Tuesday 23rd March

Sunday was a lovely busy day with 765 back in service and 6 on training duties. The 2 cars are seen here passing at Depot. This scene will only be possible twice more (27th and 28th) before 6 goes to Beamish and when it returns, 765 will be gone. Who knows what will happen after the 2010 season yet so this could very well be the end of an era. 765 and 6 have been the sole passenger cars since 600 went demic in 1997. 13 years!!! (L53 doesn't count, by the way).

Depot Dalek - Martin in refurbished condition on patrol outside the shop today while heavy cleaning took place inside the depot. It is planned to have a Depot Dalek this year for that extra bit of lunatic PR.

And finally . . .what we've all been waiting for. 752 has the last of its bulbs tested as it is being prepared to be Heaton Park's first illuminated Tram and the first in the Manchester area since ??? Interestingly one of the team behind 752's new role was responsible in part for 752's sister car, grinder 2 being illuminated at Crich way back in the 1960s. Hmmm.

Looking forward to this weekend already.

Check www.heatonparktramway.org.uk for latest info and possible running order.

John

14th March

A nice but relatively quiet day due to various events in Manchester. We did however end up with all Trams outside at one point which was nice but sorry no photos!

6 was in service but also managed a training run as did 752. L53 and 765 emerged into daylight for a shunt and yours truly ended up driving the whole fleet in the space of 45 minutes (if propelling L53 manually counts as driving).

Now, onto the 30th birthday. Me not being known for my sanity has decided that we need something a little different.

Behold:

Yes, that is a Dalek in a state of some disrepair. Below is the Dalek (whose name is Martin, by the way) a few years ago. You can tell where we're going with this can't you?

Incidentally, Martin has visited Crich. How many Daleks can claim to have visited two Tramways?

I have no idea why Martin, but he was originally named Tarquin (I kid you not).

If he proves popular, expect him to take up residence for a while. Some Tramways had a depot cat, Heaton Park will have a depot Dalek. Why? Because we can (and he doesn't need feeding).

John

28th Feb

Its exactly one month to the 30th Anniversary bash. One poor bloke wandered in thinking it was today! Are we ready? What do you think? Will we be ready? I hope so!

So, todays update. I haven't featured the model Tramway before so here it is:

A gorgeous 3/4" scale Pilcher by eric Hall. Fabulous.

On the opposite side some interesting models. From top to bottom: A model of thr Bury night soil car made by either the apprentices at Buty or Mountain and Gibson. The photograph shows the model on display c. 1905 though it has been altered. The 2 Manchester trams were donated to us and do run but tend to live in the case for reasons of space! The bottom model is the builders model of Blackpool 619 which does differ slightly from the finished item - note the double entrances. The green tower framing them? Why Blackpool 752 of course.

The dual gauge siding which will allow narrow gauge prototypes to run.

The new terminus showing the new (and complex!) pointwork and improved siding arrangements.

That's all folks!

February 21st 2010

Firstly, an apology for my poor typing skills! Apologies to Paul Jarman of Beamish (not Paul Harman!) and for omitting Alan Kirkman as builder of the parcels car model.

So, today. More snow as can be seen from the pics. We carried few people despite the park being busy, perhaps they were too busy sledging!

6 waits at Middleton Road in the snow.At the compulsory stop, quite thick snow and which white line??

We had a meeting about the future (temporary) home of one of our cars, more later in the year . . . . . .

John

We're back! February 17th update

Hi all

I've had a phone call chastising me for not updating my blog (wehat's the point of having a blog if you don't update it?) so just for that person who shall remain nameless, here I go.

Check out the website http://www.heatonparktramway.org.uk/ for the major news on the acquisition of 4 Blackpool Trams and the visit of 706 this winter.

So what's happened since the last update?

Leeds 6 is maintaining the winter service.

765 is having attention to its brakes and saloon door which hasn't worked properly for many years but will certainly need to in Blackpool.

Leeds 6 will be moving to Beamish on Tuesday 30th March and 196 arrives on Wednesday 31st March. 196 will be seen out and about on training duties for a few weeks. It is hoped to use the car in service as soon as we can to 'try it out' but we are not advertising that until we are satisfied that training is complete. To help us in this I travelled to Beamish with Alan (driving instructor Williams) and we spent a very pleasant (but cold) afternoon learning all about the car and driving it to get a feel for it. Many thanks to Stuart who patiently spent the afternoon with us and to Bob Fielding and Paul Harman for facilitating the visit. The cars will stay in their new homes for the summer.

Also this month we have the first of the parcels car models which is due for relase on 28th March.

