There is a distinct end of season feel in the air as this weekend marks the end of operation in 2014 for the National Tramway Museum, the Manx Electric Railway and the Snaefell Mountain Railway, all of which will now lapse into winter hibernation but with preparations ongoing, including track relaying on the MER and at Crich, in preparation for a return to glory in 2015. Trams Today will have a full report of the last two days of operation for both the MER and SMR which includes the Winter Photography event currently under preparation by volunteer tour organisers dedicated to commemorating the 120th anniversary of the Manx Electric Tunnel Cars. Elsewhere and there still remains plenty of vintage tram action, with the Blackpool illuminated tours still running for over a week and operations continuing at Beamish, Birkenhead and Heaton Park until the end of the year, providing plenty of opportunity of sampling a ride on a classic tram even in the depths of winter. The big news story of last week, the sale of Burton and Ashby 14 by auction in Detroit, continues to dominate the headlines with much galvanising of action to ensure that this historic survivor is not lost forever. Moves to secure its future and possibly repatriate it back to Britain are gathering momentum and there seems a very real possibility that this could have a positive outcome. Offers of donations to this worthy cause are being readily accepted; the more money which is pledged the greater the chance of achieving what only a few weeks ago would have seemed unthinkable. If you would like to see 14 returned to Britain and displayed in a suitable location to be enjoyed in its native land once more, the contact details to offer support have been listed on Trams Today and all readers with a sympathetic disposition towards this ambitious project are urged to get in contact with the organisers of this worthwhile appeal. Other than the ongoing news about number 14 and the return of Balloon 711 and Box Car 40 to Blackpool after their eventful summer on loan to Crich, it has been a relatively quiet week on the tramway front although next week will see the start of tramway operation on the latest significant extension of the Metrolink system as trams reach Manchester Airport in service for the very first time. This important development, and all other news will be covered on Trams Today along with our two regular features which will be continuing unchanged throughout the week to come. We continue looking in detail at the tramway system in Prague, this week covering the period of the late 1950s and early 1960s when the tramway system started to develop the T3, the most successful tramcar type ever built for the city and one which was to achieve a virtual monopoly in the decades to come. We also focus in detail of events from ten years ago, covering this week the introduction of two new tramway systems and also look at what was happening to the perennial survivor, Blackpool, in 2004. This coming week is auspicious for another reason, as the Trams Today site celebrates its third birthday. A lot has happened in the three years we have been reporting the tram news and it has been a continual pleasure to report on all the developments as they occur and watch the site grow from strength to strength. This week’s cover photos feature two trams carrying the number 3 in recognition of the site’s third birthday. The banner picture is of Snaefell Mountain Railway 3, pictured at Laxey, a particularly appropriate image as the system reaches its final days of operation for the year. The profile picture, meanwhile, is of a long lost 3 – Blackpool’s OMO 3 which was sadly scrapped in 1987. The tram is seen in happier days, negotiating the street track around the Metropole whilst bound for Starr Gate. Finally, as we begin to start the fourth year of bringing you news and features related to tramways around the world, may I wish a warm welcome to everyone who has joined us over the past week and hope you all enjoy the content coming up in the week ahead.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 22:56:52 +0000
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