18th April and Beamish

Wow, what another fabulous week.

Power from the Past was tremendous and all the organisers, staff and participants at Beamish deserve a massive thank you and congratulations for a stunning event. The combination of 4 operating railways (including passenger rides on the full size demonstration line), a plethora of steam vehicles and the visiting Aidensfield Bus (yes the one from Heartbeat!!!) made a truly enjoyable event. Not to mention Trams from 3 museums - well done for getting that together! The combination of 4, 6 and 131 was tremendous and probably quite unique as it is unlikely to happen ever again.

It was nice to see our Leeds 6 in an authentic street, giving just a hint of Leeds suburb! To see it perform on the 1.5 mile circuit is nice to see (especially crammed to capacity!) as you don't always feel you can get the best out of cars on our current (but not for long) short line. 6 is also displaying 'on loan' notices in the cab window.

The unusual sight of 6 descending Pockerley bank. Is this a foretaste of what any future Heaton Park extensions could look like?

6 and 16 at Pockerley stop.

6 sandwiched between Beamish buses!

There will be a photo CD of 6's holiday at some point.

Today the service was maintained by 196 with 752 making an appearance on guard training. With 765 out of action it stood in pretending to be a hand brake passenger car!

That's all for now.

John

11th and beyond

196 has nicely settled into its role as service car, carrying a few 3 bell loads on Sunday.

A few pics for you to enjoy courtesy of Andrew Hazlehurst. An unusual shot of 196 approaching Lakeside.

A host of . . . .

Anyhow, off to Beamish tomorrow to see 6 in action alongside Cardiff 131 and Blackpool 4.

See you there!!!

John

Easter weekend

Sorry, no pics this week. Just didn't get round to it!
Easter Sunday was quite busy and a 2 car service was run for most of the day, though 765 did have to undergo a couple of hasty repairs. Oporto 196 really stole the show, though. Well, w've done it. A Tram on loan from another museum in service - just 6 to enter service at Beamish and the 'swap' will be complete! THis is the first guest Tram at HPT since 600 left in 1997 and the sixth electric Tram to operate (the seventh Tram). It is the first of 3 guests to run this year and by the end of the year 7 different Trams should have operated (possibly 8, actually) if all goes to plan . . .
Monday was much quieter and the weather was much duller. 196 has certainly settled in though.

765 is now out of service again to allow its freshening up for Blackpool to continue.

The pattern for the rest of the spring/summer will (should) be as follows:
April - 196 (L53 on private hite on 25th April, its last appearance at HPT)
May - 196. 765 should be avaialable from mid-May. L53 leaves HPT on long term loan.
May and June Saturday service - 1 - 4 with 196.
June - 619 arrives, 765 to Blackpool.
June, July, August 2 car service.
September and beyond . . .?
November 706, still a long way to go here folks.

Enjoy!

John

I shall leave the weekend festivities report to the official blog, but I will just say thank you and well done to all the HPT staff. And thank you to all who came and supported us.

So, on to this week.

6 moved to Beamish on Tuesday.

6 on Middelton Road, ready for its journey North.
6 at around 7pm sat on the depot access track at Beamish.

196 arrived at HPT on Thursday.

At the compulsory stop on its first run.

Climbing our hill - not exactly Pockerley bank is it? The eagle eyed will spot the bunting on the trolley, to match our other cars for the 30th year.

196 was commissioned and staff trained by 6pm. It will see its public service debut this weekend and will be in service Easter Sunday and Monday. Why not come along and see its first day of operation?

Whilst consuming copious amounts of tea we pondered, when was the last inter museum Tram swap and when was the last Tram on loan to another museum? (apart from L53 to Beamish last year)

Enjoy.

April 1st

Oops, try again.

I shall leave a full report of the weekend's events to the main website. Just to say, however, well done and thank you to all the HPT staff and thank you to all who attended and supported us.

6 moved successfully to Beamish on Tuesday and duly touched Beamish rails at around 7pm!

Here it is about to set off on Middleton Road.

Here it is shortly after unloading.

196 arrived at Heaton Park this morning at 8.30. It was unloaded and fully commissioned by 1 and by 6 five members of staff had been trained. Just for the record the weather was sunny, snow and hail at various times during the day.

At the compulsory stop on her first run.

Climbing the hill - somewhat kinder than Pockerley bank on its home system!

So it will be in service Easter Sunday and Monday. We should have a 2 car service for at least part of Sunday.

This swap (the first inter museum electric Tram exchange of this millennium?) raises a few questions. When was the last time there was an inter museum electric Tram swap? Has there ever been one or were any others just loans? On loan to Blackpool doesn't count.

Hmm . . . .

JOhn

1st April

Well, what a full week!