'Ipernity Trams & Tramways group

Saturday 4 July 2015 (1235) – Manchester Metrolink 3025 seen at Newhey working towards Rochdale. The white lettering on the taller building in on the right reads ‘Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Cotton Warehouse’. The tramway runs on the railway route constructed by the L&Y.

Saturday 4 July 2015 (1330) – Manchester Metrolink 3080 seen leaving Rochdale town centre for Ashton-under-Lyne. Between the terminus and just beyond Fleece Street it is just single track. The River Roch flows beneath this section of roadway under the town centre and to have had double track over the river covering would have required significant structural improvements to take the weight of two tram sets crossing at the same time.

Monday 16 June 2008 (1538) - The trams of VBZ (Verkehrsbetriebe der Stadt Zürich) reign supreme in the core area of Zürich city centre which is served by few VBZ buses. Seen in Bahnhofstrasse. Tram 2075 heads for Wollishofen, a suburb in the south west of the city, with an unidentified more modern car set working the northbound service 11 from Rehalp to Auzelg. Pedestrians seem to wander aimlessly across the paths of the trams which must mean the drivers have to be very diligent. If we had sound on this picture we could hear the siren of a police car trying to proceed towards the camera – but he just had to wait for the trams to clear. On special days the trams and buses carry flags. The red/white Swiss national flag and the light blue/white Zürich Canton flag were carried plus, although I am not sure why, the dark blue EU flag. (Switzerland isn’t in the EU).

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1514) – Midland Metro tram set 20 literally at the end of the line in Stephenson Street, Birmingham having just arrived from Priestfield. The passenger platforms are down the street where the people are crossing the tracks. The tram will soon move forward and switch to the track on the left side of the street to load for the next departure to Priestfield. Strangely enough the crossover is not visible in the photograph as it is hidden by the contour of the roadway or light. The two small gaps in the central white line show where the crossover is. There are plans to extend the line to Five Ways which will involve the trams making a diagonal turn into Pinfold Street out of shot behind the camera. The Metro fleet consists of 21 similar CAF Urbos 3 units (# 17-37) built in Spain which entered service in 2014-2015 replacing the original 16 Italian built trams (#1-16) which launched service May 1999.

Monday 8 March 2004 - This was the day before the opening of the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram system and a special service was in operation for invited guests including prizewinners of local competitions etc. Tram set 211 was seen in South Parade, the southern edge of Old Market Square, in the city centre. The city hall, ‘Council House’, dominates the backcloth upon which can be seen an advert for the new tram system. The initial fleet comprised 15 Bombardier Incentro AT6/5 5 segment articulated tram sets built in Derby.

Saturday 4 July 2015 (1327) – First Manchester 30958 (YJ51 RCZ), an Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL, seen leaving Rochdale on the 1325 service 58 to Middleton via Shaw, Oldham and Chadderton. Alongside is Metrolink tram set 3080 which was working to Ashton-under-Lyne. The tramway route travels a similar route via Oldham continuing to Manchester and Ashton.

Monday 16 June 2008 (1530) - VBZ (Verkehrsbetriebe der Stadt Zürich) tram 2105 seen in Bahnhofstrasse when working the northbound service 6 from Bahnhof Enge to the Zoo. (Travelling towards the camera). Trams reign supreme in the core area of Zürich city centre which is served by few VBZ buses. On special days the trams and buses carry flags. The red/white Swiss national flag and the light blue/white Zürich Canton flag were carried plus, although I am not sure why, the dark blue EU flag. (Switzerland isn’t in the EU)

Sunday 25 September 2016 (1004) – Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram 216 seen in High Road, Chilwell heading towards Toton Lane Park and Ride site. Upon reaching the traffic lights which may be seen in the background, the trams cross the main carriageway to reach the platforms of the stop at ‘High Road Central College’. Beyond there they run on a reserved section of track through to Toton Lane. The traffic lights are outside the former office and garage of Barton Transport. It was numerically the first tram of the second batch of trams new in 2013-2014 numbered 216-237.

Saturday 4 July 2015 (1328) – First Manchester 37381 (MX58 DWM), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL, seen in Smith Street, Rochdale heading for Manchester on service 17 via Middleton – a route and number little changed from the early days of buses run jointly by Rochdale and Manchester Corporations. Alongside is Metrolink tram set 3080 heading for Manchester via Oldham and then on to Ashton-under-Lyne.

