Sheffield

A spot of bias, perhaps, as I was born and raised in Sheffield, but I like the South Yorkshire Supertram a lot. It has lots and lots of street running, conductors to collect fares so there is no need for complicated off car ticketing (after the initial system was wisely abandoned), warning bells that sound like tramcars and a nice bright livery (after the initial battleship grey almost anything would be an improvement). I am amazed that I am praising the first Stagecoach corporate livery, so reviled by myself, as are all the big corporate liveries, but I think it worked well on the Sheffield trams, without the bouncy stripes. I am not sure about the new livery, however. It seems a bit too dark overall, even though the colours are quite vivid. Some white relief would help.
My only other gripe is the route colour system. Why not use route numbers or letters, like miost operators do. Something odd in Sheffield, obviously, as the first generation tramways never used route numbers either.


Back in the beginning, when the initial trams were running tests between the City Centre and Meadowhall, I photographed 1002 at Attercliffe stop one evening. The actual date escapes me. When initially delivered the trams were numbered from 1001 upwards.






And a bit later 1001 was also seen, catching the evening sun as she rounded the curve between the canal bridge and Attercliffe stop.







Tram 05 is seen approaching Carbrook stop en route for the City in the early days of operation. The trams were renumbered 01 to 25 by this time.









05 and 08 are seen at the Carbrook stop. For some time after the system began operating, the trams carried destination boards, the screens stating "South Yorkshire Supertram". (The poor quality of the shot is due to the film sitting around for ages before being developed).








Car 04 is seen on the same day departing Carbrook.








Trams 04 and 12 are seen at Cathedral during the period when services ran to Shalesmoor, before the Middlewood and Malin Bridge section had been completed.









04 is seen on the bridge over the canal by the Staniforth Road crossing.








Tram 05 catches the sun whilst negotiating the triangular junction at Park Square.








08 is seen on West Street in 1994 on a journey to Shalesmoor.









And heading the other way at the City Hall stop at the foot of West Street is 21.









For a time, Gleadless Townend was the terminal point on the southern line, as seen here. 22 is approaching
the terminal stop on 27th December 1994.









Sometime in 1995, after the Halfway line had been opened, 21 is seen at the Birley  Moor Road stop.

And 15 is seen on Birley Lane, heading for the City and Shalesmoor.








And 09 is seen at the Halfway terminus, before the appearance of the park and ride site.

Stagecoach Supertram 102 at Malin Bridge terminus one day in late December 1999, about to depart to Halfway with me on board as far as Gleadless Townend.
 
 
 

Supertram 105 trundling up High Street Sheffield on 25th July 2000, about to use the crossover, reverse at Cathedral and continue its journey to Herdings Park.
 
 
 
 

Supertram 106 departing from Cathedral on a Halfway - Malin Bridge service at the end of 1999. Until I relocate my notebook I can't be more specific.
 
 
 

Supertram 108 at the City Hall stop on 25th July 2000.
 
 
 
 
 

Supertram 110 waiting at traffic lights at Holme Lane Junction, Hillsborough, 24th July 2000, on a Middlewood - Meadowhall journey.
 
 
 
 

Supertram 112 at Cathedral, 25th July 2000.
 
 
 
 

Supertram 113 at the Infirmary Road stop on 24th July 2000, on its way to Malin Bridge. The full size image is 640x480 pixels.

At some point in 2000/2001 the livery was changed, the skirt becoming dark blue, as seen here on 112 descending Church Street towards the Cathedral stop.
 

On 29th December 2001, tram 103 is seen at Gleadless Townend with snow on the ground. I took this photo and crossed the road, only to then see the driver get out and change the points using a lever! The only time I have seen this done in Sheffield, and I didn't get a photo!

And on the same day 125 is seen at Middlewood.

On 31st December 2004 I photographed some good old fashioned maintenance! A man cleaning the points by hand -how else can it be done - at Hillsborough.

In December 2005 119 is seen in Hillsborough

For some time 116 has carried allover adverts for Meadowhall Shopping Centre. It is seen here at Cathedral in December 2005

Around this time it was announced that the trams would be "refreshed" (what is wrong with refurbished?). First one done was 115, seen here in April 2006 at Fitzalan Square in the predominantly red and blue livery. Despite the brightness of the colours, it all seems a bit too dark for my liking.

Also at Fitzalan Square are 108 and 125, both in the original Stagecoach livery.

123 is seen approaching Malin Bridge terminus in April 2006

One of the joys of digital photography is that it is possible to try things which result only in a small amount of storage card space and download time, not film and developing costs. This shot is a case in point, 111 being captured in the evening twilight at Gleadless Townend on 23rd December 2006.

And as a contrast, 119 in the same position on the same day, in the newest blue and red livery.

Getting carried away with the twilight shots, on 27th December 2006 I photographed 124 at Gleadless Townend in the dark! The camera was set to take three pictures with just one pressing of the shutter and was restng on railings.  It is a pity that the destination screen is too bright (bring back roller blinds!). The reflection of the screen on the railing is a bit weird.

On 21st September 2007 105 is seen approaching Fitzalan Square stop.

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On 22nd December 2008 119 is seen leaving the Crystal Peaks stop en route for Halfway.

on 24th December 2008 120 and 115 are seen at Castle Square.

Looking for different shots, 117 was photographed on the  bowstring bridge at the bottom of Commercial Street, gliding past a long line of traffic. Unfortunately, the dark livery means the tram does not stand out against the bacgground particularly well.

This point is also highlighted by 123 on the rather more plain bridge leading from Park Square to Sheffield Station on the Halfway line.

On 24th December 2008 110 is seen on the reserved track section between Sheffield Station and the Park Square junction.

Exactly one year later Christmas Eve was rather misty in the higher parts of Sheffield. 119 is seen approaching Gleadless Townend on a Malin Bridge service.

119 and 114 seen in the mist at Gleadless Townend on 24th December 2009

The evening of 24th December 2009 saw 106 at Gleadless Townend, lights penetrating the mist.

122 appearing from the mist at Gleadless Townend, 24th December 2009

And here is 122 at Gleadless Townend stop, 24th December 2009

And 124 is also seen at Gleadless Townend

Supertram 115 on Gleadless Road on 27th December 2009

101 seen near the top of Ridgeway Road on 27th December 2009 in strange light










125 is heading down Ridgeway ROad form the Gleadless Townend stop on 27th December 2009

107 leaving Crystal Peaks in a Halfway service, 28th December 2009










119 heading towards the City Centre along Glossop Road on 28th December 2009










Also heading towards the City and passing the Cavendish Building on West Street is 111.









122 is seen on West Street on 28th December 2009










103 on West Street, this time heading away from the CIty Centre, 28th December 2009.











120 is currently wearing an advertising livery for East Midlands Trains, and seemed to be very elusive in December 2009. The only half-decent shot I have of it is this one at Cathedral, in the company of 121, on 28th December 2009

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written, edited and mis-spelled by Caroline Mathews with the assistance of Sea Monkey 1.1.14. Optimised for 1024 x 768 pixels.
last updated 8th January 2010