This post about trams comes to you courtesy of an old Miranda Sex Garden CD playing in the background.
Weaste tram stop opened on 12 June 1999. I had left Salford the previous November, so, consequently, I missed the tram. Three months later I went and had one of those children things (well, my pre-ex-wife did most of the cooking, but I contributed a few molecules at the start) and as you know tiny people come with push chairs. So, whenever I visited No1 son's grandparents the tram, with its level access, was the easiest way to get from Piccadilly station to their house.
It had nothing whatsoever to do with being an anorak who loved anything that runs on rails. Oh no.
I've always been a sucker for a rail map - different coloured lines and interchanges and all that nonsense. Harry Beck's Underground map is, of course, the chef d'oeuvre of this particular genre. Here's the current one for the Manchester Metrolink.
Not a classic by any means, but a map is a map. And maps need to be explored.
The idea for the Five Nations Week O' Trams (incorporating The Metro and Subway Jamboree) came with the news that Edinburgh's beleaguered new tram route (over budget, inappropriate design, etc, etc) would be finally opening this May. I started wondering when I would be able to visit.
This then led to the idea of visiting all of the UK tramways that had opened since the revival of Light Rail in this country at the end of the last century. So that would be Manchester, naturally. Sheffield, Nottingham, West Midlands, the new Blackpool trams and Croyon would all have to feature. Then I read a Facebook post about how a friend's dad had paid host to train-hopping TV Tory Michael Portillo at the Wirral Tramway. Could a few heritage tramways be included too? So as well as Birkenhead there would have to be the Crich Tramway Village, natch. Off to Wikipedia to see what other trammish delights lay about the country.
There were a lot more than I realised. That was when the idea to go further afield, to Belgium and to Ireland began to crystallise. Add a visit to the Great Orme Tramway in Llandudno and a theme and a title was born. Next Tuesday, the 20 May, marks the first (and possibly the only - let's get this one out of the way first, eh?) Five Nations Week O' Trams. Here is the itinerary:
Scotland
The inspiration for this tour was the announcement of Edinburgh trams starting in May. The most convenient time to take off work was around the May Spring Bank Holiday. Surely that would be in time for the trams?
Well, last month they announced the start date and while it was definitely in May it turned out to be the 31st - four days after FNWOT concludes. I was livid. In fact my first thought was to boycott the trams when they finally arrived, a response completely against the ethos of FNWOT, but which I felt would convey the level of disappointment I felt. Not that anyone would have noticed, but it's the principle of the thing, you understand.
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| A Brussels tram at Summerlee! |
Would this become the Four Nations Week O' Trams? At least I wouldn't have to change the hashtag. But no, rescue came in the form of Summerlee - The Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge. They run a heritage tram daily and look well worth a visit. The first day of the tour will also take in the Riverside Transport Museum in Glasgow (which I will be visiting via the Glasgow Subway) to see the trams housed there too. And I've calmed down a bit now, so if there is time I will pop over to Edinburgh and look at the trams while they're running on test!
England (Part 1)
The next day takes in Blackpool (just regular modern trams - I couldn't time it for the heritage services), the Parry People Mover at Stourbridge -
- the Midland Metro, the Underground, the Docklands Light Railway, the Overground and the London Tramlink! Phew! Then we're off to...
Belgium
Eurostar to Brussels where we have a bit of a tram about town. If I've time I'll take in the Atomium and the Comics Museum.
Again, timing has worked against me. There is a fab tram museum here, but it's only open at weekends and there was other weekend-only stuff I wanted to see back in Blighty. Just means I'll have to come again. There's also a restaurant on a tram! But it's a bit expensive and you can only book tables for 2, 4 or 6. I'll just be sticking to frites and mayonnaise, I think.
On the way to the airport we'll also have a quick mooch on the trams in Charleroi before we fly off to...
Ireland
Only a very brief visit to Dublin, arriving one evening and departing the next afternoon - maybe an early lunch at the Temple Bar pub. But we should be able to get a quick trip on the Luas.
Then we set sail across the Irish Sea to...
Wales
There's time enough for a stop off in Llandudno and a trip on the Great Orme Tramway.
It's tempting to go one way on the tram and the other on the cable car (me and the boys did this a couple of years ago), but I think it's going to be just the tram on this occasion.
England (Part 2)
After Llandudno it's off to Birkenhead and the Wirral Tramway.
Another busy day though, as we quickly head across the Mersey to Southport and ride on the Pier Tram, before heading back to the ancestral home in Salford.
If I was a bit peeved about missing the opening of the Edinburgh trams, then that was more than made up for by a fortunate bit of scheduling. On the morning that I am in Manchester there is to be a special farewell tour for the T68 trams that formed the original Metrolink fleet.
That this should be taking place during FNWOT on the very day that I'm in Manchester is a very welcome coincidence. I'll be receiving a commemorative ticket that'll be the perfect souvenir for this tram-mendous (sorry!) week. If I've got time that day I'll be popping up to the Heaton Park Tramway before heading toward Sheffield for a quick go on the Supertram. The last night of the tour takes place in Nottingham where I'll be having a brief bash on the NET and then taking the train the next day Whatstandwell and a short walk to the Crich Tramway Village. The perfect finish to FNWOT, especially since there's more than one mode of transport on show there...
Then that's that for FNWOT but there will be more international tram action later in the year with visits to Paris and Barcelona. For now though, all thoughts are on Tuesday and the adventure ahead. No doubt there'll be the usual blurry selfies of me stood in front of various vehicles, so look out for that on Facebook or wherever.
Hah. Actually getting a bit excited about this now.
More soonliest.
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