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Winter 2009/10
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Manx Electric Railway 2009 Review |
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 A comprehensive review of the Manx Electric Railway from 2009, filmed in 16:9 widescreen for maximum viewing pleasure!
SPRING: The first day of operation on the MER in 2009 was Monday 6th April. Matters got off to a bad start as just three weeks previous, the majority of the fleet were taken out of service with cracked axles. A shortage of trams on this first day forced Saloon Trailer 57 into service and with car 21 towing it, these two worked the 09.40 from Douglas on the first day. The MER was running again! SUMMER: Extended highlights of the enthusiast events, plus the IOM 30 group private hires and TLP tours. Trams featured include: 1+51 and 9+59 to Ramsey; 2+44 to Groudle; 16 single motor at Garwick; 16+60 to Ramsey; Saloon trailers on service; car 1 solo to Ramsey; cars 32+51+46 all together on a TLP tour; 22+57 to Laxey in the evening; car 9 solo to Ramsey in the evening; works car 34 with 51 to Ramsey; various diesels hauling trailers; trailer 51 in service; unusual crossovers in use; car 32 on a private hire; service cars 5, 6, 9, 19, 21 and 22 plus the new Laxey car shed; the day a low-loader brought the wires down; the Laxey Mines Railway and so much more.
AUTUMN: With just a skeleton service during October and winter closure again, this day in September provides one last look at the MER from 2009. Various trams are featured.
This is No.27 in a series of programmes about the Manx Electric Railway. Originally produced two or three times a year, the decline in the number of trams used, matched with extended periods of closure, no winter service and fewer filming opportunities, has resulted in the change of format to an annual review. If you were buying the Manx Electric Railway DVD previously, this is simply two programmes in one, covering the entire year in 100 minutes and, for the first time, filmed entirely in widescreen.
To order Manx Electric Railway 2009 Review click here. This DVD will now be released in the first week of January. Apologies for the delay. |
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Western Train Restored DVD... AVAILABLE NOW |
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 It's back, it's bigger, it's brighter and it's more beautful than ever before...
it's Blackpool's world famous Western Train Illuminated tram.
This is the story of how, after ten years out of service and a two year restoration job, this majestic creature rose from the ashes back to the promenade. Jointly financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Blackpool Transport, once again Blackpool and it's visitors can enjoy the sights and sounds of this wonderful tramcar as it glides through the Illuminations. Smoke even comes out of the chimney!
With full access granted and produced in co-operation with Blackpool Transport this is the story of how a derelict wreck was stripped to a shell and rebuilt piece by piece.
The story of this Blackpool icon begins in the 1960s and with regular appearances each autumn through to the 1990s the tram is established as a firm favourite. Then it's 1999 and its final year in service. Withdrawn due to its condition, the scrapman was looming and the end was near. Hidden at the back of the depot, the tram was dragged in two halves to Fleetwood for the Tram Sunday event in 2003. This was its last public appearance. Again the trams lay rotting away in the depot. In October 2006 it was announced that Blackpool Transport had been successful in securing a £278,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The train was coming back!  Work began in April 2007 and the trams were stripped to a shell. Over the next two years the painful job of restoring these trams was recorded in detail. From new timbers and framework, to rewiring, panelling and painting. See the trams as they move from workshop to workshop and then the testing begins. Coupled up, the trams go 'live' for the first time; the first test run on the prom; the first private hire and the official launch in May 2009.
TRAMS magazine hired the train for a special night journey to Fleetwood in June 2009. See the trams as no-one has ever seen them before, at Cleveleys, Broadwater, Ash Street and Lord Street in Fleetwood at 3am! Finally, the story is completed... back on the prom and running through the Illuminations, just as they were built to, 50 years earlier!
This is the story of a Blackpool icon. From zero to hero in two years, the Western Train has been restored and this is the full story of how it was done.
Order Blackpool's Western Train Restored here.
