The John Price Memorial Library

During January and February the Library has been upgraded with the installation of new storage shelves.
The Library consists of 7 rooms spread over three floors. On the ground floor is a store room which has not been changed and four others: Reading Room, Drawings, Artifacts and Journals. On the first floor there is the Company Records Room and on the second floor there is the late Winstan Bond's Book Collection. In addition, housed in the Assembley Rooms, are the photogrphic and film collections and more store rooms.
Major construction is complete except for the Reading Room.
1. The shelving in the Drawings room is now complete with the majority of drawings stored flat. But as can be seen in the picture there are still quite a lot to unroll.
2 & 3. In addition to shelves, the Artifacts Room has separate storage area for pictures, destination blinds and uniforms.

4. The Journals Room.

Eagle Press and view from the gallery

Leeds 180 and other stories

1 & 2. Leeds 180's truck has been dismantled for inspection and the motors and wheels are awaiting collection by contractors. One of the reservoir cylinders for the air brakes has failed an ultrasonic test and new ones will have to be made by a specialist supplier.

3. Liverpool 869 is now in the workshop for commissioning.

4. A number of benches are being re-manufactured with new seats and backs.

5. Perhaps one of the benches will be situated outside the Red Lion for use by a parking attendant.

Signs

1. As one project ends and a contractor leaves another begins. The roof of the Print Shop is being renewed.


2. The 'Ring your Gong' sign at Wakebridge is back in place.


3. Old and new signs at Glory Mine looking south.


4. Wakebridge looking north - trams go faster up hill than down.
5. I will add some pictures of The Library later in the week.

No scissors

I have just read today's Contact which reports that the track at Town End will be replaced on a like for like basis. Obviously I am disappointed that I received no support for my suggestion of a scissors crossover.
However there is still time to consider enhancements for the rest of the track which is likely to be replaced within the next decade.
I will update this page with my suggestions - please send yours to Bob Pennyfather of the Development Committee.

Wakebridge 19th February

Sheffield 330 was the first electric tram to Wakebridge at 11:45 and I missed it so here are some pictures of it at work during the afternoon.

Three employees and one volunteer laying a 'man trap'.

This is the final picture in the Wakebridge series which started in November and followed the reconstruction of the tram track.

There is still a lot of work to do to make the area attractive for our customers and I will continue to take pictures at Wakebridge whenever I can scrounge a ride on a passing tram.

Misc

1. Point cleaning.

2. Richard Stead and Sheffield 330.

3. Martin Gurr, Assistant Operations Supterintendent, and Peter Bird, Rolling Stock Engineer, checking and agreeing new track side signs.

4. Rather surprisingly there was also a photographic shoot of some motor cars.

Preparations for opening

Preparations for opening or spot the volunteer!
1. New staff posts have been made.
2. Cleaning the tack and points with a high pressure hose can be dirty work!
3 & 4. Inspecting the overhead line.

The planned opening date now is 28th February and the volunteer was driving GMJ.

View from above

The flat wagon could be said to be the first tram to Wakebridge other than the test runs before the concrete was completed.
The major outstanding task now is to re-align the overhead wire particularly over the curve shown in the top picture. I suspect a new pole will needed to replace a long term temporary pull off.

Wakebridge 16th February

Balfour Beatty formally handed over the responsibility for Wakebriadge to the Society on Friday. As will be seen from these pictures the trackwork is complete but there is still a lot of detailed landscaping and tidying up to do.

Snow causes delayed opening

Details of the postponed opening of the Museum are set out below. There is still snow on the ground this morning but the forecast is for milder weather.

"As we celebrate our 50th year at Crich I have to inform you that snow has delayed the start of the new season. The museum took the opportunity to replace old track at Wakebridge over the winter period but the work which was on schedule, has been interrupted by the recent heavy snow falls and freezing conditions.

As you will be aware, Crich is located over 1,000 ft above sea level. So, while rest of the county is thawing, the museum is still sitting under a blanket of deep snow. With freezing temperatures for the next few days, it looks unlikely that it will clear in time to enable the completion of the trackwork etc., to facilitate our opening to the public over half term week. The museum was due to open from the 14th - 22nd of February. It will now be decided in the middle of next week, whether to open for the weekend on Saturday 21st. February.

I attach a link to the local TV news, where you can see Glynn Wilton, our Curator and Laura Greaves from our Assistant Marketing Manager explaining the position along with ‘guest’ appearances from other members of staff.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/england/7888731.stm "

Snow on high ground

1 & 2. Although the snow has gone from low lying ground there is still plenty at the Museum.

3. This rack in the workshop now contains a kit of 'sticks' for LUT 159's top deck seats.
4. MET 331 has had its doors removed for painting.