Half Term am

It was a nice Autumn day so Kieran and Joshua took their grandfather to the Tramway Museum. They arrived at 11:00 am at about the same time as everyone else.
1. The queue at the entrance looked a bit daunting but it moved along quite quickly and we were soon given our pennies for the tram fare.
2. The tram was number 60 from South Africa and Josh had a front seat to Glory Mine but a back seat on the way back.
3. There was a Halloween mask making stand in the Exhibition Hall and we had just got started when a lady called Cara asked us to have our phtographs taken for the Derbyshire Times.
4. Tram 330 from Sheffield is going to be the special Halloween tram at the weekend but we won't be able to see it because we are going to Ipswich and grandad thinks he is going to London on a steam train? - perhaps he is getting senile.

Downstairs & Upstairs

Top - J'burg 60 and MET 331 provided the service today.
Middle - downstairs on 331 travelling southwards from Wakebridge.
Lower - upstairs on 331 looking northwards at Glory Mine.
I have now scanned some old pictures and intend to publish a few from time to time over the winter months starting on Sunday when Kath and the grand children have gone to Pride Park.

Blackpool Fog

Blackpool and Fleetwood 2 on the main line at about 10:15 am.
The fog lifted later in the morning - Blackpool 40 at about 1:00 pm. 

Sunday

I visited the Museum today on a Sunday which is unusual for me. The trams in service were Blackpool & Fleetwood 2, Paisley 68 and Johannesburg 60.
The top picture shows a team of volunteers at work enveloping copies of the Society's quarterly magazine - The Journal.
The lower picture shows Liverpool 869 and Glasgow 1297 waiting for their customers for the Ultimate Driving Experiance.
After this picture was taken and posted to the blog site, I learned that 869 was involved in an incident later in the afternoon. It split the points when crossing over at the Depot Entrance and sustained some damage.

Sheffield 74

It was rather foggy at Crich this morning but the sun tried to shine in the afternoon. Sheffield 74 was in service alongside Oporto 273 which developed a fault and was replaced by Glasgow 812.
Sheffield 74 at Glory at about 10:45 am.
An interior view during the afternoon when the fog had lifted.

More rain

London Transport 1622 and Glasgow 812 in the workshop.
The Red Lion in the rain.
Leeds 399 and Blackpool 167 were the service cars today. I hope the weather will be better on Friday when I am scheduled to be a tram conductor. 

Wiring

Mike Smith inspecting the wiring under the south end control panel of Halle 902. Apparently this controls the pilot motor which in turn controls the traction motors (if I've got that wrong no doubt someone will tell me).


 

The Day that The Rains came down

It was showery today with MET 331 and Oporto 273 in service.
273 getting wet.
The rain was so heavy that water was pouring out of both ends of the drain on the side of the Workshop.
Half an hour later the sun was shining at Glory Mine.
John Nicholls chatting to Lawrence Dutton at Town End.


 

There & here

It was a cloudy and cold day at Crich today. Leeds 399 and Johannesburg 60 were in service. It was also nice to see London Transport 1622 on test runs. It sounded good and I am looking forward to a ride.
The pictures complete my Birkenhead series with Liverpool 245 in Birkenhead on Sunday and 869 at Crich today.
Sorry that not everyone liked the bus pictures but at least they were a change from VRs and Leyland Nationals. 

Wet Friday

It rained for most of the afternoon today. Leeds 180 and Oporto 273 were in service.
Preparations for tomorrow's Enthusiats Day enabled me to get this picture of Glasgow 1282 through the workshop doors.
Oporto 273 with both headlights on.
Interior of 273 at about 3:30 pm.
Leeds 180 prior to its last journey of the day.

Routine maintenance

Yesterday was warm and sunny with Sheffield 74 and LCC 106 in service. Today it was warm but cloudy with Leeds 345 and Glasgow 1297 in service.
Neil Daft and Lawrence Dutton cleaning the depot approach points with Berlin 3006 in the background. 

A Deserted Village

 

Blackpool 167 mystery

It poured with rain this afternoon. Blackpool 167 and Leeds 399 were in service. I was the conductor on 167 and John Nicholls was my driver. We were asked a question that neither of us could answer - what is the purpose of the wooden box on the north end platform? If you know the answer please add a comment to this blog and then we will all know.
Top picture: The rain hadn't really started when this picture was taken at Town End.
Middle: John sitting next to the mystery box on the platform. Sadly Bottom: John will be retiring at the end of this season - I will miss him.
An interior view of 167 leaving Wakebridge.

Proof reading

I haven't been to Crich today - so here is a picture of Kath reading Journal proofs.
I have deleted a montage picture which has given offence to some readers. This picture was given to me as a light hearted 'bit of fun' and after two days solid slog on The Journal, perhaps my judgement was impaired and I accepted it as such.
I appologise for my mis-judgement and any offence caused.
However please remember that this is a personal blog and not an Official Tramway Museum Society publication.

A ride on 345

Sheffield 74 and Leeds 345 were in service so I decided to have my first ever ride on 345. I was impressed.
345 at Town End prior to departure.
Driver, Mike Gilks, telling 345's story at Glory Mine.
A brief stop at Wakebridge.
Upper deck interior at Bandstand.