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Western Train Restored DVD... AVAILABLE NOW |
|
It's back, it's bigger, it's brighter and it's more beautful than ever before...
it's Blackpool's world famous Western Train Illuminated tram. This is the story of how, after ten years out of service and a two year restoration job, this majestic creature rose from the ashes back to the promenade. Jointly financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Blackpool Transport, once again Blackpool and it's visitors can enjoy the sights and sounds of this wonderful tramcar as it glides through the Illuminations. Smoke even comes out of the chimney!
With full access granted and produced in co-operation with Blackpool Transport this is the story of how a derelict wreck was stripped to a shell and rebuilt piece by piece.
The story of this Blackpool icon begins in the 1960s and with regular appearances each autumn through to the 1990s the tram is established as a firm favourite. Then it's 1999 and its final year in service. Withdrawn due to its condition, the scrapman was looming and the end was near. Hidden at the back of the depot, the tram was dragged in two halves to Fleetwood for the Tram Sunday event in 2003. This was its last public appearance. Again the trams lay rotting away in the depot. In October 2006 it was announced that Blackpool Transport had been successful in securing a £278,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The train was coming back! Work began in April 2007 and the trams were stripped to a shell. Over the next two years the painful job of restoring these trams was recorded in detail. From new timbers and framework, to rewiring, panelling and painting. See the trams as they move from workshop to workshop and then the testing begins. Coupled up, the trams go 'live' for the first time; the first test run on the prom; the first private hire and the official launch in May 2009.
TRAMS magazine hired the train for a special night journey to Fleetwood in June 2009. See the trams as no-one has ever seen them before, at Cleveleys, Broadwater, Ash Street and Lord Street in Fleetwood at 3am! Finally, the story is completed... back on the prom and running through the Illuminations, just as they were built to, 50 years earlier!
This is the story of a Blackpool icon. From zero to hero in two years, the Western Train has been restored and this is the full story of how it was done. |
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Trams Magazine issue 47 - Winter 2009/10 |
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Written by Editor
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If you're interested in the Blackpool Tramway and the Manx Electric Railway then TRAMS magazine is for you.
Published four times a year - March, June, September and December - each issue is packed (and we mean packed) with extensive news, features, articles and colour photographs from the previous three months.
If you want to know what's really going on then TRAMS is an absolute must.
TRAMS magazine 47 is available now, 64 glossy colour pages bursting with colour photographs and articles including: Full coverage of the final weekends, farewell tours and closures of the Starr Gate to Pleasure Beach and Ash Street to Fleetwood Ferry sections of the tramway; The tramway upgrade for 'Supertrams' begins; Update on the Starr Gate depot residents dispute; 722 is scrapped; Overhaul of Boat 600 begins; The Western Train wins an award; Trams magazine takes over North Pier shop!; Mad Wednesday - the best day for the tramway in years; 2010 Anniversary celebrations details announced; Preservation and fleet news; End of year fleet review; Boxing Day tram quiz; Bus fleet news; Manx Electric news from the autumn plus numerous high quality colour photographs. We also give you all the Manx Electric news stories from the summer, plus fleet news and lots more colour photographs! Join the 1000-strong army of enthusiasts already reading the magazine - by taking out a subscription to what is surely the cheapest tram magazine in the world!
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 January 2010 11:59 |
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Trams Magazine No.46 has SOLD OUT! |
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Due to huge demand, the latest issue of Trams Magazine has completely sold out...! (All 1500 copies SOLD)
To be sure you don't ever miss an issue you can subscribe here for only £9.00 per year.
If you're interested in the Blackpool Tramway and the Manx Electric Railway then TRAMS magazine is for you.
Published four times a year - March, June, September and December - each issue contains 64 glossy colour pages packed (and we mean packed) with extensive news, features, articles and colour photographs from the previous three months. Plus bus fleet, preservation and historical articles, LTT update and our updated tram fleet list. Join the army of enthusiasts already reading the magazine - by taking out a subscription to what is surely the cheapest tram magazine in the world! |
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