West Midlands Metro tram in and out of Town Hall Tram Stop on the last weekend of the Birmingham FCM (December 2019)

The all blue West Midlands Metro trams are now running every day between Library and Wolverhampton St George's. Monday's to Saturday's every 6 minutes, and every 15 minutes on Sunday's. Heading up Pinfold Street as a tram heads down from Victoria Square. Also a pair of trams stopping at the new Town Hall Tram Stop. On the last weekend of the Frankfurt Christmas Market.

Starting with West Midlands Metro tram 19 at Grand Central Tram Stop, on the early evening of Wednesday 18th December 2019. The tram with the 20 Years livery (1999 - 2019). Passing here again on Saturday 21st December 2019, it was a bit too crowded for me. Noisy football fans coming out of the Burlington Arcade, and protesters walking past with placards on the opposite platform.

dndimg alt="Tram 19" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 19 Grand Central Tram Stop after dark (Dec 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading up Pinfold Street nad I have finally managed to get some photos of a tram heading down the hill. West Midlands Metro tram 21 in Just Eat livery, now all blue, but still with the red adverts.

dndimg alt="Tram 21" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Just Eat tram 21 Pinfold St (Dec 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The last weekend of the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market, it closes on Monday 23rd December 2019.

dndimg alt="Tram 21" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Just Eat tram 21 Pinfold St (Dec 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

You can see the Big Brum clocktower from down here which is behind the Council House. It is completely pedestrianised up here.

dndimg alt="Tram 21" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Just Eat tram 21 Pinfold St (Dec 2019) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Tram 21 turns left from Pinfold Street onto Stephenson Street, passing La Galleria and Yorks Cafe in the Guildhall Buildings.

dndimg alt="Tram 21" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Just Eat tram 21 Pinfold St (Dec 2019) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading to the end of Paradise Street, as far as pedestrians are supposed to go, saw tram 29 with the reindeer name Cupid coming round Paradise Circus. With Centenary Square behind. Including the Birmingham Big Wheel and ice rink at Ice Skate Birmingham. The REP, Library of Birmingham, Hall of Memory and Baskerville House. HSBC UK at Arena Central on the left, while the site of One Centenary Way to the right.

dndimg alt="Tram 29" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Town Hall Tram Stop trams 29 22 (Dec 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Pedestrians are not supposed to walk beyond here, but some have ignoring the signs (can they not read?). Tram 29 continues to go round the corner with HSBC UK and the Birmingham Big Wheel seen behind.

dndimg alt="Tram 29" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Town Hall Tram Stop trams 29 22 (Dec 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Tram 29 Cupid heads onto Paradise Street. As a man with shopping walks beyond the point of no return for pedestrians. Behind you can still see the Big Wheel, Library, Hall of Memory and Baskerville House. Only trams are allowed to enter Paradise Street here. Not cars.

dndimg alt="Tram 29" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Town Hall Tram Stop trams 29 22 (Dec 2019) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading past the Town Hall as tram 29 arrives at Town Hall Tram Stop. The Christmas tree at the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market is visible to the right.

dndimg alt="Tram 29" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Town Hall Tram Stop trams 29 22 (Dec 2019) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Tram 22 Dasher arrives at platform 1 for Birmingham (Library) while tram 29 Cupid comes into platform 2, bound for Wolverhampton (St George's).

dndimg alt="Tram 29 and 22" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Town Hall Tram Stop trams 29 22 (Dec 2019) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A view not possible a few years ago. Big Brum at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery with the Birmingham Town Hall. Seen from Paradise Street while the pair of trams were at Town Hall Tram Stop. And as a bonus, the core of 103 Colmore Row. Paradise Birmingham is to the left. That was where Fletchers Walk and the old Birmingham Conservatoire used to be until a few years ago. And there used to be a road that was part of Paradise Circus that is now long gone.

dndimg alt="Tram 29 and 22" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Town Hall Tram Stop trams 29 22 (Dec 2019) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another new view from the tram stop is of Colmore Gate and the dome of Birmingham Cathedral. Never expected to get those with a pair of West Midlands Metro blue trams.

dndimg alt="Tram 29 and 22" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Town Hall Tram Stop trams 29 22 (Dec 2019) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Tram 22 Dasher continues it's journey towards Centenary Square. You can see it's destination in the background, the Library of Birmingham. The Alpha Tower is usually visible from the end of Paradise Street.

dndimg alt="Tram 22" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Town Hall Tram Stop trams 29 22 (Dec 2019) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Tram 29 seen leaving Town Hall Tram Stop. Going through Victoria Square, then down Pinfold Street. As visitors to the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market pass in and out of the square.

dndimg alt="Tram 29" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Town Hall Tram Stop trams 29 22 (Dec 2019) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I will add to this post as it was not published on the 23rd December 2019.

The Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market was dismantled between the 24th and 25th December 2019, and trams were running apart from on Christmas Day of course.

On Boxing Day, the 26th December 2019, at least two trams were broken down meaning no trams could go beyond Bull Street until they were removed.

On a miserable wet Boxing Day, tram 30 had broken down at Corporation Street. It was on the platform bound for Wolverhampton, but couldn't go anywhere.

dndimg alt="Tram 30" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Boxing Day (Dec 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading round to Bull Street Tram Stop, saw tram 28 Jasper Carrott with no destination on the board. This one on the Wolverhampton bound platform. Was it broken down to / not in service?

dndimg alt="Tram 28" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Boxing Day (Dec 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Then tram 22 arrived heading to Birmingham. But I'm not sure if it headed down to Corporation Street, or if all the passengers got off here, and it returned in the other direction.

dndimg alt="Tram 28 and 22" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Boxing Day (Dec 2019) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Back to normal on the 27th December 2019. Saw at least one tram from Victoria Square.

After popping through the concourse at Birmingham New Street Station, I saw tram 18 in the Just Eat livery arriving. I saw the pantograph rising up and connecting to the overhead wires when it got to the tram stop from the newly opened extension.

dndimg alt="Tram 18" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 18 Grand Central Tram Stop (Dec 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Saw tram 34 arriving at Grand Central Tram Stop, but tram 18 had started to depart before I was able to get two trams in one shot, so I took this one instead. Looks like the pantograph had been lowered, before it started the journey up to Town Hall and Library.

dndimg alt="Tram 34" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 34 Grand Central Tram Stop (Dec 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Merry Christmas 2019 and a Happy New Year 2020. Oh and Happy Hanukkah as well! (Will all be over when this gets published). More tram posts and photos in 2020. I'm hoping to ride the tram again perhaps all the way to Wolverhampton.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.