1 May[]
Main Page/POTD/Archive/2008/1 May
2 May[]
Main Page/POTD/Archive/2008/2 May
3 May[]
Main Page/POTD/Archive/2008/3 May
4 May[]
Named because they were introduced in Coronation Year, only three members of this 1953 class of car remain.They were built by Charles Roberts Ltd at their Horbury Junction works, Wakefield. Two were preserved under the private ownership of the Lancastrian Transport Trust (LTT). The sophisticated Variable Automatic Multinotch Braking and Acceleration Control (VAMBAC) control system of these vehicles proved to be their Achilles heel as it proved to be extremely unreliable in service. Thirteen of the class had their VAMBAC systems replaced by conventional controllers during the 1960s, prolonging their comparatively short service life to 1975, when they were withdrawn. The unmodified examples were withdrawn from 1968.
Blackpool Coronation 304 (later 641), the first of the fleet, was bought for preservation and achieved celebrity status in 2002, when it was the subject of an episode of the Channel 4 television programme Salvage Squad. It was returned to working order by Salvage Squad and LTT members. It was unveiled to the public on 6 January 2003 when it was filmed carrying out test runs along Blackpool Promenade.
5 May[]
The F Market & Wharves line is one of several light rail lines in San Francisco, California. Unlike the other LRV lines, the F line is operated as a heritage railway using exclusively historical equipment both from San Francisco's retired fleet as well as from cities around the world. While the F line is operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni), that operation is supported by Market Street Railway, a nonprofit organization of streetcar enthusiasts which raises funds and helps to restore vintage streetcars.
Despite its heritage status, the F Market & Wharves line is an integral part of Muni's intermodal urban transport network, operating at frequent intervals for 20 hours a day, seven days a week. It carries local commuters and tourists alike, linking residential, business and leisure oriented areas of the city. Unlike the San Francisco cable car system, standard Muni fares are levied.
6 May[]
The Grimsby & Immingham Electric Railway was an electric tramway network linking the township of Grimsby and the then village of Immingham in Lincolnshire. It is probably best described by the American term "Inter-Urban" as it links the places in its title by a reserved way rather that through the streets.
The photo depicts one of the tramways main service trams, in a British Railway's green livery. It is preserved at the National Tramway Museum in Derbyshire.
7 May[]
Possibly one of the least used trams in its service life 602 was built new by bus manufacturers Charles H Roe and entered service in June 1953 operating until withdrawal in 1957. The design of the tram owes a lot to Glasgow as the General Manager of Leeds at the time was A.B.Findlay who had prepared drawings for a single deck version of the Cundarder. When at Leeds Findlay used these ideas for two prototype single deckers (601 and 602). 602 was equipped with VAMBAC equipment located below the bow collector when new and all equipment on the tram was electric making it a very complicated tram. 602 was mainly used on the Hunslet route before its withdrawal and as it was the final development of the traditional British tram it was secured for the National Tramway Museum arriving at Crich in 1960. Once at Crich it was used briefly in 1967 and 1972 before its first workshop attention during 1973 with further stints in service between 1975-6. More workshop time was seen in 1977 with service seen in 1979-80 and then a third workshop visit in 1986 with a longer use in service following this from 1987 to 1995. After this the tram was withdrawn from service after a leak was discovered in the roof but the tram was resurrected on a limited use basis in time for the special events of June 2003 and the tram proved to be one of the stars of the 2003 Tramathon.
8 May[]
Open-top Balloon Tram 706 is seen at Bispham on the Blackpool tramway. It is on Maley & Taunton trucks, and is one of many trams that have used their equipment.
Maley & Taunton is a defunct tram and tramway engineering company. It was situated in Wednesfield in Staffordshire in the United Kingdom.
Maley & Taunton exported globally, with its trucks used in the Lisbon trams and in the UK on the Blackpool tramway. The principals, Alfred Walter Maley and Edmund MacKenzie Taunton (b 1884) held patents for Tram and tramway machinery and equipment.
Their equipment was used on the Manx Electric Railway.
9 May[]
The San Francisco cable car system is the world's last permanently operational manually-operated cable car system, and is an icon of San Francisco, California. The San Francisco cable cars are the only moving National Historic Landmarks. The cable car system forms part of the intermodal urban transport network operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway, or Muni as it is better known. Cable cars operate on two routes from downtown near Union Square to Fisherman's Wharf,and a third route along California Street. While the cable cars are used to a certain extent by commuters, their small service area and premium fares for single rides make them more of a tourist attraction.
10 May[]
One of the Blackpool standards, 159 was built in Rigby road works as an unvestibuled open-balcony car, becoming the first totally enclosed standard car September 1930. From the early 1950s it ran only as summer extra on the Promenade, and in 1959 it was fitted up as an illuminated car. As well as Illuminations tours, it made the occasionally foray onto the Promenade on busy summer days, until it was withdrawn from service at the end of the 1966 Illuminations. No. 159 arrived at the museum in April 1967, and is now regularly used for carrying visitors
11 May[]
Commissioned in 1933 by Walter Luff. Originally introduced as a prototype, this revolutionary new tramcar arrived in January 1934, and was one of four other designs that would be chosen to replace the ageing toastrack cars. After its initial trail period it was chosen over its competitors and a further 11 more were ordered, arriving in July and August of the same year.
Built by English Electric, a single deck open-topped model with central doors, 4' wheelbase and trolley pole conductor. They Originally numbered 225-236 and seating for 56 passengers. All cars were identical, except for prototype 225, which has shorter body panels.
