Sunderland Corporation Tramways No.16 approaches the main entrance at Beamish Open Air Museum on 5 September 2004. Originally built as an open top car by Dick Kerr & Co of Preston in 1900, 16 was fitted with a cover for the top deck shortly after the First World War. After the Sunderland Tramways closed in 1954 it was used at various times as a football changing room and apple store! It was rescued for preservation in 1989.

Former Blackpool Tramways No.31 is pictured at Beamish Open Air Museum on 8 August 1999. It was built in 1901, and was used on Blackpool's Marton route until 1934, when it became works car No.4. It arrived at Beamish in 1983.

Newcastle Corporation Tramways No.114 arrives at the main entrance of Beamish Open Air Museum on 5 September 2004. Built in 1901 by Hurst Nelson and Co. Ltd of Motherwell, it is seen here in its original form as an open top car. Not much fun for the passengers or the driver on a rainy day in the North East!

A final spell of sunshine before the clouds roll in from the west at Beamish Open Air Museum on 5 September 2004. Oporto Tramways Company No.196 trundles along the main street of the 1913 town. Despite appearances, 196 was built as late as 1935 at the Boavista Works of Companhia Carris de Ferro do Porto (The Oporto Tramways Company), admittedly to a much older design.

There really isn't much need to explain where this is! On a swelteringly hot 5 September 1999, Blackpool Tramways Balloon car 701 has just passed the iconic Blackpool Tower with a Fleetwood to Starr Gate service. 701 has subsequently received a much more striking all over yellow livery.

Former Blackpool Tramways Balloon car 708, pictured in retirement at the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft, on 1 April 2024. The 1934 built tram was withdrawn from service in 2008, and arrived at Sandtoft in November 2023. It sits on a specially prepared concrete pad, and is seen here next to the museum's as yet unfinished miniature railway.

With the Sherwood Foresters Regiment Memorial dominating the hill in the background, Blackpool Tramways No.40 leaves Victoria Park at the Crich Tramway Village on 15 October 2023. This 1926 built tram was one of the first to arrive at Crich, and has now covered well over 40,000 miles at the site. Very impressive as the line is less than a mile in length!

A side view of Blackpool Tramways No.40, as it leaves the terminus at Crich on 15 October 2023 with another trip up the Tramway Village's 0.85 mile long line. This was a perfect autumn day, with not a cloud in the sky all day.

A panoramic view of Victoria Park, at the Crich Tramway Village, on 15 October 2023, with Leeds Corporation Tramways No.180 setting off for the terminus. The Sherwood Foresters Regiment Memorial can be seen above the quarry face in the background.

Leeds Corporation Tramways No.180 arrives at Victoria Park, at the Crich Tramway Village, on 15 October 2023. This tram was built in 1931. With Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Relish adverts, there is no mistaking where this vehicle came from!

Leeds Corporation Tramways No.180 arrives at the Crich Tramway Village's southern terminus on 15 October 2023. It is passing a Metropolitan Pole Box, and a distinctive light green Bundy Clock, which was used to regulate the running of the trams.

Blackpool Tramways 'Balloon Car' No.249 and Edinburgh Corporation Tramways No.35 are pictured inside the Crich Tramways Village exhibition hall on 15 October 2023. Despite looking much more modem, the Blackpool tram is actually 14 years older than the Edinburgh vehicle.

Viewed through the gates of Crich Tramway Village's tram depot, Metropolitan Electric Tramways No.331 stands in the sunshine on 15 October 2023. The tram was not in service on this day, but moved off the depot, and then came back in again. Built in 1930, it was not well suited to London, and so moved to Sunderland in 1936.

Blackpool Tramways No.630 passes the tram workshop at the Crich Tramway Village on 15 October 2023. This was shortly after the museum's opening time, which explains the lack of visitors in the picture. It would get a lot busier later in the day!

Displaying the unlikely Tower destination, Blackpool Tramways No.630 passes the request stop at Victoria Park, at the Crich Tramway Village on 15 October 2023. The face of the former Crich Quarry dominates the background.

