Cardiff 131

Cardiff 131 is now on an accomodation bogie in the main workshop between London United 159 and Chesterfield 7.
1. Looking northwards.
2. Looking southwards.
3. The east side has been panelled over.
4. The west side is partially panelled.

Volunteers and Staff

1. Today I was snatched from the Library and transformed into a lunch time relief tram conductor. I didn't have any uniform with me and only a pair of gardening shoes so I didn't meet the dress standards. However the alternative would have been to withdraw one tram from service on one of the busiest mid-week days of the year. I did four trips fully laden each time - leaving customers behind most times.
The trams in use were Southampton 45, Sheffield 74 and Blackpool 166 whilst the much larger Blackpool 40 was standing ready for service at the front of the depot.
2. After my conducting stint I went to the workshop for some pictures of Cardiff 131 and was invited to join them for afternoon tea. Here they are; a group of 3 employees and 5 volunteers.

300

1. The repainted display boards being attached to the sweetshop.
2. I walked upto the Bridge and noticed it is 20 years since it was formally opened. I can remember as I took time out of work to attend and when I got back my boss had been sacked. A memorable day! I will add a few pictures of the Bridge being built to the archive section in a day or so.
3. Today's trams were Blackpool 40, Glasgow 22 and Leeds 399.
4. Berlin 3006 being prepared for service at 1:30 pm.
Tomorrow Cardiff 131.

Sandtoft

1. Midland Red S15 homemade bus.
2. Kath and Mandy Spencer.
3. Brian King, Bob Hall and me.
4. I remember both London and Nottingham trolleybuses.

AGM Day

1. Brian Longworth, David Smith, Ian Yearsley, Colin Heaton before the meetings.
2. Representatives of the many members who kept the Museum running during the meetings.
3. Geoff Quarmby and Roger Benton.
4. Derbyshire County Coucil - Council Chamber in Matlock prior to the meeting.
I will be drafting a report of the meetings for David Smith, Journal Editor. Unless specifically asked not to I will post a very brief report here over the next couple of days.

Morning Meeting at Crich
Malcolm Wright gave an overview of the draft of Part 2 of the Trams Report. Copies of this report are available to members from Malcolm.Wright@tramway.co.uk
The role of the Museum and the second generation tramways was discussed (contemporary collecting is now encouraged) with offers of technical documents from DLR and of the public enquiry in Liverpool. Reference was made to a recent meeting of the engineers group at Crich who were impressed with the Library and that they may deposit papers on a formal basis - partly to overcome problems of the fragmented nature of the ownership and operation of today's tramways.
Restoration policy was discussed with John Shawcross emphasising the need for thoroughness in major restorations. Anything that is skimped over will surely come back and bite you. However we are now considering smaller projects to enable a trams active service to be prolonged such as new seat upholstery for Leeds 180, new axles for Newcastle 102 and a body overhaul for Paisley 68.
Alan Pearce asked about a Blackpool Centenary car and the anniversary celebrations in 2010. John Shawcross said that up to 6 trams might go to Blackpool (Glasgow 22, Blackpool 40, Southampton 45, Blackpool 167, Oporto 273 and Leeds 399). In return he would like to see 3 balloons (1 showpiece and 2 workhorses) and a boat. John would love to see a Centenary car but Blackpool will try to keep one of everything. Finally Geoffrey Claydon reminded the meeting of the implications of ROGS.
Glynn Wilton described Attitude Statements which are used by the NRM and that the Museum is adopting. Essentially these are a structured description of the vehicle, its condition and its percieved value and role in the collection.

AGM in Matlock
I have now drafted a report of the AGM for The Journal but if David Smith decides that pictures of buses would make for a more interesting magazine then I won't be offended.
Colin Heaton and Peter Moore expanded on The Chairman's Review and the Financials respectively and the Special Resolution was passed by 136 votes to 6.
The matter of financial irregularities is still sub judice as the people concerned are still being dealt with and the Board was unable to comment further.
The reasons for the catering losses were explained but no specific action was promised. (This problem is likely to become more accute with rapidly rising food and energy costs.) The overall electricity bill is expected to double from £26K to £50K.
In reply to a question about IT skills by Nigel Walker, Jan Barratt replied that she is working on an ICT project with 5 secondary schools which should result in an online resource. Nigel also commented that he relies on this blog for news at present (thanks Nigel).
A date for your diary is Spring Bank Holiday weekend 2009 when 50 Years of Crich will be celebrated. I am looking forward to this because I joined the Society as a 17 year old schoolboy in May 1959.
Brian Longworth described the work of the Membership Committee in drafting a voluteer policy. Roger Sexton was concerned about the shortage of tram crews and also stated that affordable catering is essential. Bob Pennyfather reported that there has been a good response to a questionnaire sent to all crew members and he is expecting a draft summary shortly. Changes will be made and the results shared with the membership. (I sent my rely a week ago suggesting that we will have to plan for a new world without a plentiful supply of volunteers because the older members are retiring and we aren't attracting young members to anything like the same extent of the local railways).

Derby Bus Station (& TMS AGM)

I took a few pictures of the site Derby bus station yesterday now that work on a replacement has started. 40 years ago I worked on the old bus station. I also first met Kath on the bus station so I would have preferred it to have been refurbished rather than demolished.
1 & 2. The bus station site.
3. My bus home in the temporary (nearly 3 years old) bus station.

Don't forget it is the TMS AGM in Matlock tomorrow. The three topics that I hope are addressed are:
1. Financial Irregularities which I think means the theft of our hard earned money.
2. Catering where the losses continue to escalate - what is the budgetted loss for this year? Two years ago the meeting was assured that franchising would be considered - lets get on with it and get the losses under control.
3. Communications. Why do some Society Officers never bother to acknowledge my e-mails even when they contain offers of help? I would like it to become Society policy for all e-mails to be acknowledged immediately and answered within a couple of weeks.

22nd of July - Summer Holidays

I forgot the captions. The point I was trying to make was that, athough cloudy, the weather was warm as evidenced by the group standing in front of Poplar House. Our customers were offered the choice of 3 enclosed trams when there were several open cars available for traffic (45, 68, 22 and 40 I think).

One Fine Day

I have now returned from Siberia and sufficiently recovered from the effects of sleep deprivation to resume this blog.
1. The Outside Works team were re-packing some sleepers between trams. I understand that they were flooded one day last week. It was fine in Siberia.
2. Blackpool 166 at Glory Mine.
3. 166 departing from Town End.
4. Paisley 68 passes two splendid Austins.

Siberia

Here are two examples of the pictures I have started to add of Siberia. Please click on the link to find them.

Leyland Buses

Hi, I hope you've enjoyed your holiday. As you will have missed the visit of Mike Sutcliffe's vintage buses, I thought I'd send you a few photos of them from the Edwardian Weekend, which you can post on your blog if you like. The photos were taken by my dad Tony Waddington and there are more of his pictures from this event, as well as my own thoughts on the day, at www.britishtramsonline.co.uk . Enjoy the photos and keep up the good work on the blog! Yours,Andrew Waddington.

1st July 2008 (3)

The problem area. There is no clear distinction between the roadway for vehicles, the pavement for visitors to walk along and an all-purpose open space.
Thanks for the comments to Sunday's post. There will be no further posts until after 17th July because of holidays in Siberia.
Finally arrived back at LHR at 22:00 last night - just 10 hours late. Total journey time 28 and a half hours from Irkutsk to Ripley.

1st July 2008 (2)

1 & 2. Chesterfield 7 and Southampton 45 passing the quarry.
3 & 4. If you go down in the woods today.......