274 at Gogar Depot274 seen up on jacks in the maintenance shed at the west end of Gogar Depot 29.9.18 I managed to get a ticket for the Edinburgh Trams depot open day on Saturday 29th September.    The depot tour took in a visit to the main building, where we met the training staff, and did a quiz in groups! On the particular tour I was on, all 4 groups scored 2 points each, winning an Edinburgh Trams squishy stress toy! We then got to see the main operations room, where we saw the live map showing the position of the 12 trams in service and whether they were on time or not as well  as finding out about the different roles of the team members who worked there. As there was live CCTV images on the screens in the room, we weren't allowed to photograph this particular area.

Next we were taken to the engineering sheds, where trams 260 and 268 were over the pits for maintenance, 258 was at the west end of the sheds. 258 was receiving repairs having been out of service since June when a bus collided with it, causing 2 sections to derail. We then saw tram 274, which was lifted up on jacks for maintenance. Finally in the shed, we got the chance to view tram 272's roof from the overhead gantry that ran the length of the tram, allowing a closer look at some of the circuit boxes and to see the pantograph close up.

We then went to the sanding shed, where tram 252 was waiting for us to take us round to the yard via the tram wash! Once at the yard, we got to take photos of the driving cabs on board tram 254 and ask one of the drivers some questions about the tram. We then got to see some of the engineering vehicles and some of the attachments for the Unimog.

The final part of the tour was to a small souvenir stand, where for a small donation to Edinburgh Tram's chosen charity, you could get some goodies to take away including: advertising posters, pens, the Edinburgh Trams annual, a cardboard model of a tram and a squishy tram.   We also got to keep our special High-Vis vests that we wore on the way round the depot.   Then it was then the end of the tour.

Thank you to the Edinburgh Trams staff for an excellent day!  

More Photos from the event can be found at : https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p73287662

016 at CabinFlexity 016 in all over advert livery for prettylittlething.com pauses at Cabin with a service from Starr Gate - Fleetwood 24.9.18 In the past month, Blackpool Flexities 003 and 016 have received all over adverts for prettylittlething.com.   The adverts consist of a pink basecoat with white unicorns all over the body, with prettylittlething.com displayed in black letters. Fortunately the windows have been kept clear of contravision.

Both trams have received identical adverts.

In the photo on the right, Flexity 016 is seen at Cabin on a Starr Gate - Fleetwood service on 24th September

711 and 642 at North PierBalloon 711 returns to Rigby Road after a day stabled at North Pier as the shop tram while Centenary 642 approaches with a heritage service to Pleasure Beach 23.9.18 Friday 21st September

I arrived in a very windy Blackpool at 2pm and Brush Car 621 and Ex towing Railcoach 680 were working an afternoon Heritage service from 1.30-5.00pm between Pleasure Beach and North Pier / Cabin.  The tramway was in chaos after 4.30pm due to an issue with the overhead line and high winds meaning the tramway was closed temporarily between Starr Gate and Manchester Square.

Into the evening and the Fireworks championship entry for the night had been cancelled due to the weather.  The prom was quieter than a normal Illuminations Friday night, meaning only 2 trams out on illuminations tours.  Frigate 736 and the Western Train 733+734 were used with Trawler 737 being used for the Ghost tram tour to Fleetwood and back.

Saturday 22nd September

Saturday was a lot calmer with a cool breeze and alot of cloud about.   There was a number of heritage trams out on the enhanced heritage services during the day.  711 was stabled at North Pier for the day as the Shop tram. 719 was used on the depot shuttle between Rigby Road Depot and Starr Gate. 621 and 717 operated a heritage service between Starr Gate and Fleetwood, while 40, 147, 600, 631, 642, 701, 715, 718 and 723 operated heritage services and specials between Pleasure Beach and North Pier / Cabin / Bispham / Little Bispham / Cleveleys and Thornton Gate.

At Rigby Road, there was a display of trams along the fitting shop wall and on the depot fan in connection with the depot tours.   Brush Car 634, Balloon 703 (still in Sunderland livery) and open top balloon 706 were on display along the fitting shop wall and Jubilee 761, Halle 902 and Engineering tram 754 on the depot fan.