Much more modern than all the other vehicles at the Crich Tramway Village, former Corydon Tramlink no.058 John Gardner is pictured with its trailer (061) in the museum's depot yard on 15 October 2023. It was built for German state railway company Deutsche Bahn in 1978.

Passing the emergency crossover, Croydon Tramlink 2535 starts to climb the ferocious gradient to the south of Addington, as it works the 12:45 Wimbledon to New Addington on 1 May 2013. The woman with her dog had an added incentive to cross quickly, when they saw the tram approaching as they were strolling across the footpath crossing!

Croydon Tramlink 2538 crosses the southern end of the large roundabout at New Addington on 1 May 2013, as it heads for the terminus with the 13:22 service from Wimbledon. This viewpoint was chosen to give a good view of all the road and tram signals.

As Croydon Tramlink trams leave Addington in the westbound direction, they travel for a short distance along the wide grassed central reservation of the A2022 road. This is an ideal photographic viewpoint, as shown here by 2542 heading the 12:35 New Addington to Wimbledon on 1 May 2013. Addington Park is in the background.

Croydon Tramlink 2545 has a race with a TNT van, as it runs alongside Lodge Lane, New Addington on 1 May 2013. It is working the 13:00 Wimbledon to New Addington. The tramway parallels Lodge Lane all the way from Addington to New Addington, with the dual transport route marking the present limit housing development.

Croydon Tramlink 2547 crosses the large landscaped roundabout at the end of Lodge Lane, New Addington on 1 May 2013, as it heads for the tram terminus with the 13:07 service from Wimbledon. The blocks of flats on the right, and the tram tracks snaking off into the distance, certainly make an eye catching composition.

Croydon Tramlink 2549 crosses the A2022, as it pulls way from Addington on 1 May 2013 with the 12:20 New Addington to Wimbledon. This tram network opened in 2000, and uses a combination of on street and dedicated track running. The CR4000 twin car units were built by Bombardier in Vienna.

Hard to believe that this is the middle of a roundabout! Croydon Tramlink 2549 nears journey's end with the 13:15 Wimbledon to New Addington on 1 May 2013. New Addington's housing estates are dominated by these two tall blocks of flats, but also, as can be seen here, there are large areas of open space and parkland.

Croydon Tramlink 2550 slows for the ninety degree bend on the approach to Addington, as it works the 12:15 Wimbledon to New Addington on 1 May 2013. Sister unit 2548 can be seen heading off into the distance towards Wimbledon. Interestingly, the numbering system for these trams carries on directly from London's previous trams, despite these having all been withdrawn in 1952! The CR4000s are numbered 2530 to 2553.

Croydon Tramlink 2550 crosses the eastbound carriageway of the A2022 at Addington, as it works the 12:58 Addington to Wimbledon on 1 May 2013. In the background an Arriva bus on route 466 runs parallel with the tram racks, en-route to Caterham.

In addition to the typical urban locations, the Croydon Tramlink system has some very rural sections, especially at the southern end of the New Addington line. On 1 May 2013, 2552 rounds the sharp curve near Gravel Hill, at Addington, as it heads for New Addington with the 12:22 from Wimbledon.

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway car 44, pictured at Douglas Derby Castle station on 11 May 2017. As the tramway was closed due to illness amongst the horses, I had to be content with this picture of one of the horse tramcars sans horse!

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway car 45 receives some attention at Douglas Derby Castle station on 11 May 2017. Unfortunately the tramway was closed due to a respiratory infection amongst the horses. Therefore I had to settle for a picture of one of the tramcars being repainted!

Dublin, like most large cities, had an extensive tram system by the end of the nineteenth century. Again like most cities, the network closed after World War Two. The last tram ran on 10 July 1949. However, in 2004 a new system opened. Branded Luas (Irish for 'Speed'), there are two new lines, serving the centre of the city. Luas tram 3001 waits at Dublin Connolly station on 23 May 2018, prior to working a service to Saggart.

