WOW - things move fast

Firstly, lets start with a rare view. Its the Sunday of Bank Holiday weekend and yes, that is me Guarding - a shot rarer than the overalls, me with ticket rack and bag!

OK, so since the last post things have moved apace.

August Bank Holiday Monday was the busiest Bank Holiday I have ever seen! There were so many people around at one stage we had to get both Trams out and they ran full for a good couple of hours.

L53 has been to Beamish and back. It ran successfully for four days in glorious sunshine.

Sunday 5th September played host to the Trans Lancs Rally and the now annual Model Tramway exhibition. After a quiet start the day went very well - the depot being packed with visitors nearly all afternoon. The Trams had the busiest day of the year - only eclipsed once at the Arabian Festival a few years ago. We carried about 1000 passengers and both Trams were absolutely full to bursting all afternoon - 196 even carrying full standing loads a la Beamish! Its nice to see just how busy we can be now. A MASSIVE thank you is due to all the staff of the day. Despite being down on staff due to holidays and L53 operating at Beamish we covered every journey and maintained a full service. Musical drivers? Musical bleedin' everything! I shall break with tradition and mention you all - Alan Williams (who didn't know he was D.I. for the day until he arrived!), Dave McFarlane, Iain Hatrick, Tony Molloy, Rebecca Palmer, Martin Bryan, Martin Strickland (experiencing a baptism of fire on his first event day crewing) and Shaul Croshaw who made the mistake of asking if we needed any help and was promptly dragged onto the rear platform of 619.

Another massive thank you to all the exhibitors - Steve Smith, Doug and Vera Pritchard, Gerald and Jean Southern, Wilf and Joan Helliwell, Ian Thompson, Keith Gilliver, Pete Whiteley (and Whitleley junior), Eric Hall, Greg Marsden, Ian Johnson, Mark Casson and Mrs. casson (!). Apolgies if I've missed anyone.

And another thanks to all who came down and helped behind the scenes - Marjorie, Jeremy, Andrew, Hilda, Mark, Bob, Terry and Alex who had high tailed it down from Beamish.

OK Oscars over.

The biggest news of all, though is construction starting on the new terminus. The ground has the first layer of ballast and sleepers are due very soon. Moving of track into position should be in the next week or so, then . . . .

For pics of all the above, see the main website at www.heatonparktramway.co.uk