Hong Kong (Birkenhead) 70 and Lisbon 730 at WoodsideHong Kong (Birkenhead) 70 and Lisbon 730 seen stabled Woodside prior to their next working to Wirral Transport Museum 4.8.17 I spent an enjoyable couple of hours on the Birkenhead Tramway on Friday 4th August.   It was my first visit to the line and I was very impressed.   After getting off the ferry at Woodside, Lisbon 730 and Hong Kong 70 were waiting at the terminus.   Lisbon 730 was the service car, whilst Hong Kong 70 was out on Driver Training and was running just in front of the service car.

Hong Kong (Birkenhead) 70 was built in Hong Kong (to the same style as the famous Hong Kong double deckers) in 1992 along with sister car 69, which was in Taylor Street depot.   Both trams were delivered to and used occasionally on the Blackpool tramway until 1994 until the Birkenhead line was ready for testing.

Lisbon 730 was built in 1930 and spent many years operating on its native system before it was acquired for further use at the Seaton Tramway.   However this didn't happen and eventually after a period in store, 730 ended up at Birkenhead in 2004,  where it was restored (and reguaged from 2ft 11 7/16 inches to standard gauge), returning to service in 2006.     

After a short 5 minute journey to the Wirral Transport Museum, both trams waited before heading back to Woodside.

Inside the museum were 4 tramcars, these were:

Warrington 28: A 4-wheel G F Milnes car. This was originally car 2, which was withdrawn in the 1930s, and was used as a shelter on a bowling green at Cuddington until 1977.    It was based at St Helen's Bus Garage till 2004.   Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society began to procure parts to help with it's preservation.   The preservation will include a covered top deck with open balconies.   Number 2 did not run in this form but number 8 did so the tram will be numbered 28 when complete.

Liverpool Baby Grand 245: 245 moved to Birkenhead in 2006 and restoration started in 2010.   After 4 years of Hard work, 245 was completed and ready to grace the rails once more.

Liverpool Corporation Tramways 'English Electric' fully enclosed 8-wheel bogie car No.762. After withdrawal in 1956, the lower saloon was used as a clubhouse for the Newsham Park bowling green. The remains were rescued by the MTPS in 1977, and it was restored intermittently, arriving on the tramway on 6 February 2000. It entered public service in 2001.

Wallasey Corporation Tramways 'Bellamy' Brush 4-wheel car No.78. This tram was built in 1920, although it was old-fashioned in its design, having a covered central section of the upper deck, but open balconies at each end. On closure of the Wallasey system in 1933, it was used for storage on a farm in North Wales. The farmer gave it to the MTPS in 1986, and some initial restoration work was carried out in 1987. In 1997, the society obtained some Heritage Lottery Funding to allow them to complete the restoration, and the tram entered service in August 2002.

The museum also featured many photographs and displays from all the local and now closed tramways as well as some buses, cars and motorbikes from the local area.   There was also a model railway.

After visiting the museum, it was time to catch Lisbon 730 back to Woodside.   Once again, Hong Kong 70 followed behind and the pair were once again stabled at the terminus.

158836+158837 at ChesterArriva Trains Wales liveried 158836+158837 wait at Chester prior to departure with 1G30 Chester - Birmingham International 6.8.17 I was at Chester over the weekend, here are my sightings:

6.8.17

An unidentified pair of Arriva Class 158's and a class 153 on the rear pass Chester Racecourse with 1G26 Chester - Birmingham International

142044 seen stabled at Chester

Arriva Trains Wales liveried 158836+158837 wait at Chester prior to departure with 1G30 Chester - Birmingham International

175003 and 175010 seen stabled in the DMU sidings to the north of Chester Station

Arriva Trains Wales 175105 prepares to depart Chester with 1H88 Holyhead - Manchester Piccadilly

Colas Track Machines DR73921 and DR73922 at Chester

Mersey Travel liveried 3rd rail unit 508131 departs Chester with 2C46 Chester - Chester via Liverpool Central

7.8.17

67022 approaches Chester Racecourse with 1D34 Manchester Piccadilly - Holyhead Arriva Trains Wales Loco Hauled service

a pair of unidentified Class 221's pass Chester Racecourse with 1D83 London Euston - Holyhead

an unidentified class 158 passes Chester Racecourse with 1D12 Birmingham International - Holyhead via Chester service

On the way home, there was an unexpected stop off in Southport

507007+508126 prepare to depart Southport with 2U41 Southport - Hunts Cross

3rd rail Mersey Travel liveried 508136 and 507017 at Southport

150119 and 150218 seen at Southport

142070 at Southport

508136 and 508117 at Southport

507021 and 508117 at Southport

37219+37421 at Crawford37219 top and tailed with 37421 head north near Crawford with 1Q74 Carlisle Wapping Sidings - Mossend via Ayr, Carstairs South Junction and Shotts 2.8.17 I headed out this afternoon to catch the Colas test train.   My intention was to catch it at Carstairs South Junction.

