A fellow tram conductor

We rode on Stockport 5 and the conductor, Martin, introduced himself as a reader of this blog. I was flattered. We enjoyed our day at Heaton Park and look forward to visiting again when it is less busy one day next year. In the meantime please send me some pictures during the winter. Thanks.

Manchester (or Blackpool) 7 at Heaton Park

Three trams were in service on Sunday. One loading/unloading at each end and one on the single track section of the line.

I'm not sure if this tram is now regarded as Manchester 7 or Blackpool 7 or even Blackpool 619. Click here for history.

Approaching the old terminus. The lefthand track was not in use.

Crossing the road to the new terminus.

Prague 352 for Manchester?

This picture of Prague 352 was taken in Amsterdam some years ago. It is similar to Prague 180. The most noticeable difference being folding platform doors.

Manchester 765 at Heaton Park now and perhaps Amsterdam soon

Standing at the new terminus.

Leaving the new terminus and .....

... crossing a road.

A Manchester tram standing on genuine Manchester tram rails at one of the park entrances.

An exciting prospect:
"Since February the MTMS have been inconsultation with the AmsterdamTramway Museum (Electrische Museumtramlijn Amsterdam) towards the possible exchange oftramcars. Although details are still being discussed it is possible that Manchester 765 will go to Amsterdam with Prague 352 visiting the Museum. We understand that it will be the first time a BritishElectric Tramcar has operated in mainland Europe and, there is a possibilitythat it could actually run in the City of Amsterdam.
Stephen M Hemingway  MTMS Special Events Committee."

Stockport 5 at Heaton Park

Chesterfield & Blackpool

Blackpool 167, Chesterfield 7 and Southampton 45 were kept busy on Friday with Berlin 3006 making one trip. I was conductor on 7 which is seen here at Glory Mine on the morning test run.

A queue built up at lunch time.

Mid-afternoon at Wakebridge.

Our last journey.

Edinburgh Tram Decision Overturned

http://focustransport2011.blogspot.com/2011/09/edinburgh-tram-decision-overturned.html

Thankyou

The gentleman in the blue shirt recognised me yesterday and told me that he loves this blog and reads it everyday. Thankyou very much.
I now know that his name is Terry and as I suspected the young lady is his daughter Karin. He has emailed me today:
"  We had a lovely day at Crich yesterday, and it made my day to see and speak to you! I sincerely hope you keep up your enthusiasm for trams and your Blog, as I would really miss you if you were not there. And when we go to Crich again, I hope we will bump into each other again.  "
Terry we didn't have much time to talk yesterday as the trams were quite busy. I will be more than happy to meet you again at Crich one day and to show you round. I have worked as a tram conductor for quite a lot of Fridays this year and hope to continue next year but it would be better to meet on a day when I am not on duty so we have plenty of time to chat.

Heaton Park in Sept 1983

Since these pictures were taken Blackpool box 40 has been to Blackpool and Crich and is now back in Blackpool but still belongs to the TMS. Manchester 765 has been to Blackpool twice and Beamish and is now back at Heaton Park. I'm not sure who owns it.

Blackpool

Mike Conroy-Hargreaves has sent me these pictures from Blackpool.

The new track - seperate from the road at Metropole.

The Western Train doing  the FTS 40th anniversary tour on Monday 29th August.

Tram stop at Victoria Street definitely not in use.

Has anyone any pictures of the few trams that are running in Blackpool this year?
Does anyone know which trams are coming to Crich and when?

British Trams Online report that the first of the new Flexity trams has been delivered.

Tramways Monthly has a picture. 

Peter Narramore has sent me this picture of unrebuilt balloon 723 at Little Bispham in late June. The trams are still only operating from Pleasure Beach to Little Bispham with no service to Cleveleys or Fleetwood and no trams before 09:00.

Riga now

Martin has sent me a couple of Riga shots showing the "now" to your "then" .

 The lone survivor of the old cars undergoing restoration in Depot 5.

Finally here is a recent picture of 1901. The new tram in the background makes me think that perhaps we should go to Riga next year.

Riga 1990

We first visited Riga in June 1990 when Latvia was still part of the Soviet Union. It is difficult now to imagine the economic situation 20 years ago. Basically the shops were empty and our big treat every day was to have an ice cream at 3:00 pm.

There was considerable tension between Latvian and Russian speakers. The driver of the Museum tram was an outspoken Latvian nationalist who was taking a party of Russian speaking school children round the city. He insisted we travelled on the front platform with him, closed the bulk head door and ignored the children.

Most of the trams were Tatras running in pairs with both trolleys on the wire. Electrically operated frogs were used with complicated twin wires at junctions.

Route 10 had a handful of these older bogie cars and trailers.