Monday 16 June 2008 (1538) - The trams of VBZ (Verkehrsbetriebe der Stadt Zürich) reign supreme in the core area of Zürich city centre which is served by few VBZ buses. Tram 2075 heads south along Bahnhofstrasse to Wollishofen, a suburb in the south west of the city. If we had sound on this picture we could hear the siren of the police car which was overtaking the tram. A few moments earlier it had been prevented from getting through because of two trams stopped side by side at their stops directly opposite each other. Once away the police car sped down the street to a jewellery shop. As we walked passed we saw someone being arrested.

Monday 16 June 2008 (1627) - The trams of VBZ (Verkehrsbetriebe der Stadt Zürich) reign supreme in the core area of Zürich city centre which is served by few VBZ buses. Unidentified tram seen turning from Bahnhofstrasse into Bahnhofplatz when heading northbound on service 11 to Rehalp from Auzelg. We had just ridden from Bürkliplatz on this tram. The central railway station (Hauptbahnhof) stands behind.

Sunday 25 September 2016 (1020) – A forward view on board Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram 237 as it approached the scissor crossing at Toton Lane Park and Ride site. It would make the crossing to arrive on the right hand platform. Tram 216 is loading at the left platform and when leaving would cross from the left to the right hand track. Both are from the batch of 22 Spanish built Alstom Citadis models new in 2013-2014 numbered 216-237.

Sunday 25 September 2016 (1013) – A forward view on board Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram 237, the highest number in the batch of 22 Spanish built Alstom Citadis models new in 2013-2014 numbered 216-237. It was on the reserved track section en route to the Toton Lane Park and Ride site, I believe this was on the approach to the Eskdale Drive tram stop. The red fronted tram heading towards the city was one of the initial batch of 15 Bombardier Incentro AT6/5 trams built in Derby in 2002-2003 for the launch of the NET system.

Sunday 25 September 2016 (1013) – Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram 237, the highest number in the batch of 22 Spanish built Alstom Citadis models new in 2013-2014 numbered 216-237, approaches the stop at Chilwell Road on the border between Beeston and Chilwell heading for the Toton Lane Park and Ride site. The trams share the roadway with other traffic between Beeston and ‘High Road Central College’ the next stop this tram would reach. From there they run on a reserved section of track through to Toton Lane. At this point the westbound and eastbound tram stops are directly opposite each other and the road is separated with a raised paved central reservation. If a tram is stopped at the stop the following traffic must wait for it to move on. Note the white diamond sign which indicates a 40 kilometres per hour speed limit for trams. (24.85 miles per hour).

Sunday 25 September 2016 (1003) – Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram 207 seen in High Road, Chiwell heading towards the city centre. It had just left the platform at ‘High Road Central College’, the last stop on the reserved section of track from Toton Lane, and was now taking to street running towards Beeston. This tram is one of the initial batch of 15 Bombardier Incentro AT6/5 models built in Derby in 2002-2003 for the launch of the NET system. During 2013-2014 they were all refurbished, given new interiors and a new livery.

Sunday 25 September 2016 (0921) – Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram 231 at the ‘High Road Central College’ tram stop directly across the road from the former home of Barton Transport. From Toton Lane up to this stop the trams run on reserved track but after leaving the stop they then take to street running sharing the road with normal traffic. One of the Spanish built Alstom Citadis models new in 2013-2014 as part of the second batch of 22 trams numbered 216-237.

Sunday 25 September 2016 (0913) – Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram 202 had just left the platform at ‘High Road Central College’, the last stop on the reserved section of track from Toton Lane, and was joining the main carriageway of High Road as it headed towards the city centre and Hucknall. Road traffic emerges from the lower right and would then follow the same path as the trams between the buildings ahead. This tram is one of the initial batch of 15 Bombardier Incentro AT6/5 models built in Derby in 2002-2003 for the launch of the NET system. During 2013-2014 they were all refurbished, given new interiors and a new livery. The tram is named after the author D H Lawrence who was born at Eastwood about 10 miles north west of Nottingham.