On to the evening and there was 6 trams out on Illuminations tours. 733+734, 736, 147, 701, 718 and 723 saw use during the night with each tram doing 2 tours.

Sunday 23rd September

During the week before heading to Blackpool, the forecast for Sunday was for heavy rain all day, however it turned out to be a fine sunny day! Again there was plenty of trams out. 711 once again had the role of shop tram. 713 started as the depot shuttle tram, however it failed at Manchester Square on it's first trip and was towed back to depot. 719 replaced 713 for the remainder of it's duties. 701 and 715 operated between Starr Gate, with 40, 66, 600, 621, 642, 648, 680, 717, 718 and 737 operating the remainder of the specials and heritage services.

At Rigby Road, 634, OMO 8 and open top Balloon 706 were on display at the Fitting shop wall, while Jubilee 761, Brush 631 and Coronation 304 were on display on the depot fan.   I went on the 11am tour of the depot and Balloon 703, Brush 634, Boat 230 (604) and Twin Car 675+685 were in the electrical compound. Standard 143 was in the Fitting shop, Birkenhead 20 in the Body shop along with the lower saloon of Lytham 43 and Glasgow 1016. Boat 227 (602) was in the paint shop and is due to return to service in a couple of weeks time. In the main depot, the City Tram (former Trampower 611), Brush 625, Balloons 708, 723 and 726, Millennium Balloons 707, 709 and 724, Hovertram 735, Rocket 732, The Western Train, the Frigate and Coronation 660 were visible.   At Starr Gate, Flexities 005 and 011 were in the storage shed, while 007, 014 and 017 were in the maintenance shed.

On to the evening and 737 was out on a private hire, whilst 733+734 and 736 were joined by Balloons 700, 711 and 719 on illuminations tours, however the 3 balloons only did 1 tour each.

Monday 24th September

I was in Blackpool till 1pm and it was only Flexities out in service.   Interestingly, Flexities 003 and 016 have received a pink all over advert for Prettylittlething.com.

Overall it was a fantastic weekend with plenty of trams to see. My full gallery of photos can be found at: https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p725771107

314207 at Glasgow Centraldebranded SPT Carmine and Cream liveried 314207 prepares to depart Glasgow Central with 2D25 12.12 Glasgow Central - Paisley Canal 1.9.18 After service on 21st September, the first of the class 314's were withdrawn from service.   Carmine and Cream examples: 314207 and 314213 were withdrawn along with Scotrail liveried 314212.   This reduces the servicable fleet from 16 down to 13.  All 3 withdrawn sets were moved to Yoker depot for storage until they are returned back to Angel Trains, their leasing company.  

Lanarkshire 53 at SummerleeLanarkshire 53 at Summerlee Museum 15.9.18 I have been visiting Summerlee on and off since I was around 5 years old and today was the first ever time that I have seen Lanarkshire open topped tram 53 in service! I have seen the tram in the sheds before but it was great seeing it out on the short tramway that runs within the museum! The tram really does look fantastic and is a credit to the volunteers who have restored it! 

314210 at Glasgow Centraldebranded SPT Carmine and Cream liveried 314210 prepares to depart platform 14 at Glasgow Central with 2G69 11.06 service from Glasgow Central - Gourock 15.9.18 The class 314's are in their final months of service as they will be withdrawn when sufficient class 385's are in service to allow them to be replaced.   The is expected to be either later this year or into next year, so it is a case of ride them and photograph them while you can.

I've been in Glasgow at various times on Saturdays over the past 3 weeks but mainly in the morning and have noticed a pattern of workings during this time.   I have shared my observations below for anyone who is looking to photo / ride on the units. Hopefully they are of some use!

Observations

• Glasgow Central - Newton via Queens Park - worked by class 314, appears to be the same unit for most, if not all the day.
• Glasgow Central - Neilston -worked by 314's possibly 3x 3 car and 1x6 car. I've seen the 6 car working on the 10.57 from Neilston and the 17.35 departure from Central - Neilston in past couple of weeks.
• Glasgow Central - Paisley Canal - worked by 2 x 3 car 314's 
• Glasgow Central - Gourock - spotted 3 (possibly 4) class 314's on this working today, however there could have been more.

