Outside & Inside

1. A film crew at work making a DVD about a Government initiative called 'Pathways to Work' which is sponsored by Job Centre Plus and the NHS.
2. Maintenance on point work prior to the beginning of the daily operating season next week.
3. The star of the DVD sitting on Blackpool 167.
4. Meanwhile in the workshop the first of the quarterlight windows has been fitted to LUT 159. Sources are being sought for matching blue glass - perhaps as locally as Ambergate.
Today I was introduced to two new employees, coach builder Richard Stead (son of Neil), and fitter Gemma Bond (no relation to Winstan). I look forward to meeting the new coach painter next week.

Blackpool 40

Blackpool 40 and Leeds 180 were in service today and as can be seen the weather had improved.
I was at Crich today for two reasons - firstly to attend a theory session as the first step in my tram driver training and secondly to take part in interviews for an Assistant Journal Editor.
I thought the driving theory was very professional and I am now aware of some bad habits that I must loose. I will now study the handbook carefully before the next step which is practical training on a hand brake car next week.

April Journal

The printers assure me that the April Journal has been delivered to Crich so it should be posted out early next week. Here is a sample page which I have converted from PDF to JPEG format.
The picture shows Cardiff 131 in 1963.

Decorating

The catering areas were being redecorated today but the staff were hiding behind ladders - perhaps to avoided being photographed.

Welcome Host

Today I attended a 'Welcome Host' training course. I really really enjoyed it and would encourage all fellow tram conductors to attend. I would make it mandatory for inspectors. There are a lot of small things that we could all do to improve the visitor experience at The Tramway Museum. Having done this we could then lobby for the big improvements in a 'grown up' manner.
1. Tutor, Tina Heathcote.
2. Alison, Angela, Tom, John, Christian, Jill and Tina (arms folded = grumpy).
3. Same group (arms outstreached = happy).
I had hoped to attend a tram driving theory course tomorrow. What has happened to this? No one will tell me. No one replies to my e-mails. Does the Museum want my services as a volunteer? Should I bother?

Nothing much

1. A workshop view of Gateshead 5. This was never one of my favourites as I found it difficult to stop.
2. An outdoor scene. I'm not sure what they were doing. I'll find out in time for the July Journal.
The April Journal has been passed for press and will be printed later this week and delivered to Crich by Friday 23rd for dispatch w/c 25th.
I plan to attend a 'customer care' course at Crich this Friday 16th which I am looking forward to.
Less certain is my application to join the tram driving school.

More trees (and sunshine)

 

More rain

As forecast it rained today. Leeds 180 and Glasgow 1297 were in service.
 

Blackpool 717

 

Lavatories

The lavatories (toilets) at the back of Barnett's Sweet shop are being refurbished.
These were the first flush toilets with mains drainage at the Museum. A member's father, Jack Welbourne, built the building but volunteers, including me, dug a trench down to the road at Town End. Every Sunday we wielded our picks and shovels and every week it rained and washed the dirt back in again.

Leeds 345

I have had a wonderful time today as conductor on Glasgow 1297 and also for a few trips on Glasgow 812 - two of my favorite trams. Thank you to everyone who made this possible (workshop, inspectors, drivers).
1.Glasgow 1297 ready to leave track 1 in the workshop.
2&3. Leeds 345 seen between Depot VI and the meeting room. It had been moved here because it was parked in front of 812 in Depot V.
Because of weddings (not mine) and other distractions, I will not be able to be a tram conductor again until late May. In the meantime I have a Journal to produce in March and I am also attending a 'customer care' type training course in March. I am looking forward to this, both to find out my own weaknesses, and to press for more customer focussed tram crews.

Berlin 3006

Today I was at Crich in a Journal editor's capacity - wandering round and talking to people. Berlin 3006 (I personally don't like the nickname Erich) and Blackpool 40 were in service.
1. High level view of 3006 showing the resistances on the roof.
2. Leeds 180 in the workshop being prepared for service by a subterainian Mike Crabtree (you can just see a blue smudge behind the lifeguard).
3. The late afternoon sunshine and 3006 at Town End.

Fire engine

Fortunately it was a false alarm.

The Day that the Rains Came Down

The weather forecast was right! It rained but despite the fact that no one volunteered for the woodland walk, I think most of our visitors enjoyed their visit.
1. The tug known as 'Postman Pat' is sometimes used to shunt trams to and from the depot.
2. Glasgow 812 and some impressive umbrellas.
3. Leeds 345.

I belong to Glasgow

 

Trams are running today

1. Blackpool 40 from on high.
2. Kieran looking at a picture of a tram in Ripley, his home town.
3 & 4. Glasgow 1297 and Blackpool 40 in operation.