NETTrams.net 2003 News Archive

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Note due to a change in the NEP website, many links will no longer work.  I apologise for any inconvenience (15^th March 2004)

20^th September 2003:  Contractors cleaned the track drains on the on street sections.  This was done using a tanker lorry and high pressure water hoses.  Click on thumb nail for photos (3x).

20^th September 2003:  Emergency exercise held at Cinderhill.  The scenario was that tram 205 had run over somebody in the Cinderhill cutting and come to stop under Bagnall Road bridge.  The fire brigade, police and ambulance services took part with Bagnall Road being closed to all but local traffic.  Click on thumb nail for photos (3x).

17^th September 2003:  Tram 206 derails on Wilkinson Street crossover.  The derailment occurred about 3:40pm as the tram was switching tracks using the crossover to the north of Wilkinson Street tram stop.  The tram was not damaged and was re-railed by a team of 8.  See Rail News and NEP

10^th September 2003:  NET announces the first tram into Nottingham City Centre.  As part of a publicity stunt tram 208 arrived in the Old Market Square at 07:05am, almost 67 years after the last tram left on 5^th September 1936.  See NEP.  NET in the publicity conveniently forgot the gauging trial and test run the week earlier.

31^st August: First tram for 67 years under its own power enters the city centre.  Tram 208, under its own power, was used in a gauging trial from the Forest tram stop to Station Street.  After the gauging trial, tram 201 then made a number of trips between The Forest and Station Street. 

6^th July:  First tram under its own power beyond Carey lane level crossing into Hucknall.

25^th May 2003:  Tram 213 derails at Highbury Vale points whilst on a test run.  See BBC for full story.

10 or 11^th May 2003:  Exercise Felix.  A simulation of a car crashing into a tram took place in Millennium Way East, near Phoenix Park tram stop.  The fire brigade from the nearby Stockhill fire station attended the scene.  The exercise was named after the depot cat.

26^th April 2003:  Rail grinding operations that had been happening during the night in the city centre took place during the day in Hyson Green.  Click on thumb nail for photo page of rail grinding operations.

6^th April 2003:  Commissioning work at David Lane level crossing.  Further commissioning work at David Lane level crossing using trams 201 and 202.  Tram 202 made a trip to Phoenix Park during the day.

16^th March:  Commissioning work at David Lane level crossing.  Trams 201 and 207 used in initial commissioning of David Lane level crossing, during a full day closure of the level crossing and normal Sunday closure of the Robin Hood line.  The first job done that morning was painting of a “yellow box” across both the tram and Network Rail level crossing.  The commissioning involved various groups, Bombardier, Network Rail, Highway Engineers, HSE etc

2^nd March:  Power switched on the first off road section between the depot and Highbury vale.  This was followed by the first tram under its own power outside the depot.  Tram 202 made a historic run as part of a HSE inspection between Wilkinson Street depot and the Cinderhill branch platforms at Highbury Vale.  The tram continued on beyond the platform across the River Leen bridge beyond the points onto the single line.