The Bandstand

It was a sunny morning today and I had time to wander round the Museum looking for pictures.

1. On my way to Wakebridge I noticed a contractor at work on the bandstand.
2 & 3. The floor is being completely replaced and should be completed by Easter provided the weather stays nice.


4. The contractor asked me how long the Bandstand had been at Crich. I replied at least 30 years. "Was the floor new timber at that time?" "I think so."
This photo appeared in the January 1972 Journal. So I wasn't too far out in my estimate.
I will continue my walk up the line tomorrow.

The Journal & Trams

1. The April issue of The Journal will be in the post on Monday. I joined a small team of volunteers on enveloping duties on Saturday.

2. Glasgow 22 and Chesterfield 7 were in service.

3 & 4. The weather was as forecast - wet and windy. Chesterfield 7 passing The Library and then continuing up the line.

Kath & Jack

1. Kath posed at the controls of Cardiff 131 - I hadn't noticed the garbage truck in the background.

2. Today I met Jack Gordon for the first time. I think that Jack and I are the only TMS members to have attended Kniveton Junior School.

Better News & Thankyou

I have agreed to attend a Meeting at 9:30 on Friday morning which I hope will be the first step towards achieving my ambition of being accepted as a full member of the Library staff.

Kath and I attended the meeting at 9:30. We now await the outcome which because of holidays will not be for several weeks. In the meantime a big thankyou to all of those who have sent me messages of support. It would be inappropriate to comment further.

Bad news for me and some tram pictures

I arrived at 10:00 this morning for a meeting with Glynn Wilton, the Curator. He was busy so I had to wait around until 11:00 and I took a few pictures.
At 11:00 in the presence of Andrew Watkins, Financial Controller, Glynn gave me a letter stating that "my work in the Library will no longer be required". This blog which is regarded as harassment by Museum employees and my confrontational attitude in trying to get things done would appear to be the reasons.
I have appealed and will spend the rest of this afternoon reading Disciplinary Rules & Procedures for Working Members of the Society.
1. Glasgow 812, Paisley 68, Leeds 345 and Sheffield 330.

2. Blackpool 40 and Leeds 602.

3. Leeds 399 in use for driver training.

4. I joined the TMS in May 1959 when Southampton 45 was on display at the Montague Motor Museum in Bealieu. Perhaps one of the events for 'Crich 50' would be to pose 45 and 102 side by side as I think they were at Beaulieu.

Summer's coming

1. This morning it was warm enough to enjoy a cup of coffee outside.

2&3. Paisley 68 is now in the workshop for commissioning.

4. The far side of the Print Shop

Preparing for our customers

A lot of hard work is transforming Wakebridge from a construction site to a visitor attraction. The work was sufficiently advanced for passengers to alight from the trams last weekend but there is still much to do.

1. The new ashphelt is smooth enough to kneel on.

2. This former railway wagon will be removed shortly.

3. Leeds 399 being moved to the workshop for servicing.
4. Green tram and green doors.

Workshop

1. On Monday London United 159 was brought out for a while during a workshop reshuffle.

2 & 3. The absence of 159 enabled me to get these shots of Leeds 180, Leeds 345 and Glasgow 812.

4. Cardiff 131 is now back in the wash bay.

Overhead

This afternoon I had a chat with Neil Daft who described the recent work on the overhead line at Wakebridge.

1. The wire over the south curve has been raised and moved to the left so that it now over the centre of the track. Basically this was achieved by lengthening the span on the right and shortening and adjusting those on the left.
Step two was to check the height and alignment at the north end and to remove the siding wire. The remaining pictures show work in progress on step three to remove the frog.
2. It is not often that you can look down on the tower wagon crew.
3. John Markham at work.
4. This picture shows the work in hand. The frog has to be removed and the wire repositioned to the left where a new fitting can be seen on the span wire over the centre of the tower platform rail.

I missed the 9:15

Cardiff 131 made its first test run to Glory Mine this morning and I missed it. However here is a picture taken on a mobile phone at 9:25:36 and transferred via bluetooth to a memory stick.
The other pictures were taken at about 10:00 am.

Rail Greasers

The first rail greasers or flange lubricators at Crich were fitted to BS 8C rail at Cliffside in 1975. They are now being modified to fit the new 35G or Ri60 rails.
There is an article in the October 1975 Journal describing them by Richard Hartwell which makes interesting reading today.

Crich in 1959

When asked if I had any pictures of Crich in 1959 I could only find two and this one taken on 17th Janaury 1960. I don't know who took it and we think that I am the fouth person from the left.
Have you any pictures of Crich in 1959? If so would you be prepared to lend them to the Society for use in the forthcoming 50 Years at Crich celebrations.