Dublin Luas tram 3008 arrives at the Heuston tram stop on 23 May 2018 with a service for Tamhlacht (Tallaght). In the background another tram is just about to cross over the River Liffey, before turning sharp right into Benburb Street.

Dublin Luas tram 3013 runs along Benburb Street, on the approach to Dublin Heuston station, with a service for Saggart on 23 May 2018, while 3011 disappears into the distance with a service for Chonghaile (Dublin Connolly).

Dublin Luas tram 3016 climbs up the steep Stevens Lane on 23 May 2018 with a service for Tamhlacht (Tallaght). It has just left the stop opposite Dublin Heuston station (at the bottom of the hill), and will shortly be turning right into St. James's Street. The tram system uses the international standard gauge of 4 ft 8½ in, rather than the Irish standard gauge of 5 ft 3 in.

With the impressive Dublin Heuston station building in the background, Luas tram 3023 pulls away from the tram stop on 21 May 2018 with a service to the Point (Iosta na Rinne). The Dublin tram system opened in 2004, and now carries in excess of 34 million passengers per annum.

Luas tram 3025 crosses the River Liffey, as it approaches Dublin Heuston on 21 May 2018 with a service to Saggart. The garbled destination being displayed is the result of the shutter being pressed just as it scrolled from English (Saggart) to Irish (Teach Sagard).

Two ways to get around Dublin. Cycle (on the wrong side of the road!) or take the tram. Luas tram 4002 crosses the River Liffey at Heuston station on 23 May 2018 with a service for Tamhlacht (Tallaght). The Luas tramcars were built in France by Alstom.

Dublin Luas tram 4007 pulls away from the Heuston tram stop, and crosses St John's Road, West, with a service for Saggart on 23 May 2018. The box junction in the foreground was not being correctly observed, even by some buses!

Edinburgh Trams 261 rounds the sharp curve on the approach to Gogarburn station on 30 August 2016 with an Edinburgh Airport to York Place service. The sharp curves and grass seeded track are typical of many modern tramways worldwide.

Edinburgh Trams 269 arrives at Ingliston Park & Ride station on 30 August 2016 with the 13:50 York Place to Edinburgh Airport service. Not many of my Scottish pictures feature blue skies such as this! This 8.7 mile long tramway began operations in May 2014.

Prominently displaying a 'Not in service' notice in the windscreen, Edinburgh Trams 270 rounds the sharp curve after passing through Ingliston Park & Ride station on 30 August 2016. Although obviously there is a massive car park just behind where I am standing, this view shows just how rural this end of the Edinburgh Tramway system is.

Edinburgh Trams 270 approaches Gogarburn station on 30 August 2016 with a 'Not in service' test run, heading for Edinburgh Airport. The change in gradient is quite noticeable here. The building in the background is the Gogar tram depot, where the line's fleet of 27 trams is maintained.

Edinburgh Trams 270 approaches Gogarburn station on 30 August 2016 with a test run from Edinburgh Airport. This section of the line is very rural, with hardly a house in sight, and yet it is only a short distance from Edinburgh Airport.

Edinburgh Trams 271 arrives at Ingliston Park & Ride station on 30 August 2016 with the 14:08 York Place to Edinburgh Airport service. With not a passenger in sight on either platform, early afternoon is clearly a very slack period at this particular station.

A pair of Edinburgh Trams pass at Gogarburn station on 30 August 2016. 271 pulls out of the station, heading for York Place, while 274 is waiting to depart for Edinburgh Airport. Just behind the trees on the right is Gogar church, a surviving remnant of the otherwise mostly disappeared medieval village of Gogar.

Edinburgh Trams 274 arrives at Gogarburn station on 30 August 2016 with the 14:29 York Place to Edinburgh Airport service. The driver is not waving at me, but acknowledging the driver of 271, which is waiting in the station. The level crossing in the foreground gives access to the Gogar Cabinet Works.

