Still in hospital

I have taken two steps forward and one step backwards but am feeling better again today. Thanks for  all the good wishes I have received.
I will try to update the blog from time to time until I get home when a normal service will be resumed.

Centenary car update

The total sum pledged by the end of yesterday afternoon is GBP 4985. We are very close but not close enough yet. We have 8 days left to reach the target. Please support the appeal now!
Wim Beukenkamp

London (x2) and Glasgow

Geoff and Hazel Quarmby sent me these two Pictures.  Thankyou.

Graham Feakins reports:
Dear Richard,
This is a link to some views of the mockup tram now arrived at Crich:
http://paulbigland.pikfu.net/set1141952/
It is a scheme that is not defunct (Mayor Boris Johnson shamefully took it off his “to do” list) but just ‘resting’.

Big Blue

These pictures were taken towards the end of Oct. They show a mock up of the end of a Citadis tram which, I think, was intened for the now forgotten north to south London cross river tramway.

Nice picture

Tony Stevenson sent me this picture of Blackpool 40 and Glasgow 812.

Message to Peter Levy

Hello Peter
Thanks for your comments.
Yes I do remember you from the early days at Crich. Please send me an email to RichardandKath@gmail.com and I will reply.
Best wishes
Richard

New and old in Blackpool

The Fylde Tramways Society has a feature - the fleet in pictures
http://www.freewebs.com/fyldetramwaysociety-blackpool/thefleetinpictures.htm

Of particular interest are a picture of 001 at Cabin and of 004 being delivered
http://www.freewebs.com/fyldetramwaysociety-blackpool/001.JPG
http://www.freewebs.com/fyldetramwaysociety-blackpool/004.jpg

The most interesting of all is this picture of Cardiff 131 at Pleasure Beach
http://www.freewebs.com/fyldetramwaysociety-blackpool/Cardiff%20131.JPG

Blackpool Centenary car

I was disappointed that a Centenary car has not been chosen for Crich. Whilst I did not particularly like them they were a response to a desperate situation when the OMO cars were worn out. The bodies were built by the local bus manufacturer East Lancashire Coachbuilders using common parts such as seats and window frames. The bogies and control systems were 'different' from other trams in the fleet.
However all is not lost. Wim Beukenkamp is trying to raise the money to save one of these trams. So far the response has been good and one may be saved in the nick of time. Wim is looking for pledges of money and I have asked him for further details so that readers of this blog can help.


Urgent Blackpool Centenary Class tram appeal
In order to preserve a fair selection of more recent Blackpool trams, last year Crich launched the Blackpool Fund. Sadly not enough money was donated to the fubnd to obtain every tram as originally planned. Reluctantly the Board of the TMS had to decline offers to preserve amongst others the last build British double deck tram 762 and the last Blackpool designed and build Centenary class tram 648. Understandable though the Board decision was, many tram enthusiasts and friends of Crich were very unhappy about this. Could Crich claim to be the National Tramway Museum and not preserve these two type of trams? Initiatives to try to reverse these decisions and create funds to support these schemes were started through internet and other social media. As a result, 762 has now been preserved at Crich after all. At present a last minute fund raising scheme has been set up through the TMS Yahoo group. The initiative is directed by Dutch TMS member Wim Beukenkamp and works as follows. Friends of Blackpool trams interested in preserving a Centenary Class tram for Crich are requested to contact Wim by email and state what amount of contribtion they are willing to pledge. Wim is collecting all the pledges and will offer them by the end of this month to the Board of the TMS. The pledges are for one purpose only, which is to preserve a Centenary class tram for Crich. If  the Board declines the offer, no money will actually be donated (no win no pay). Only after the Board has formally accepted the offer Wim will contact the contribuants and ask them to make their formal donation to the TMS Blackpool Fund.The target is to raise GBP 6400 by the end of November, which equates to GBP 8000 including gift aid, and as much as possible afterwards. Time is running out because Blackpool Transport has announced that all preserved cars must leave Blackpool by the end of this month. Those not taken away can be sold for scrap. Crich can really use a Centenary class tram, because such a tram will relieve the pressure on the sometimes overworked existing fleet, on the traffic department (because it’s an OMO) and on the overloaded Workshop. Those of you interested, please contact Wim Beukenkamp: wim.beukenkamp@hetnet.nl.After only a couple of days already more than GBP 3000 has been pledged, which is encouraging. But it’s still a couple of thousand pounds short of the target. Every pound counts, every pledge is welcome. Help save a Centenary tram for Crich and the national collection. Give the Centenary Appeal its final push!

Not good news

My diagnosis has been changed to Severe Acute Pancriatitis so I will be in hospital for many more days for tests and observations.
The longer term prognosis is still quite good and I expect to be able to take pictures at Crich and of the construction work in Nottingham which should start next year. I don't think I will be able to work as a tram conductor again.
At the moment I have limited access to the internet and it is too flaky to handle pictures but I can publish text.

I remain very concerned at the lack of a Treasurer at the Tramway Museum Society. Strong financial control has been the cornerstone of the Museum's success. Geoff Hyde ensured that money was spent wisely in the early days. Winstan Bond introduced more formal budgetary controls. (I overspent my Journal Editor's budget once and was quickly taken to task and never did it again.) Peter Moore continued Winstan's good work. A strong and independent Treasurer is vital to the future of the Museum.
TMS members should not stand idly by and let the present dysfunctional Board stitch something up. The Treasurer is elected by the members and not appointed by the Board. Is there anybody there?

Still in hospital

I spent my 70th birthday in hospital and am still in hospital because of an infection which is proving very difficult to clear.
Thank you to all my readers who have continued to look at the blog for news. As soon as I am allowed home I will resume blogging.
The news from Crich is that Blackpool 762 has arrived and Cardiff 131 is on loan to Blackpool for possible use as a track cleaner during the winter. It is now stored in the new depot. How wonderful! Will it perhaps run to Fleetwood? Berlin 3006's repaint into the former DDR cream livery has started.

Best wishes to all
Richard

Wot no Treasurer?

The good ship Tramway Museum Society is now sailing towards the rocks called Financial Disaster. Peter Moore finally resigned as Treasurer on 31st October having given at least 6 months notice.
It is now down to all TMS members to demand action perhaps by collecting enough signatures to call an EGM.
Richard Lomas

Hospital update

I am now recovering well in hospital.
All being well I will be able to go home on Friday 11th.
If this happens, I will restart this blog on Saturday.
Best wishes
Richard

Still in hospital

I will be in hospital for several more days so this blog won't be updated until I get home as it is just too much hassle here.
Thanks agian for all your good wishes.
Richard