Hi, Welcome to my blog. It will contain my latest sightings, links to my latest photos and info pages and any relevant news updates. It will be updated when possible.
Glasgow 1017 at Summerlee 25.8.18
I went to Summerlee for a quick wander round late yesterday afternoon, as I walked round, I saw Glasgow 1017 stabled just outside the depot.
Glasgow 1017 has a long and fascinating history, she was built in 1904 by the British and Electric Car Company by the Paisley and District Tramways as number 17. The tram was originally a double decked open top unvestibuled tram. When the Paisley system was bought over by Glasgow Corporation Tramways, 17 became 1017 and still operated in it's original form for a time.
1017 was cut down to a single deck tram and fitted with a short trolley tower and enclosed driver's platforms around 1930 and found it's way onto the Clydebank - Duntocher route (later service 20), which required single deck trams due to a low railway bridge on the route. After the route closed in 1949, 1017 found a new role as the Motor School (Driver Training) car and paint shop shunter at Coplawhill depot, where it served until 1960 in this role.
On withdrawal, the body of 1017 found a new use as a hut and meeting room for the STMS in a garden in Cambuslang. In the 1990's 1017 found it's way to Summerlee, where it was restored to 1930's condition and entered service on the 1/2 mile long tramway in 2002. T
he tram still sees regular use along with Lanarkshire 53 and Dusseldorf 392. They should be joined in the future by Glasgow Coronation 1245.
Gibb and Hogg Ltd steam loco at Summerlee 25.8.18
Gibb and Hogg Ltd steam loco, built in 1898 and the only loco built by that company still in existence is seen in the museum at Summerlee. The loco spent most of it's working life at Longlea Collery in Midlothian before moving to Cordowan Collery in 1965. In 1967 the loco moved to Pittencreiff Park in Dunfermilne before moving to Summerlee in 1989.
43135 tnt 43036 at Bridge of Allan 24.8.18
plain blue liveried 43135 top and tailed with Scotrail 7 cities liveried 43036 with 4 former First Great Western Mark 3's sandwiched in between pass through Bridge of Allan with 2W46 Dundee - Stirling training run 24.8.18
Centenary 642's new livery 19.8.18
Sunday 19th August saw Centenary Car 642 make a return to service for the Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours after just over 2 years out of service. 642 had been sidelined awaiting repairs to a fault following one of the Gold weekends in 2016 (prior to the September Gold weekend as it didn't see any use then). The tram's paintwork had badly faded as it consisted of a yellow basecoat, which was applied in 2005 after it lost it's Mecca Bingo overall advert and had seen 6 years of constant exposure to the elements when in regular everyday service until 2011.
Prior to re-entering service 642 was fitted with retro style radiator grills, headlights and indicators, but retaining the basic shape of it's 1998 overhaul. The tram was repainted into a modern representation of it's 1995 Travelcard livery but advertising a number of different tickets for the Heritage service. The cab ends were repainted in the 1990's Green and Cream livery like the original did.
642 re-entered service working on Heritage route A between Pleasure Beach and Cabin / Bispham and Little Bispham
|
|
Blackpool Trams 17.8-19.8
I was in Blackpool from 17th - 19th August. I arrived mid afternoon on the Friday and the promenade heritage service was in operation with Balloon 717 and Brush Car 621 operating between Pleasure Beach and North Pier. Standard 147 was due to be working on the service however, 621 was a late replacement working on route B (operating the 2 extended afternoon journeys to Cabin). Balloon 715 operated the evening ghost tour to Fleetwood and back.
During the first three weekends in August, the heritage trams were extended to operate from Pleasure Beach - Bispham or Little Bispham on a 20 minute frequency (30 minutes between 12 and 2pm) using 4 trams instead of the usual 2. On the Saturday, the service was operated by Blackpool and Fleetwood 40 (route A), Standard 147 (route B), Bolton 66 (route C) and Balloon 717 (route D).
Sunday saw the return to service of Centenary car 642, which was making it's passenger debut in an up to date recreation of the Travelcard advert that the tram carried in 1995. 642, which hadn't ran since 2016, had previously carried a faded yellow basecoat, which it had carried since 2005. 642 debuted on Route A, with Balloon 715 on route B, Brush Car 621 on route C and Blackpool and Fleetwood 40 on route D (instead of the advertised Standard 147).
| A | B | C | D | Ghost Tour | |
| Friday | 717 | 621 | 715 | ||
| Saturday | 40 | 147 | 66 | 717 | |
| Sunday | 642 | 715 | 621 | 40 |
Manchester Metrolink 15.8 - 17.8
A 3 day visit to Manchester allowed me the chance to sample the Manchester Metrolink! With 120 M5000 trams and a further 27 on order, Manchester Metrolink has the largest fleet of trams in the country.
Some of the best locations in the city centre include St Peter's Square, the Delta triangle at Picadilly Gardens and Victoria Station. These 3 spots will allow you to see everything that is running on a particular day.
The MediacityUK terminus area is another good spot with all the modern architecture around the area and Salford Quays on the Eccles line is also decent.
The rest of my photos from the visit can be found at https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p1017512799
Edinburgh Tram 276's advert
I returned to Edinburgh earlier in the week to try and get some photographs of Edinburgh tram 276 in it's Edinburgh Dungeon livery.
Luckily 276 was the very first tram that I saw that day!
The livery, the same on both sides of the tram, advertises their Braveheart's revenge show, which opened in June 2018.
Also of note, one of the panels on 257's #jointhepact advert has been changed on either side of the tram to show a person signing their name on a wall full of signatures.
|
|
|
