Conceived as a bit of fun at the end of the year the British Trams Online Tram of the Year originally sought to find the tramcar which had done something "special" over the previous 12 months. There has never been a full definition of what "special" actually means in this case but over the years tramcars which have won have had a repaint, entered service after a repaint or gone on loan away from their home tramway to name but there examples.

In 2012 the contest was expanded to include two new categories - Event of the Year and Tramway of the Year - and then in 2014 a fourth category was voted for the first time - Tram (Modern) of the Year.

At the start of December each year nominations are opened for a week to allow anyone to put forward suggestions for each of the categories before our "expert panel" (which is probably neither expert nor a panel!) convene to make a decision of what should be on the final shortlist, with each category normally having around five items to vote on. Voting takes place for approximately four weeks between December and January and we then name the lucky winners.

It is that time of the year again as we launch the British Trams Online Tram of the Year contest for 2023! Once again we will be looking to find the “Tram (Heritage)”, “Tram (Modern)”, “Tramway/Museum” and “Event” of the Year – and now is your chance to help with the formation of the shortlists for each of these categories in what has again been a year where we have been waiting for certain things to happen but they haven’t quite got to the finishing line just yet.

The nomination period is open for only a week with the deadline for any nominations being Saturday 9th December 2023. Voting them opens on Sunday 10th December 2023 and will remain open for four weeks until the morning of Saturday 6th January 2024. The qualifying period for nominations is between the first weekend in December 2022 and the first weekend in December 2023 (i.e. it has to have already happened for it to qualify!).

As it has been since 2014 we are looking to anoint trams, tramways and events in the following categories:

Tram (Heritage) of the Year
Last 3 Winners: Blackpool 159, Manx Electric Railway 2, Stockport 5

This category looks to find the heritage tram which has done that something out of the ordinary in the past 12 months. It could be that its operated away from its home tramway, re-entered service after overhaul/restoration or even just been that stalwart of operation.

Tram (Modern) of the Year
Last 3 Winners: Blackpool 011, Manchester Metrolink 1023, Manchester Metrolink 3073

Has there been a modern tram which has done something special in 2023? It could have received a new livery or a special advert which gave that wow factor or maybe it was the first tram to run on a new line? Or did it even run in service for the very first time?

Tramway/Museum of the Year
Last 3 Winners: East Anglia Transport Museum, Crich Tramway Village, Seaton Tramway

This is a joint category for both modern operating tramways and heritage tramways/museums and looks for the one location which has had a special year over the past 12 months. What that may be is entirely up to – just remember to give reasons why!

Event of the Year
Last 3 Winners: Blackpool Tramway Jubilee Tram Parade, Isle of Man Winter Heritage Transport Festival, Seaton Tramway 50th Anniversary event

Again, a category which can cover both heritage and modern tramways (although has been heavily dominated by heritage lines in the past!). It could be a special event on a heritage tramway but could equally be the opening of a new line or an improved service on one of the modern operating tramways across the British Isles.

Its now over to you to contribute to what could end up on the shortlist for each category. Get your brains thinking on what you think deserves to be nominated this year and you can then submit your nominations as follows:

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* Email gareth@britishtramsonline.co.uk
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