There's bound to be lots I've missed so don't forget to keep checking the website as well as the blog!

John (happy now Gordon???!!!)

Last Summer

Just a reminder of last Summer. Possibly the last time we can pose this photo for some considerable time. The track on the left has disappeared under a permanent way store and cars are currently stopping short of the construction site.

Beamish and 2010 diary

Press Release 7/1/10


The Manchester Transport Museum Society (MTMS) are pleased to announce the loan of Leeds Works Tram No 6 to the Beamish Museum in County Durham for a working visit. The visit will be its first trip away from Heaton Park since it arrived in 1988 and will show off its restoration to Leeds works tram condition which took place in 2008.

Leeds 6 will travel to the museum in April 2010 to take part in the Beamish Museum’s ‘Power from the Past’ four day working transport event from the15th -18th April. It will star alongside Beamish’s own Blackpool 31 suitably repainted in green as Works Tram number 4 and reunited with the Blackpool Tower Wagon Beamish currently have in store. Leeds 6 will then stay at Beamish until mid August. In return, Beamish Museum have kindly agreed to loan their Oporto Tram, number 196 to Heaton Park. Both Trams will run regularly in service while they are on loan.

Chairman of the MTMS Alex Grey said “This is another opportunity for both museums to enjoy the sites of different trams operating at the museums and to see Leeds 6 in a period setting among the streets and buildings of an authentic Edwardian village and for Beamish’s visitors to see how the unsung works car was a part of the upkeep of the fabric of our towns and cities”.


Paul Jarman, Transport Curator for Beamish museum said “We are delighted that the MTMS have again given us an opportunity to operate one of their trams in our town street and that they have been so supportive throughout the process of arranging to bring it to Beamish. Works trams were used in Newcastle but have almost vanished from living memory so once again, through such cooperation, we are able to bring back to life a historic aspect of the North East’s transport history as well as delight and educate our visitors”.

The 2010 diary is as follows:
HEATON PARK TRAMWAY
EVENTS 2010

28TH MARCH 2010, 30TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
OPEN 10.00 – 19.00

HIGHLGHTS OF THE DAY WILL INCLUDE:
Ø Horse Tram L53 in service, the only time this year and the last time the 2 Manchester Trams will run together for a while.
Ø Both Electric Trams in service.
Ø Works Tram 752 in operation.
Ø View progress on the extension.
Ø Birthday cake.
Ø Model Trams, including David Hooker’s 00 scale model of Heaton Park Tramway.
Ø Official public opening of the remodelled museum.
Ø Display of the history of the Tramway and Trams in the Park.
Ø Visiting vintage buses on display and operating, provided by Keighley Bus Museum.
Ø Illuminated Tram.
Ø Evening Tram rides.
Ø ‘Driver for a fiver’ driving experiences.
Ø And much, much more . . .

APRIL – AUGUST 2010 AND EARLY SUMMER TO ??, TRAMCAR SWAP
Ø It has been agreed that Leeds 6 will visit Beamish for their April event from 15th – 18th April and will then stay until August. It will be exchanged for Beamish Oporto Tram 196, which will operate at Heaton Park for the same period.
Ø As previously advertised, Manchester 765 will visit Blackpool for the 2010 celebrations and Blackpool replica Toastrack 619 will be coming to Heaton Park.
Ø This means that at some point for a while during the summer the 2 passenger Trams in service will be visitors to the Tramway.

5TH SEPTEMBER, MODEL TRAMWAY EXHIBITION
OPEN 10.00 – 17.00
Ø 2 Tram service.
Ø Model Trams on display.
Ø Model Tram layouts operating.
Ø Model Tram shop.
Ø Model Trams workshop offering help and advice on model Trams.

21ST NOVEMBER 2010, A CELEBRATION OF BLACKPOOL’S TRAMS AND TRANSPORT
OPEN 10.00 – 18.00

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY WILL INCLUDE:
Ø Blackpool 619 in service, possibly the latest in the year this Tram has ever run in service!
Ø Blackpool works Tram 752 in operation.
Ø Visiting Blackpool Tram in operation FOR ONE DAY ONLY. Full details of the vehicle and where it will come on loan from will be released later.
Ø This will allow us to run the first 3 Tram electric service since 1997.
Ø Illuminated Tram.
Ø Tram rides in the dark.
Ø Blackpool Trams models competition.
Ø Working model Blackpool Trams.
Ø Visiting Blackpool Buses on display and operating, courtesy of the LTT.
Ø Plus much more . . .

In addition we will be open on a number of Saturdays in May and June.

More news as it comes in . . .