• Newton via Maxwell Park - appears to be worked by class 318 or class 320 for most of the daytime, but could possibly be a 314 early morning
• Cathcart Inner Circle - appears to be worked by a class 318 or 320 for most of the daytime, but could possibly be a 314 early morning
• Cathcart Outer Circle - appears to be worked by a class 318 or 320 for most of the daytime, but could possibly be a 314 early morning

There appears to be interworking between the Newton via Maxwell Park and circle services e.g. some of the time a unit coming off a Newton service goes on to do either an Inner or outer circle (or inner then outer or vice versa).

314209 at Glasgow CentralScotrail Saltire liveried 314209 prepares to depart Glasgow Central with 2D15 9.42 Glasgow Central - Paisley Canal 15.9.18	314202 at Glasgow Centraldebranded SPT Carmine and Cream liveried 314202 arrives into Platform 12 at Glasgow Central with 2P19 Newton - Glasgow Central via Queens Park 15.9.18	314215 at Paisley Gilmour Streetdebranded SPT Carmine and Cream liveried 314215 pauses at Paisley Gilmour Street with 2G75 10.05 Glasgow Central - Gourock 15.9.18	314211 at Paisley Gilmour StreetScotrail Saltire liveried 314211 pauses at Paisley Gilmour Street with 1G02 9.54 Gourock - Glasgow Central 15.9.18
Scotrail Saltire liveried 314209 prepares to depart Glasgow Central with 2D15 9.42 Glasgow Central - Paisley Canal 15.9.18	debranded SPT Carmine and Cream liveried 314202 arrives into Platform 12 at Glasgow Central with 2P19 Newton - Glasgow Central via Queens Park 15.9.18	debranded SPT Carmine and Cream liveried 314215 pauses at Paisley Gilmour Street with 2G75 10.05 Glasgow Central - Gourock 15.9.18	Scotrail Saltire liveried 314211 pauses at Paisley Gilmour Street with 1G02 9.54 Gourock - Glasgow Central 15.9.18
314211 and 314208 at Glasgow CentralScotrail liveried 314211 is seen at Glasgow Central having arrived with 1G02 9.54 service from Gourock, while 314208 prepares to leave with 2N28 10.35 to Neilston 15.9.18	314212 at Glasgow CentralScotrail Saltire liveried 314212 awaits departure from Glasgow Central with 2N32 11.05 Glasgow Central - Neilston 15.9.18	314201 at Glasgow Centraldebranded SPT Carmine and Cream liveried 314201 prepares to depart Glasgow Central with 2D21 11.12 service from Glasgow Central - Paisley Canal 15.9.18	314210 at Glasgow Centraldebranded SPT Carmine and Cream liveried 314210 prepares to depart platform 14 at Glasgow Central with 2G69 11.06 service from Glasgow Central - Gourock 15.9.18
Scotrail liveried 314211 is seen at Glasgow Central having arrived with 1G02 9.54 service from Gourock, while 314208 prepares to leave with 2N28 10.35 to Neilston 15.9.18	Scotrail Saltire liveried 314212 awaits departure from Glasgow Central with 2N32 11.05 Glasgow Central - Neilston 15.9.18	debranded SPT Carmine and Cream liveried 314201 prepares to depart Glasgow Central with 2D21 11.12 service from Glasgow Central - Paisley Canal 15.9.18	debranded SPT Carmine and Cream liveried 314210 departs Glasgow Central with 2G69 11.06 service from Glasgow Central - Gourock 15.9.18

For the 3rd time so far in 2018, Edinburgh Tram 271 has a new advert!

The new advert is for Parabola, the fourth Edinburgh Tram to carry an advert for this company.   The 4 advert sections have a unique design on each of them for 'Edinburgh City Vision 2050'. 

The tram re-entered service in this new livery on 10th September, having replaced the previous advert for Tiso which had only been applied in July!

37175 tnt 37607 at Greenfaulds37175 top and tailed with 37607 pass through Greenfaulds with 1Q77 Mossend - Inverness Network Rail PLPR test train 1.9.18 Colas liveried 37175 top and tailed with debranded DRS blue liveried 37607 (on loan from Harry Needle) pass through Greenfaulds with 1Q77 Mossend - Inverness Network Rail PLPR test train. The photo showe 37607 on the rear of the train.