I headed there but as I approached, I saw 66731 heading round the curve at Carstairs East Junction.

66731 with 6S50 Carlisle Yard - Millerhill Departmental

The heavens opened shortly afterwards so I decided to head further south to Crawford to catch the Colas test train, which I did, closely followed by a 68/66 combo.

37219 top and tailed with 37421 1Q74 Carlisle Wapping - Mossend Yard via Ayr, Carstairs South Junction and Shotts

68007+66429 pass with a Carlisle Kingmoor - Motherwell TMD Light engine move

There are currently 2 adverts on the Edinburgh trams, the first is 251 with 'Tramspotting' all over advert and revynaled in the past couple of days tram 261 is wearing a vynal advertising the Edinburgh Festival.   Both are seen at Ingliston Park and Ride on 28.7.17.

251 at Ingliston Park and Ride251 in Tramspotting all over advert is seen at Ingliston Park and Ride with an Edinburgh Airport - York Place 28.7.17 Tram 251 in 'Tramspotting' advert     

261 at Ingliston Park and Ride261 in its new vynal wrap for the Edinburgh Festival waits at Ingliston Park and Ride with an Edinburgh Airport - York Place Service 28.7.17 Tram 261 in Edinburgh Festival advert

The other side of Tram 261's advert 261 at Ingliston Park and Ride261 in its new vynal wrap for the Edinburgh Festival heads away from Ingliston Part and Ride with a York Place - Edinburgh Airport Service 28.7.17

68017 at Camelon68017 approaches Camelon with 5G13 Motherwell TMD - Edinburgh Waverley Fife Circle ECS 28.7.17 I spent a couple of hours at Camelon this afternoon, here are my sightings:

68017 approaches Camelon with 5G13 Motherwell TMD - Edinburgh Waverley Fife Circle ECS

170460 pauses at Camelon with 2P32 Dunblane - Edinburgh Waverley

158726 arrives at Camelon with 2J72 Glasgow Queen Street - Falkirk Grahamston

170456 waits at Camelon with 2P34 Dunblane - Edinburgh Waverley

158726 arrives at Camelon with 2J73 Falkirk Grahamston - Glasgow Queen Street

60095 approaches Camelon with 6R46 Prestwick - Grangemouth tanks

66135 passes through Camelon with 6M80 Grangemouth - Sinfin Sidings Aviation Fuel tanks

47749 at BargeddieColas liveried 47749 passes through Bargeddie with 0Z47 Polmadie - Mossend light engine move 27.7.17 I spent 30 minutes at Bargeddie this afternoon, here is my sightings:

320319+320415 arrive at Bargeddie with 2R40 Dalmuir - Whifflet

56094 passes through Bargeddie with 6R46 Prestwick - Grangemouth oil tanks

318252+320413 depart Bargeddie with 2S01 Motherwell - Dalmuir

Colas liveried 47749 passes through Bargeddie with 0Z47 Polmadie - Mossend light engine move

66737 at Carstairs66737 with 4 flats heads south from Carstairs with 6M63 Glen Douglas MOD - Carlisle Yard wagon move 25.7.17 An unexpected early finish led to an afternoon of spotting!

I wasnt expecting to get out spotting today but an unexpected early finish at work meant an afternoon out!

First I headed to Carstairs for 66737 with 4 flats heading south with 6M63 Glen Douglas MOD - Carlisle Yard wagon move

then went to Greenfaulds and saw the following:

68017 with 5G13 Motherwell - Edinburgh Waverley Fife Circle ECS move

318257+320415 with 2F01 Cumbernauld - Dalmuir

320309 departs with 2V54 Cumbernauld - Dumbarton Central

334010 arrives with 2V56 Dumbarton Central - Cumbernauld

156496 arrives with 2J71 Falkirk Grahamston - Glasgow Queen Street

158789 arrives with 2J72 Glasgow Queen Street - Falkirk Grahamston

318253+318252 arrive at Greenfaulds with 2C02 Milngavie - Cumbernauld

60085 approaches with 6R46 Prestwick - Grangemouth oil tanks

90039+90040 at Carstairs90039+90040 approach Float Viaduct with 6M76 Mossend to Warrington Arpley 24.7.17 I spent 30 minutes at a gloriously sunny Carstairs and caught 3 freights in that time!   Here are my sightings:

88007 heads south from Carstairs with 4M48 Mossend - Daventry containers

90039+90040 approach Float Viaduct with 6M76 Mossend to Warrington Arpley

86609+86622 approach Float Viaduct south of Carstairs with 4L81 Coatbridge - London Gateway Containers