{"id":64548,"date":"2026-09-09T20:00:53","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T19:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=64548"},"modified":"2026-09-09T19:51:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T18:51:01","slug":"in-preview-tram-weekend-at-the-national-tramway-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=64548","title":{"rendered":"In Preview: Tram Weekend at the National Tramway Museum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Its that time of year once again as the eyes of tram enthusiasts in the UK are turned towards the National Tramway Museum as they hold their \u201cTram Weekend\u201d. This years event will be on Saturday 12th<\/sup> and Sunday 13th<\/sup> September 2026 and once again it looks set to be a busy event with plenty to see and do!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The highlight of the weekend should be the official launch of Blackpool 645<\/strong> into service as the new Access Tram. This important project has seen the Centenary Car converted to allow the fitting of a wheelchair lift and will have capacity for three wheelchair users and 25 seated passengers. It fills a gap in the operating trams which has been seen ever since Berlin 223 006-4<\/strong> had to be withdrawn requiring an overhaul.<\/p>\n

645<\/strong> is due to be officially launched on Saturday 12th<\/sup> September at 1015 in Stephenson Place with Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, former Paralympic champion, and Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, set to be amongst the guests. Following its launch 645 will operate journeys during the morning and early afternoon on launch day for special invited guests.<\/p>\n

As well as the launch of 645<\/strong>, a lot of the usual Tram Weekend activities will be in place as we have come to expect over previous years.<\/p>\n

This will include an intensive tram service in operation between 1030 and 1700. All currently available trams will be in service on at least one day of the weekend \u2013 whilst exact allocations will not be announced until Friday 11th<\/sup> September (and the usual caveats always exist too) the following output is currently expected:<\/p>\n

Saturday 12th<\/sup> September<\/strong><\/p>\n

London County Council 1, Glasgow 22, Blackpool and Fleetwood 40, Sheffield 74, London County Council 106, Blackpool 167, Sheffield 510 and London Passenger Transport Board 1622<\/p>\n

Sunday 13th<\/sup> September<\/strong><\/p>\n

London County Council 1, Blackpool 40, Newcastle 102, Blackpool 236, Leeds 345, Leeds 399, Blackpool 762, Liverpool 869<\/p>\n

Works trams will also be in service on both days and there will be plenty of shunting around the depot fan. This year the main themes of depot fan line-ups will be Leeds (Saturday 12th<\/sup>) and Planned Future Projects and Sponsors, and Blackpool (Sunday 13th<\/sup>).<\/p>\n

Curtain raiser photo opps will also be found in the museum street before the service begins. This will include trams getting ready to welcome the Access Tram (Saturday 12th<\/sup>) and Blackpool 40<\/strong> and Leeds 399<\/strong> (Sunday 13th<\/sup>) which both celebrate their 100th<\/sup> birthdays this year.<\/p>\n

The current planned programme is as follows:<\/p>\n

Saturday 12th<\/sup> September<\/strong><\/p>\n

0930-1600: Creating our New Access Tram showing on a loop in the Learning Centre (a film detailing the work on converting Blackpool 645)<\/p>\n

1000: Curtain Raiser \u2013 a line-up of trams in the street waiting to welcome the new Access Tram<\/p>\n

1015: Access Tram launch at Stephenson Place<\/p>\n

1030: Tram service commences with first departures from alongside the Workshop<\/p>\n

1030-1200: Intensive tram service with departures every 10 minutes<\/p>\n

1000-1100: Shunting on the depot fan<\/p>\n

1045-1630: Curatorial Displays and Sales Stand in the Great Exhibition Hall<\/p>\n

1100-1530: Depot Fan Display including Leeds trams<\/p>\n

1115-1145: Derby Hospital Band in the Bandstand<\/p>\n

1200-1400: Service trams will join the Depot fan display<\/p>\n

1215-1245: Derby Hospital Band in the Bandstand<\/p>\n

1400-1600: Works Trams in service<\/p>\n

1400-1700: Intensive tram service with departures every 10 minutes<\/p>\n

1530: Shunting on the depot fan to put everything away<\/p>\n

1700: Last trams<\/p>\n

Sunday 13th<\/sup> September<\/strong><\/p>\n

1000: Curtain Raiser \u2013 celebrating 100 years since Blackpool 40 and Leeds 399 first entered service<\/p>\n

1030: Tram service commences with Blackpool 40 and Leeds 399 operating first service<\/p>\n

1030-1200: Intensive tram service with departures every 10 minutes<\/p>\n

1030-1200: Works Trams in service<\/p>\n

1030-1100: Shunting on the depot fan<\/p>\n

1030-1130: Creating our New Access Tram showing on a loop in the Learning Centre (a film detailing the work on converting Blackpool 645)<\/p>\n

1045-1630: Curatorial Displays and Sales Stand in the Great Exhibition Hall<\/p>\n

1100-1530: Depot Fan Display including \u201cPlanned Future Projects and Sponsors\u201d and Blackpool<\/p>\n

1130-1215: The Modern British Tramcar Journey \u2013 The Golden Thread\u2026 UK Trams and Light Rail after 1962. A short talk in the Learning Centre with David Leeder.<\/p>\n

1200-1400: Service trams will join the Depot fan display<\/p>\n

1230-1315: Tutbury Band in the Bandstand<\/p>\n

1230-1600: Creating our New Access Tram showing on a loop in the Learning Centre (a film detailing the work on converting Blackpool 645)<\/p>\n

1400-1445: Tutbury Band in the Bandstand<\/p>\n

1400-1600: Works Trams in service<\/p>\n

1400-1700: Intensive tram service with departures every 10 minutes<\/p>\n

1530: Shunting on the depot fan to put everything away<\/p>\n

1700: Last trams<\/p>\n