Edinburgh Trams 274 ascends the incline towards Gogarburn station on 30 August 2016 with an Edinburgh Airport to York Place service. The fleet of 27 trams were built for the line by Spanish company CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles). They operated off 750V DC, and have a maximum speed of 43mph.

Edinburgh Trams 276 rounds the sharp curve on the approach to Ingliston Park & Ride station on 30 August 2016 with the 14:25 Edinburgh Airport to York Place service. The impressive 187 feet tall Edinburgh Airport Control Tower (completed in 2005) dominates the background.

Manx Electric Railway car 9 crosses Mines Road, at Laxey, on 10 May 2017, as it runs round trailer 44. On the right is the statue commemorating the miners of the nearby Great Laxey Mine. The monument, which was carved in Bali, was unveiled in May 2015.

Manx Electric Railway car 9 and trailer 44 prepare to cross the A2 road at Laxey on 10 May 2017. They were working a relief shuttle service between Laxey and Douglas. No.9 dates from 1894, and the 'toastrack' trailer 44 from 1903.

Manx Electric Railway car 19 and trailer 40 approach Groudle Glen on 10 May 2017 with the 15:40 Ramsey to Douglas service. There would be a slight delay once the tram reached Groudle station, as it would have to cross over to the other line, as single line working was in force due to engineering works.

A bus load of passengers board Manx Electric Railway car 20 and trailer 47 at Douglas Derby Castle on 11 May 2017. This was the first tram of the day, the 09:40 departure for Ramsey. Such a sudden influx of passengers meant that by the time I got in the queue it was full, and I had to wait for a hastily arranged relief service!

Manx Electric Railway car 20 and trailer 47 stand at Douglas Derby Castle on 11 May 2017, prior to working the 09:40 service to Ramsey. Motor car 20 was built by G.F. Milnes & Co. in 1899, with trailer 47 being delivered a year earlier.

With the highly distinctive Skandia House dominating the background, Manx Electric Railway car 20 and trailer 47 pass Port Jack on 11 May 2017 with the 14:40 Ramsey to Douglas service. This is one of the many sharp bends, as the tramway follows the course of King Edward Road, as it traverses the shoreline between Onchan and Douglas.

Manx Electric Railway car 20 and trailer 47 pass Baldromma on 11 May 2017 with the 16:10 Douglas to Laxey service. The tram has just crossed over the A11 road (behind the sign), and will shortly be crossing over the much busier A2, seen on the right.

The sign on the hillside says it all! Manx Electric Railway car 21 and trailer 47 stand at Douglas Derby Castle station on 10 May 2017, having just arrived with the 13:40 service from Ramsey. The line is energised at 550v DC, and each tramcar has four traction motors, each rated at 25hp.

Running wrong line, due to major engineering works, Manx Electric Railway car 21 and trailer 47 pass Onchan on 10 May 2017 with the last train of the day, the 16:40 Ramsey to Douglas. The train is crossing Howe Road. Although there is no visible evidence here, this is one of the railway's minor stopping places, known as Boncompte's. There are lots of these small halts, in fact the next one, known as Majestic (complete with the luxury of a shelter!) can be seen in the background, just above the trailer car.

Manx Electric Railway car 21 and trailer 44 stand at Douglas Derby Castle station on 11 May 2017, prior to working the 10:00 relief service to Laxey. This was a last minute addition, after the previous tram was severely oversubscribed. It was such a rush job that the driver didn't actually know whether he would be going through to Ramsey or not, until he arrived at Laxey!

The guard of Manx Electric Railway car 21 moves the overhead pickup, so that the driver can complete the run round of trailer 44 at Laxey on 11 May 2017. The pair had just arrived with the 10:00 relief service from Douglas. The Snaefell Mountain Railway can be seen in the background.

Manx Electric Railway car 21 and trailer 44 cross the A2 road at Laxey on 11 May 2017. The pair had just worked the 10:00 relief service from Douglas, and after running round, were heading back to the station, where they would shunt into the siding.

