diff --git a/examples/spherical-mercator.html b/examples/spherical-mercator.html
index 409a8e232f..fc1bf681a5 100644
--- a/examples/spherical-mercator.html
+++ b/examples/spherical-mercator.html
@@ -91,16 +91,11 @@ <h1 id="title">OpenLayers Spherical Mercator Example</h1>
     // create OSM layers
     var mapnik = new OpenLayers.Layer.OSM();
 
-    var osmarender = new OpenLayers.Layer.OSM(
-        "OpenStreetMap (Tiles@Home)",
-        "http://tah.openstreetmap.org/Tiles/tile/${z}/${x}/${y}.png"
-    );
-
     // create a vector layer for drawing
     var vector = new OpenLayers.Layer.Vector("Editable Vectors");
 
     map.addLayers([
-        gphy, gmap, gsat, ghyb, veroad, veaer, vehyb, mapnik, osmarender, vector
+        gphy, gmap, gsat, ghyb, veroad, veaer, vehyb, mapnik, vector
     ]);
     map.addControl(new OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher());
     map.addControl(new OpenLayers.Control.EditingToolbar(vector));
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Grid.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Grid.js
index 4af8ec8423..1e3598bd04 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Grid.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Grid.js
@@ -138,6 +138,12 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.Grid = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Layer.HTTPRequest, {
      */
     tileQueue: null,
     
+    /**
+     * Property: loading
+     * {Boolean} Indicates if tiles are being loaded.
+     */
+    loading: false,
+    
     /**
      * Property: backBuffer
      * {DOMElement} The back buffer.
@@ -1050,7 +1056,8 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.Grid = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Layer.HTTPRequest, {
         
         tile.onLoadStart = function() {
             //if that was first tile then trigger a 'loadstart' on the layer
-            if (this.numLoadingTiles == 0) {
+            if (this.loading === false) {
+                this.loading = true;
                 this.events.triggerEvent("loadstart");
             }
             this.events.triggerEvent("tileloadstart", {tile: tile});
@@ -1061,7 +1068,8 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.Grid = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Layer.HTTPRequest, {
             this.numLoadingTiles--;
             this.events.triggerEvent("tileloaded", {tile: tile});
             //if that was the last tile, then trigger a 'loadend' on the layer
-            if (this.numLoadingTiles === 0) {
+            if (this.tileQueue.length === 0 && this.numLoadingTiles === 0) {
+                this.loading = false;
                 this.events.triggerEvent("loadend");
                 if(this.backBuffer) {
                     // the removal of the back buffer is delayed to prevent flash