So, it’s the School Holidays, and it seems like every now and again we are getting some nice weather here in Heaton Park. But what do you do when your children are bored??
You take them for a tram ride! Throughout August the Tramway and Shop will be open every Wednesday between 12 and 5pm. Sadly we can’t guarantee the Museum but we will do our best.
We can’t guarantee the weather either, but if it does rain you have the choice of either keeping dry on the tram, or keeping dry in the Shop. Whatever happens, we’ll always be happy to see you, so if you’re passing through the Park on a Wednesday in August, please come and say Hi!
623 enjoying the Sunshine! Photo courtesy of C E McClare
Today saw our very first day of operatin for 2019 here at the Heaton Park Tramway. With weather conditions varying from cold to warm and then back to cold again throughout the afternoon, it stayed dry enough for us to operate a full service through to 5pm, with both Hull 96 and Blackpool 623 in operation.
The Tramway is now open every Sunday until the 17th of November. Our Saturday opening runs from 4th May to 28th September, and we will be open on all Bank Holiday Mondays through to the end of August, with trams operating between 12 and 5pm every day.
Do keep an eye on the website for news of our Special Events, some additional Operating Dates to be announced, and advance information on some weekends in June when the Tramway will be CLOSED due to other events happening within Heaton Park.
623 and 96 pass outside the Shop. Photo courtesy of C E McClare.
Today saw the departure of 765 via a low-loader on its way to Beamish Museum.
We were hoping to track it all the way by using the wonders of modern technology, But…. Someone forgot to charge the battery… DOH!
It got as far as Hartshead Moor on the M62 before we lost communication with the tracker. Lesson learnt!
Today also saw 752 (1) in the sunlight for the first time this year, as she was towed by 96 from Lakeside depot to Middleton Road depot to allow for diagnostics on the electrics to be undertaken.
Beamish Museum and Heaton Park Tramway are pleased to announce that Manchester 765 will visit Beamish Museum for part of the 2019 season.
Matt Ellis, Keeper of Transport at Beamish Museum said: “We have been busy planning the Great North Steam Fair and the tramway will be playing a part in this event. Manchester 765 will take part in the event and then stay with us until late June. It is excellent that we can work with other organisations to enhance our events and expose exhibits to a wider audience.”
Geoff Senior, Head of Operations at Heaton Park Tramway said: “We have a history of working with other heritage organisations and our trams have regularly visited other tramways across the UK. It is great to be working with Beamish for Manchester 765 to make a return visit. It seems even more appropriate for this loan to take place 70 years after the Manchester tramway network closed.”
In exchange for the loan of the 765, Beamish has agreed to undertake some maintenance work on the tram. The tram will move to Beamish in late January or Early February, this will allow time for this work to be carried out prior to entering passenger service at the Great North Steam Fair. 765 will then stay at Beamish until late June and will operate most weekends.
The Photo shows Manchester 765 on its last visit to Beamish in 2011. Photo Courtesy of Gareth Prior
We are now able to accept donations from Amazon via Amazon Smile. All you need to do is click on the link below and select “Manchester Transport Museum Society Limited ” as the organisation you want to support. https://smile.amazon.co.uk
There is no additional cost to you, as it is Amazon who make the donation. Just remember to use https://smile.amazon.co.uk for your amazon shopping.