Leeds 602, Blackpool 736, Nottingham Express Transit 203, Trampower, Leeds 345, Blackpool 623, Blackpool 717, Blackpool 733+734, Liverpool 762, Blackpool 11, Blackpool 623 (again!). When you hear those trams what is the first thing you think of? Well apart from the fact it would make a pretty impressive cavalcade they are all trams which have had the tremendous honour of being named British Trams Online Tram of the Year. Since the contest was launched in 2003 ten different trams have been voted as the tram which has done the most significant thing in the previous 12 months by readers of this website and today we launch the (streamlined) nominations process of the contest.<\/p>\n
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You can nominate the tram you think deserves to be on the final shortlist of up to 5 trams (although we went up to 8 last year that was an one off and we will revert to the usual number this time around). I am sure you all have your own opinions of what tram has done that something special in the past 12 months (the qualifying period is 1st <\/sup>December 2012 to 30th<\/sup> November 2013) so you can now send your nominations in to us by either commenting on this article, emailing gareth@britishtramsonline.co.uk<\/a> or by visiting us on Facebook at http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BritishTramsOnline<\/a>. It us up to you what you consider something special to be whether that be a repaint into a new livery, an entry into service of a new tram, the completion of a major restoration or the operation of a tram away from its regular home system. Nominating a tram is no guarantee it will end up on the shortlist and if one tram gets lots of nominations that doesn\u2019t mean it will necessarily be selected (for example if 20 people want Blackpool Balloon 700 on the shortlist just because it\u2019s their favourite tram \u2013 that is not a decent reason for nomination!, if it was Southampton 45 would be on the list every year!) but if we are can\u2019t decide between two trams to be added to the shortlist we will look at the number of nominations so please do send in your nominations even if you think someone else has already done so.<\/p>\n Nominations are open from now until Saturday 30th<\/sup> November after which our \u201cexpert panel\u201d will make a decision on which trams have made the final cut. We will then enter around a month of voting and then will be in a position to name the British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2013. Full details on the contest and the various stages can be found at http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/tramofyear.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n Last year we also launched two new categories in the contest: Event of the Year and Tramway of the Year, so we also want to hear your opinions on nominations for these. The Event category doesn\u2019t necessarily have to be a specific special event (for example the opening of the upgraded Blackpool Tramway featured last year) and in the Tramway category we aren\u2019t looking for the system or museum line which has operated the best (there are other awards for this) but for the one enthusiasts think has achieved the most over the previous 12 months. The usual ways to nominate are available for this as well.<\/p>\n Happy nominating!<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Leeds 602, Blackpool 736, Nottingham Express Transit 203, Trampower, Leeds 345, Blackpool 623, Blackpool 717, Blackpool 733+734, Liverpool 762, Blackpool 11, Blackpool 623 (again!). When you hear those trams what is the first thing you think of? Well apart from … Continue reading