Manx Electric Railway car 21 and trailer 44 cross over the A2 Douglas to Laxey road near Baldromma on 11 May 2017 with the 15:40 Ramsey to Douglas service. Although it appears that the crossing is not working, it was in fact operating correctly. By pure chance the camera has caught the lights during the 'off' part of their flashing cycle, and the white light on the right has also be caught in mid strobe. On this trip I was not driving my Honda Accord, but was instead using my girlfriend's Peugeot 106, which I have inadvertently managed to include in the background!

Manx Electric Railway car 21 and trailer 44 pass the excellent Port Jack Chippy & Diner on 11 May 2017, as they near journey's end with the 15:40 Ramsey to Douglas service. King Edward Road is in the foreground. This parallels the tramway all the way from the line's terminus at Douglas, to Baldromma, where it joins the A2.

Manx Electric Railway car 22 and trailer 46 cross Harbour Road, Onchan, on 10 May 2017 with the 14:40 Ramsey to Douglas service. At this point the tram was running wrong line, due to major track renewals requiring single line working south of Groudle Glen.

Manx Electric Railway car 22 and trailer 46 pass trailer car 44 at Laxey on 11 May 2017, as they approach Laxey station with an additional Ramsey to Douglas service. On the left is the steeply graded Snaefell Mountain Railway, with the third centre rail of the Fell braking system clearly visible.

Manx Electric Railway 'toastrack' trailer 46 is about to be pushed back into Douglas Derby Castle station by car 22 on 11 May 2017, prior to working the 15:10 service to Ramsey. 22 had just run round, after arriving with the 13:40 from Ramsey.

Manx Electric Railway trailer 47 stands at Douglas Derby Castle station on 10 May 2017, while motor car 21 runs round, after the pair had arrived with the 13:40 service from Ramsey. They would shortly be heading back to Ramsey, as the 15:10 from Douglas.

Nottingham Express Transit tram 204 Erica Beardsmore stands at Hucknall on 10 March 2024, after having just arrived with the 13:45 service from Toton Lane. The orange MHR data consultancy livery certainly brightens up the scene on a very dull and rainy day!

Nottingham Express Transit tram 206 arrives at Butler's Hill in the rain on 10 March 2024 with the 10:55 Toton Lane to Hucknall service. This Bombardier Incentro AT6/5 tram is wearing National Trust Blossom Watch advertising vinyls.

Nottingham Express Transit Alstom Citadis tram 225 arrives at Butler's Hill in the rain on 10 March 2024 with the 12:00 Hucknall to Toton Lane service. The track behind the fence is the East Midlands Railway Nottingham to Worksop 'Robin Hood Line'.

Nottingham Express Transit Alstom Citadis trams 234 George Africanus & 225 stand at Toton Lane on 10 March 2024. 234 is just about to depart with the 13:10 service to Hucknall, and 225 had just arrived with the with the 12:00 service from Hucknall. Toton Lane is the most westerly point of Nottingham's tram network.

The Snaefell Mountain Railway's 1895 built car No.1 stands at Snaefell Summit, after arriving with the 12:15 service from Laxey on 10 May 2017. Note the rheostatic braking equipment on the roof, which now provides most of the braking force when travelling down the mountain, resulting in the original Fell third rail braking system now being for emergency use only. So much power is dissipated in the roof mounted equipment that a noticeable heat haze can be seen coming off the resistors when the car arrives at Laxey station.

Snaefell Mountain Railway cars No.2 & 1 stand at Snaefell Summit station on 10 May 2017. Car No.2, with its temporary plastic front end addition, waits to head back down the mountain with a relief service, while No.1 has just arrived with the 12:15 service from Laxey.

The Snaefell Mountain Railway's car No.2 stands at Laxey station on 11 May 2017, prior to working a specially chartered service up to the top of the mountain. Even in mid May it was difficult to get a picture at Laxey without crowds of people wandering about in the foreground!