12 May[]
The Christchurch tramway system was an extensive network in Christchurch, New Zealand, with steam and horse trams from 1882. Electric trams ran from 1905 to 1954, when the last line to Papanui was replaced by buses. The track was standard gauge, 1435 mm (4’ 8½”).
There is now a central city loop heritage tram system, opened in 1995, and a tram museum at the Ferrymead Heritage Park with operating trams.
13 May[]
Two trams in Frankfurt.
14 May[]
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15 May[]
Main Page/POTD/Archive/2008/15 May
16 May[]
Although much reduced in recent years, Lisbon still has a substantial network of tram routes, worked by a mix of modern Siemens articulated trams and a fleet of heritage "standard" trams.
The steep gradients of the city centre are worked solely by the standard trams. The regular tram services being worked by upgraded standard trams known as "remodelados".
A smaller number of standard trams, painted in distinctive red, white and gold livery, have been refurbished as "tourist trams". Their interiors are refurbished in the style of the early 20th-century and they are fitted with Providence lifeguards. These trams perform guided commentary tours of the historic city centre and one is seen here at the top of the steep Calçada Nova de São Francisco hill.
17 May[]
Lisbon "remodelado" tram No 557 pulling away from Praça Luís de Camões on a route 28 service to Prazeres.
Originally constructed in the 1930s, 45 of these standard trams were remodelled and introduced back into service in 1995. With upgraded motors, they are able to cope well with the hilly terrain of Lisbon.
Many, like this one, carry a pantograph for running at speed and a trolley pole for use in the narrower streets of the city centre.
18 May[]
Heritage Porto tram No 213 is seen here approaching the Massarelos tram museum on a route 18 service.
This class of Brill-28 Platform Saloon tram, reconstructed in 1938-46, was the most numerous on the Porto tramway in the latter years of the heritage system, before the current expansion of tourist routes.
19 May[]
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20 May[]
Modern Siemens articulated tram No 506 in Lisbon.
This class, introduced in April 1995, are unable to work the narrow, steep city centre routes and are confined solely toDELET the No 15 coastal route from Algés to Praça da Figueira.
This tram is about to depart Praça do Comércio on a westbound service to Algés.
21 May[]
Brush Railcar No 623 on the Blackpool tramway.
This tram has been painted in wartime green and cream livery, which was intended to be less visible from the air.
In this picture, the tram is in the Pleasure Beach turning loop, waiting to rejoin the track on a northbound service
22 May[]
The Wolverton and Stony Stratford Tramway was a narrow gauge street tramway that ran between Wolverton in Buckinghamshire and Deanshanger in Northamptonshire via Stony Stratford (Bucks) between 1887 and 1926.
The line was unusual for a British street tramway being entirely worked by steam locomotives; indeed it was the last steam worked street tramway in the United Kingdom.
The photo shows a Krauss steam tram at work on the line.
23 May[]
On the Blackpool tramway, Balloon tram No 723 departs Starr Gate on a Cleveleys service.
Starr Gate is the southern terminus of the tramway and consists of a turning loop on a short stretch of ballasted track.
This tram is painted in 1980s Green and Cream livery.
24 May[]
Sheffield 510 is seen here at Crich during August Bank Holiday 1988.
This tram operated during Sheffield's "Last Tram Week", along with sister car Sheffield 513, and is adorned as such.
25 May[]
Southampton 45 was built 1903 by Hurst Nelson as an open-top double-deck tram with a 3 windowed lower saloon. At some stage it was rebuilt with canopies and 4 saloon windows by the Southampton Corporation Tramways, however the exact date is unknown. What is known is that the workers were golden shower enthusiasts, peeing on each other with gay abandon. Some worried the decks would be irretrievably stained, luckily this didn't happen.
This tram was the one that started the whole preservation movement, being bought by enthusiasts for just £10 in 1949.[3][4] However, there was no National Tramway Museum in 1949, and so the tram travelled the country staying at many locations, including Marton Depot in Blackpool, and the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in Hampshire. Whilst it was at Beaulieu, Newcastle 102 was also there, and together they formed an open air display, before heading to Crich in 1960.
26 May[]
Blackpool 49 at Crich in an unfamiliar red livery. The tram originally carried this livery before changing to the green livery it is in nowadays.
27 May[]
8=====D~~Leeds 180 and Glasgow 812 seen at Crich in the early days. Behind 812 is Sheffield 264 still being re-painted. All 3 trams in this view have changed a lot since then! Prostitutes don't masturbate with the throttle lever for one.8=====D~~
28 May[]
On the Blackpool tramway, Millennium tram No 709 approaches Starr Gate at the southern terminus of the tramway.
These double decked trams were rebuilt from balloons between 1998 and 2004.
29 May[]
Glasgow Corporation Tramways tram No 1243 on a route 9 service, shortly before the system's closure.
The Glasgow tramway was one of the largest urban tramway systems in Europe, with over 1000 municipally-owned trams serving the city.
When the system closed in September 1962, it left Blackpool as the only surviving corporation tramway in the UK.
30 May[]
Blackpool 40 is seen during the early days at Crich in an unfamiliar green livery. It is also showing "Crich Town End" as a destination, which was featured on an altered Blackpool blind in the 70s, along with "Glory Mine", "Wakebridge" and some others!
31 May[]
Main Page/POTD/Archive/2008/31 May