263 at Gogar DepotCaf Urbos 263 is seen at Gogar Depot in its new advertising vynals for CR Smith. The advert locations are From Lossiemouth - Kinross with fighter planes and geese featuring in section 3/5. 3.9.17 Adverts 3 -6 of CR Smith's advertising contract for 18 trams have now been applied to the Edinburgh fleet.   Each advert features stunning artwork pairing iconic Scottish locations or images that reflects not only the geographical spread of CR Smith’s customer base, but also celebrates Scotland’s soul and personality.

The latest batch sees:

• Glasgow’s cone crowned Duke of Wellington with the white and orange striped lighthouse at Peterhead (260)
• Lossiemouth's RAF fighter plane and Kinross Geese (263)
• A Mountaineer climbing Glen Nevis and a diver at North Queensferry (261)
• A sandcastle on Troon Beach and Edinburgh Castle (272)

261's advert replaces the Edinburgh Festival advert that the tram carried during late July / August.   Unfortunately I didn't catch 260 but saw the other three.   Here are the advert sections of the 3 trams.

261's advert detailsome of the detail of 261's new advert 3.9.17	263's advert detailsome of the detail of 263's new advert for CR Smith 3.9.17	272 at Gyle Centresome of the detail of 272's new advert for CR Smith 3.9.17
261	263	272

  90048+90045 at HolytownFreightliner class 90's 90048 and 90045 pass through Holytown with 4M49 Mossend - Daventry intermodal 3.9.17 Freightliner class 90's 90048 and 90045 pass through Holytown with 4M49 Mossend - Daventry intermodal 3.9.17

37219 tnt 37421 at Greenfaulds37219 top and tailed with 37421 approach Greenfaulds with 1Q77 Mossend - Inverness Network Rail Test Train 2.9.17   a quick visit to Greenfaulds this afternoon and 2 sightings

334015 departs with 2V46 Dumbarton - Cumbernauld service

Colas liveried 37219 top and tailed with 37421 are seen approaching  Greenfaulds with 1Q77 Mossend - Inverness Network Rail Test Train

then on the way home, a quick stop off at Holytown for

66733 passing through with 6S45 North Blyth - Fort William Alcans

Blackpool Electric Locomotive (717) tows Blackpool Brush Car 630 at CrichBlackpool Electric Locomotive (717) tows Blackpool Brush Car 630 out of the workshops and then pushes it into the main depot at Crich 6.8.16 It has been announced that Brush Car 630 will be returning to the Blackpool Tramway from the National Tramway Museum at Crich on loan at some point soon.   The loan deal, which will allow 630 to remain in Blackpool until 2018, means that the tram will be able to take part in the Brush Car's 80th Anniversary celebrations taking place during the September Gold Weekend on 23rd and 24th September.   The deal will have an added benefit for Crich as the depot there is having its roof replaced this winter and the move will mean them having to find a place to temporarily store the tram, it will allow the tram to be stored undercover and gives Blackpool the advantage of having a heater fitted single decker to use on the heritage service.

630, like it's 19 sister cars were built by Brush of Loughborough in 1937, entering service in the same year.    Originally the inside of the Brush tramcars were considered to be the most luxurious trams ever built for British Tramways, with cushioned seating, heaters, clock and ceiling panels housing concealed lighting.    The Brush Cars have been a popular and reliable member of the Blackpool fleet for 80 years and were still seen in regular service until 2004 when a number of them were mothballed, however a handful survived in service until 2011.   Of the 20 trams built, 16 of them are still in existence in some form today.

630 was given a major overhaul in 1994/95 and featured low voltage lighting, trafficators, bumpers, new style lifeguards and fixed bus seats.   630 was the final Brush car to receive a major overhaul.    After many years of all year round use on the tramway on both service and specials and with the end of traditional tramway in sight, 630 was withdrawn from service in October 2011, just one week before the end for the traditional fleet.   630 was repainted into the 1990's livery carried when it first re-entered service in 1995 in preparation for its move to Crich.   630 entered service at Crich in 2012 and has seen use there ever since.   630's return to Blackpool will see all 4 of the active (or will be by September) Brush Cars (621, 623, 630 and 631) in service at the Gold Weekend, with a further 5 (624, 625, 627, 632 and 634) probably on display at the depot over that Gold Weekend.  

Further information on the Brush Cars can be found at my Blackpool Trams website http://blackpool-trams.yolasite.com/brush-trams.php 

44871 at Bo'nessBlack 5 44871 is seen stabled at Bo'ness 19.8.17 Black 5 44871 is seen stabled at Bo'ness

70804 at Camelon70804 approaches Camelon with 6S36 Dalston - Grangemouth tanks 19.8.17 70804 approaches Camelon with 6S36 Dalston - Grangemouth tanks

170472 at Camelon with 2P38 Dunblane - Edinburgh Waverley

66434 approaches Camelon with 4A13 Grangemouth - Aberdeen containers

66102 at Carstairs66102 leaves Carstairs with 4E99 Mossend - Tees Dock Containers18.8.17 380112 arrives at Carstairs with 1D59 Edinburgh Waverley - Glasgow Central

3250xx+0xx+014 head south through Carstairs with 1M44 Shieldmuir - Warrington Royal Mail Train

66303+66421 waits in the down goods loop at Carstairs with 6Z18 Carlisle Yard - Mossend engineering working 

66102 leaves Carstairs with 4E99 Mossend - Tees Dock Containers

44871 at CarstairsBlack 5 number 44871 departs the Down Goods Loop at Carstairs after taking on water whilst working 5Z78 Carnforth - Bo'ness loco and support coach move 17.8.17 Black 5 number 44871 stopped off in the Down Goods Loop at Carstairs this afternoon.   The loco and its support coach had stopped to take on water whilst working on 5Z78 Carnforth - Bo'ness loco and support coach move.   Arriving 15 minutes early, the loco was filled up with water before departing 1 minute early.