oldham Mumps

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

Trams are now testing on the Manchester Metrolink extension through to Oldham Mumps with a start of passenger services on this much delayed line now seemingly approaching. As well as trams running through to the temporary Oldham Mumps stop progress is being
made in Oldham town centre on extension of the line which is due to be ready for operation in 2014. With thanks to Paul Jackson we bring you a special News Extra Photo Gallery from Oldham – http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery298.html

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Trams start testing to Oldham Mumps

More progress on Mitcham double tracking

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

The weekend of 12th and 13th May saw another closure of Tramlink between Mitcham and Mitcham Junction to allow further progress to be made on the double tracking of this stretch of line.  As last time a tram service was maintained to Mitcham Junction with a replacement bus from there to Mitcham where a tram shuttle ran through to Wimbledon every 15 minutes.

Continue reading →

Posted in London Trams | Comments Off on More progress on Mitcham double tracking

Another T68 breakdown causes Metrolink delays

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

Unfortunately the past week has seen another pair of T68s fail in Manchester City Centre causing further delays on the Metrolink network. This time the incident happened at approximately 1530 and involved 1008 (for the second week in a row) and another tram (thought to be 1010) running as a pair. Unlike last week they were declared a complete failure and M5000 3020 was coupled to them to take them back towards the Depot.

Continue reading →

Posted in Manchester Metrolink | Comments Off on Another T68 breakdown causes Metrolink delays

Melbourne tram bosses visit Nottingham to share knowledge

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

Senior executives from the Melbourne tram network have recently visited Nottingham to
swap ideas and discuss ways of enhancing services on both networks. Whilst in the UK the executives also praised Nottingham Express Transit for the cleanliness of their trams and the fact that they are all fully accessible.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nottingham Express Transit | Comments Off on Melbourne tram bosses visit Nottingham to share knowledge

Midland Metro service alterations on Sundays in May and June

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

Essential ground maintenance works are to be undertaken between The Crescent and Priestfield tramstops on four Sundays in late May and early June. This means that between the start of service and 1800 no service will run on Midland Metro from Wednesbury Parkway and Wolverhampton St Georges.

Continue reading →

Posted in West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on Midland Metro service alterations on Sundays in May and June

Lesley Hinds named new Transport Convener in Edinburgh

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

Following the recent Council elections in Edinburgh and the Liberal Democrats losing power it has been necessary for a new Transport Convener to be announced. With the Scottish National Party and Labour Party now in coalition the person charged with helping
to ensure the tram project runs smoothly from now on is Labour’s Lesley Hinds, a former Lord Provost of Edinburgh.

Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh Trams | Comments Off on Lesley Hinds named new Transport Convener in Edinburgh

Mobility scooter changes for Supertram

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2012 by Gareth Prior

Following recent damage caused to trams Stagecoach Supertram have announced a new policy on the use of mobility scooters on board any of their trams. As a result only passengers who hold a “Local Bus Scooter Permit” will be allowed on board any tram whilst using their mobility scooter.

Continue reading →

Posted in South Yorkshire Supertram | Comments Off on Mobility scooter changes for Supertram