Wakebridge 13th January (2)

1 & 2. Checking the north points. One of the track bonds installed by the Outside Works team can clearly be seen at the bottom of picture 2.


3. Balfour Beatty's 'lads' admiring their handywork and smiling for the camera.

4. About to set off back but delayed by the photographer.

Wakebridge 13th January (1)

The weather was better on Tuesday. In the morning the diesel engine, GMJ, and the Glasgow cable car trailer sucessfully navigated the new tack. In mid-afternoon GMJ returned to Wakebridge this time towing Sheffield 330. This was a time consuming journey on the very greasy rail.
1. Approaching the south points.

2. Passing over the south points.

3. Part way round the curve. Note that the power was off and 330's trolley tied down.
4. Approaching the north points.

Wakebridge 12th January

Monday, 12th was cold, wet and miserable.
1. Some of the undergrowth to the left of the track has been tidied up and the track has been slewed to give a straight approach to the points.

2 - 4. Now that the track has been aligned and levelled, Balfour Beatty were installing drain pipes in the pouring rain.

Books

On Friday 16th January we were able to start moving books onto the new shelves.
1. Helen Parr places the first box of books on the shelves.

2. Soon the first row was full and Roy Stone is seen here working on the second row.

3. Later in the morning, Helen started to unpack the books.

Shelves

On Monday 12th January, contractors arrived to install new high capacity in the library. The plan calls for shelving to be installed in six rooms over a six week period. The former Maps and Drawings room is the first and the former John Price Room the second. These pictures show the Maps and Drawings room.
1. Monday afternoon and a start has been made in laying the base. This has to be perfectly level in both planes and wooden packing shims are used to achieve this (they reminded me of the metal plates under the track at Wakebridge).

2. By Tuesday evening the base was complete.
3. Mid-day on Wednesday with shelf units being installed.
4. Wednesday evening and the job is nearly complete.

Gold Lining

Signwriter, Trevor Kervick at work on Cardiff 131.

1. Masking tape is used for straight lines.

2. The curved ends of the lines are painted freehand.

3. Gold leaf is then applied to the damp paint.
4. The gold leaf sticks to the paint and the edges are cleaned up with cotton wool.

London and Berlin

1 & 2. Yesterday London United 159 changed its position in the workshop.

3. London Transport 1622 has been replaced by Berlin 3006.

4. Bogie side frames for 159.

Blackpool 717

1. Mick Smith checking the motor connections.

2. 717 was moved to the front of the workshop this morning. Note the trolley head is still missing.

John Hett

I am very sorry to report that John Hett, general manager of The Midland Railway Centre, died on New Years Day. His funeral will be held at Butterley on Saturday 17th January.

Wakebridge - 6th January 2009

1. The Museum's outside works team setting up an electric drill to drill a hole for a bond between the point casting and the rail.

2. Museum staff in yellow and Balfour Beatty's in orange.

3 & 4. Levels are checked using this laser beam.

Daugavpils - track work and Moscow crash

Daugavpils is a fascinating place - it is a Russian speaking town with a typical Russian tramway operating RVZ6s, KTM5s, a single KTM8 and some second hand Tatras located about 20 km inside the EU. I think this clip of track repairs was posted on 24th August 2007.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=a07ktudbDhA
I have found a box of slides entitled 'Blackpool 1985' so I will add some of these to the Historic Archive in the next few days. To answer two of the recent questions:
1. It will be black concrete with a brushed finish.
2. To spend more time with my family.
1. Blackpool 717's motors have been returned and will be refitted to the loco shortly.

2. MET 331's motors have also been returned one has been refitted to the far bogie.
3. Another empty room.

Finally I think this is from Moscow (the tram is a KTM8).

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=w4OwPSI5eJQ

An empty room

Work has been ongoing for several weeks to clear three of the rooms in the Library so that contractors can install new high capacity shelving. This is nearly complete and the contractors are expected to start work on Monday.
1. This room will be used to house the majority of Winstan Bond's book collection.
2. In future maps and drawings will be stored flat rather than in rolls. Here Chris Gent is seen checking a delivery of acid free board.

3. Unrolled drawings are protected by the acid free board and weights are used to stop them curling.

4 & 5. As always it is very difficult not to be distracted and start looking at the contents. Here is are plans for a proposed tramway between Derby and Nottingham via Long Eaton and Beeston which were printed by more former employer Bemrose & Sons.
Had this line been built Barton Transport might not have started their pioneering bus service from Beeston to Nottingham in 1908 which became service 5 between Derby and Nottingham and still exists as trentbarton's Indigo.

Tula

Tula is a Russian city 194 km south of Moscow.
Click on this link to youtube and then click 'watch in high quality'
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=muige4ItTBk&feature=channel_page

I don't know much about youtube but it is obviously easier for nesh OAPs to watch this in the comfort of their own homes rather go to Russia and get cold and wet. This is the real Tatra experience.

This one is more suitable for LRTA members.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2YSwLlTfvWw&feature=channel

2009 - Crich 50

I am looking forward to the celebrations to mark 50 Years at Crich for the Tramway Museum Society. I joined the Society as a 17 year old school boy in April or May 1959 and am hoping to be invited to participate in all three of the events described on page 20 of The Journal. I am also hoping that Kath, although no longer a member, will be invited to accompany me.

My credentials are:

• Media Day - I worked for a printing company for over 30 years and am proud to have been Editor of The Journal of the Tramway Museum Society for many years.
• Friends and Neighbours Day - in 1959 I lived in Matlock and in 1967 I moved to Ripley where I still live so I think I can relate to both Derbyshire folk and to the Society.
• Members Day - I was an active member in the pioneering days between 1959 and 1965.

Kath's main claim to fame is that she was the first woman to qualify as a tram driver and that the Bye Laws had to be changed to allow this.

Best wishes for 2009 to the Society and all its members and employees.