What's going on?

Answer below.

Mark was right - these points and crossings are from North Pier and Cleveleys. They are not badly worn but some have been damaged by being yanked from the ground.

Bearings

A few weeks ago the new milling machine was being used to make bearings for LUT 159.

Historic trams on modern systems

Wim Beukenkamp has provided today's post.
I am sending you a picture taken on March 11, 2006 at the terminus of route 11 in Scheveningen (Den Haag).It shows NZH motorcar A327 (1912) from the Haarlem town system next to HTM GTL-8 3018 (1981).You will notice 4 TMS members present (John Shawcross, Jim Jordan, Richard Robson and Wim).
The second picture shows Amsterdam 72 (1903) and toastrack trailer 600 (replica, 1990) followed by Amsterdam 307 (1910) and trailer 663 (1912) in Amsterdam near the Haarlemmermeerstation and Havenstraat depot on September 18, 2010.
The third picture shows Rotterdam 537 operating on the regular tourist tram route 10 on November 1, 2006. The location is Coolsingel in the centre of Rotterdam.
Historic trams on modern systems? No problem.At least not in Holland.

A walk down the line (2)

The points at Cliffside were replaced three years ago.
Museum employees in yellow preparing a new electrical bond from the track to the traction pole.
Contractors in orange drilling bolt holes for the rail clips.

Less glamorous work - sweeping up autumn leaves.

A walk down the line (1)

The view from Glory Mine terminus looking southwards. The trolley reverser can be seen on the left. I hope this will be brought into use next year.
The overhead line has not been enhanced visually by the addition of spacers between the bracket arms. I think that the overhead is slack and needs to be tensioned. At present it reminds me of Calcutta 20 years ago.

Looking down towards Wakebridge.

Boys toys.

A walk up the line (2)

Looking from Cabin towards Wakebridge with the new PW Yard on the left.
The flat wagon has been brought out of retirement with a load of ballast to pack the sleepers adjoing the Wakebridge concrete raft.
The first 3 sleepers have been repacked.

Looking towards Glory Mine.

A walk up the line (1)

The new lengths of rail have arrived and are being installed by contractors. They will be bolted on to the concrete base.

Some new wooden sleepers have been added to the double track near the Bandstand.

Correspondents

Special correspondent Frank Bagshaw has sent me this picture of Metro 07 at The Royal in Wolverhampton.

Our Midlands correspondent has sent a literary contribution in the form of a poem.

NTM AND THE ANNIVERSARIES ...

1985: Seven little vintage trams going to the sea –
    All got there and operated, so successfully!


1998: Three little vintage trams going to the sea –
    All got there and operated, so successfully!


2010: Seven little vintage trams destined for the sea –
    Got there and operated ... ? ... H'm ... Ah, wait and see ...


One withdrawn for overhaul found something needing a fix – then there were six ...
... despite the seemingly-obvious substitute to recreate 1948 that nobody ever seems to have mentioned or even thought of?


One hid in the workshops till everything was over – then there were five


One set off completely unprotected, met a tree – then there were four


"Just what we wanted, can't send 'deckers now, how sad" – then there were three ...


"Two out of three ain't bad" sang Meat Loaf in the seventies: but what to make of three out of seven ... That actually got there? – Of which two had been before, one twice


Unfortunately bad luck now took a hand:
RMT bogies, dry rail, sharp curve on track tight and new – then there were two ...
... That actually managed to operate


One – newly overhauled but not fully run in? – went demic – Leaving just one ...


... And it too threw a wobbly – So then there were none!


Seven little vintage trams ...
    ... destined for the sea –
        Got there and operated ...
            ... successfully ... ... ?


(From our Midlands correspondent)

Workshop and track

Volunteers painting the tower wagon underframe a nice shade of grey.

A view from the Bridge of the concrete base for the new track..

Tower wagon

When Geoff Quarmby took this photograph on Saturday 30th October, he didn't realise that it would be the last time he saw the tower wagon.

By the following Friday the tower wagon had been completely dismantled. The underframe will be re-used for the new tower wagon.
Here are a couple of pictures of the old tower wagon.

My understanding is that in order to comply with current legislation, the new tower will have two platforms but at a fixed height.

1977

Click here for Part 6 of my illustrated history covering the years 1976 and 1977.
Manchester 765 being driven by Ian Souter.
Tony Bacon and I think Keith Chadbourne on the newly restored Johannesburg 60.

Gateshead 5 on the wash bay alongside the workshop. It is carrying authentic adverts.
These pictures were taken in 1977 by Graham Feakins.

Leeds & Blackpool

Leeds 399 is having its paint work touched up.


Blackpool 166 has been lifted from its bogies and the motors removed. The paintwork on both dash panels has been flatted down.