Extravaganza

These will be my last pictures of 2006. I have chosen the Extravaganza because few pictures were published of this year's event.
1. We used to have a Ford Escort similar to the AA one being passed by LCC 106.
2. What can I say?
3. Colin Heaton working as a waiter at the Red Lion.
4. Finally a picture of me in the Red Lion listening to Keith Terry.
Finally a few thoughts on the year. I was both surprised and delighted to be asked to produce a few more issues of The Journal. It was hard work because printing technology has changed significantly since 1995. However I invested in a new more powerful computer, a large flat screen to able to see a complete double page spread and more surprisingly an instruction book. I have also enjoyed my work cataloguing maps and timetables and hope to complete the initial survey by Easter. My disappointment was that my application to join the driving school was rejected.
For 2007 - I hope to be able to produce a few more Journals, carry on with the timetables and to be accepted by the driving school. Finally I intend to continue with this blog although Google is trying to persuade me to upgrade to the latest version of the software which I am reluctant to do.
Season's greetings to all my readers.
Richard

TMS President

1. President Keith Terry chatting to Barabara Stevenson at the Christmas dinner.
2. Conversations.

Christmas Dinner

1. Thanks to all those who made it happen - Angela (right and her team). It was a very good meal - we thoroughly enjoyed it.
2-4. Some of the guests.

December Sunshine & Subscriptions

I went to Crich today to help Keith Chadbourne and Chris Thornburn envelope the January Journals. They will be posted on Monday and so most members should have them before Christmas.
I also paid my membership subscription and now have a nice new pink membership card. Have you paid yours yet?
1. An unusual view of Glasgow 1297 emerging from the side of the workshop.
2-4. Each of the three service cars in the sunshine at Town End.
Leeds 345.
Blackpool 40.
Glasgow 1297.
Tomorrow is the last day of tramway operation at Crich in 2006. School half term in February is your next opportunity for a tram ride.

Christmas Lights

1. Look carefully and you can see Christmas Lights in the leafless trees.
2. This effect came from pressing the 'lucky' buttomn in Picassa.
3. The Exhibition Hall at night.

Street Fair

1. Today the trams are terminating outside the Red Lion with roundabouts blocking the street at Stephenson Place.
2. Birds of prey outside Depots III and IV.
3. Christmas Market in Depot V.
4. Glasgow 812 at Wakebridge (the other cars in service were Glasgow 22, Blackpool 40 and Leeds 345).

Christmas Market

Just a reminder - it is the Christmas Market, Santa etc this coming weekend (9-10th Dec).

The Journal

Today the January 2007 issue of The Journal was passed for press. It is scheduled for delivery to Crich on Friday, 15th December and to be posted out the following week.

Depot and Sam's tidy-up

1. A winter view of the depot complex. It is difficult to realise that Depot II (the longest section - behind the street lamp) is the same Depot II as seen in March 1961 in the Historical Archive.
2. Sam, the printer, is having a tidy-up. I promised to come back in a few weeks time to see the results.

Wot no tram?

1. A glimpse at the interior LUT 159.
2. Liverpool 869 has been lifted from it's bogies.

November sunshine

1. Sheffield 74 at Town End with newly trimmed trees in the background.
2. Leeds 399 passing the Red Lion.

Glasgow & London

1. Glasgow 1297 and Glasgow 22 in the Workshop.
2. Lennox MacEwan checking his touching up and painting skills.

Inside Work

Work is continuing fitting out the interior of LUT 159 - to see it you will have to a) volunteer to work in the Workshop or b) wait for the January Journal. 

Outside Work

I was pleased to see the 'cherry picker' in use on building maintenance. I was never happy using it as a junior member of the overhead line team. I was used to a rigid tower wagon and this machine would sway gently or remind me that action and re-action are equal and opposite.

East Germany Day

1. We used to have a Skoda similar to this one - its number was JCH 978N and it was red.
2. The three Trabants on the left have Polish number plates and have been driven over from Poland by Polish speaking drivers. The one on the right was the only one of the four to have a two stroke engine. (Way back in 1977 I drove our Skoda to Gdansk and back - yestrady's picture in Berlin was taken on that trip.)
3. Berlin 3006 going up the line passing a Wartburg. The problem I have with this scene is that 3006 is in its post German unification livery and it was unusual for either the trams or the cars to be as smart as this.
4. Eight comrades at Town End.