Best in Amber Valley

"Best in Amber Valley
Your votes have helped the Midland Railway - Butterley becomes Amber Valley's 'Pride of Place'. The recent survey to find the favourite local attraction has placed the Railway top of the list in Amber Valley with 46% of the votes. We also had the second highest number of votes in the whole of the East Midlands. Thank you very much for voting for us."

Congratulations to the Midland Railway Trust for this achievement. Where was the National Tramway Museum? In 6th place with 6% of the votes. Heage Windmill came second with 12%. Crich Stand came 7th with 5%. I have been aware for many years that the Midland Railway was more highly regarded locally and often wondered why. I suspect that local people find both the railway and the windmill more welcoming.

2008 is likely to be a difficult year for all Derbyshire tourist attractions with the widely predicted turn-down in the economy and credit squeeze. The NTM has the advantage of a sound short-term financial base but both paying visitors and active voluteers are declining. This trend must be arrested and I would like to see a major review of how the Tramway Museum Society ensures that both visitors and Society members are made welcome at the NTM and to ensure that next time we are up there at the top of the list alongside the Midland Railway.

More progress on 131

Horse Tram Driver's lament

More 131

1. Work is progressing on 131's underframe.
2. 131's traction motors.
3. An old paint tin found on 131. I understand that 'Williamsons' still supply paint to the Museum.
4. New boy, Neil Rowland, working on 131's truck. I suspect he is dismantling it.

Cardiff 131's New Underframe

Twen, Twen, Twenty-two

Glasgow 22 made a brief appearance today for some visiting dignitaries.
The current issue of 'Contact' makes very disturbing reading with visitor numbers and thus revenue in decline. My suggestion is that a Board Member is made responsible for 'The Visitor Experience' and nothing else. Customer Care should be second only to Safe Working. We have high standards and procedures regarding safety but I am not aware of aything formal on Customer Care. Standards vary tremendously from excellant to non-existant.
Monitoring systems followed up by actions are required to ensure that all our visitors receive acceptable standards. To concentrate minds we should reduce the admission price by £1 for every door that is closed and any visitor leaving with a genuine grievance within our control should get their money back.

A Beautiful November Day

It was a beautiful day today with the sun shining out of a clear blue sky so I went for a short walk at 1 o'clockish.
1. Some of the trees on the Woodland Walk now have red paint marks on them. I don't know why.
2. Two of the BTCV team at work.
3. The Children's Play Area had been receiving attention earlier in the day.
4. Not a tram or a volunteer in sight.

Conservation

November

1. Leaves on the line.
2. The Outside works team have been tree lopping at Wakebridge. GMJ and the flat truck are used as transport.
3. It was warm enough today for the Workshop door to be open revealing Leeds 399 and Blackpool 40.
4. I have been helping to sort out small exhibits in the Library and came across this artifact. It appears to be some form of ticket cancelling machine. Can anyone identify it?

London trams

1875

This is a horse tram timetable for February 1875.

Museum Closed

What a difference a week makes! Last week three trams were running fully laden. This week the Museum is closed on weekdays.
1. The Outside Works team with diesel engine GMJ.
2. Berlin 3006 enjoying a well earned rest in the workshop.
3. Five o'clock and it is going dark. (I think there must be some specks of dust on the camera lens.)

Artifacts

Are you sitting comfortably?

KY52 HXR

Today was a beautiful sunny Autumn day and it is also school half term week so three trams were needed cater for the visitors. Despite the comments on my Leeds post, I still think we should offer as wide a variety of trams as possible.
1. Workshop staff enjoying a tea break in the sunshine.
2. Blackpool & Fleetwood 2.
3. Sheffield 74.
4. Glasgow 22.