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2019 So Far….

So its been a while since we have posted anything on here, so here is an update for the year so far.

Tony loving the weather and driving 765

At the time of writing, we are all still recovering from our Tramtastic event on Sunday 7/7/19

The team worked tirelessly to get everything ready for the day.

The whole line required safety checking and cleaning after 4 weeks of downtime due to the ParkLife event held in Heaton Park.

765 made it back home (eventually) after spending some additional time gaining a tan on the M62.

Adam and Toby building the track that 765 will soon roll down.

All service cars (96, 623 and 765) fell on the same week for our deep service, which meant a full day over the pit for each.

Martin examining the bodywork of 765.

The museum and shop both had a late spring clean.

After rebuilding the lifeguards and protective ironwork on 765, we managed to sneak a quick test run in.

All work was completed in time for Tramtastic.
Below are a selection of pictures taken on the day.

Our next event this this year will be the Translancs Transport Festival which will take place on the fairground at Heaton Park.

http://www.gmts.co.uk/what-s-on.html#translancs

The tramway will be operating everything we have that is serviceable and there may also be surprise at the start and end of the day (winky face)

As part of the national scheme, we will be taking part in the “Museums at Night” event on Saturday 02nd of November meaning we will be operating a service after dark, hopefully with an illuminated tram.

After our Season Swansong Event on Sunday 17th November we close for the winter. This is a time where our workshop team get a chance to work on all those nitty gritty jobs that we have been putting off all year like finally tidying up the workshop and tidying up the doors on lakeside depot. We may also have a bit of a suprise ready for when the 2020 season starts up in March 2020.

So should we expect from 2020?

Well…

Thanks to the enormous popularity of our Taster Tram Driver Experience in 2019 we are introducing an online booking system with time slots most weekends. This will increase our overall ability to facilitate more experiences throughout the year.

We will hopefully be introducing a new online shop, and the ability to track our trams in real time via our website. As far as I am aware, we will be the only tramway to offer this.

We may have 2 additional cars in our passenger carrying fleet.

5 is incredibly close to being completed, with just the top deck seats needing to be secured, some fiddly woodwork bits in the lower saloon and its final coat of paint on the truck.

619 is edging closer and closer to completion with its floor receiving its second coat of floor paint, scallops being measured and a test fit, and seats to be fitted over the winter shutdown, it is looking more and more likely that she will be ready by the middle of 2020.

We are still on the lookout for new volunteers, so if you fancy getting your hands dirty in the pit, serving in our shop, guarding on one of our trams, guiding visitors around the museum or even coming in and having a good chin wag please get in touch. info@hptramway.co.uk

We are still taking donations for the Lakeside Depot extension.

Current Projects

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Is Summer finally here???

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
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Start of Saturday Service

4th May bring the start of Saturday services to the tramway.

For the first time this year, the tramway will start operations on Saturdays

Saturdays (4th May – 28th September 2019)

First Tram : 12:00

Last tram : 16:45

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First Day of the 2019 Season

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.

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765 Test Runs at Beamish.

Today saw the first of a series of test runs of 765 at Beamish in glorious sunshine.

3 of our volunteers attended Beamish Open Air Museum to participate in running tests.

A few issues were spotted, and will be resolved this week.

765 may even be seen working a bit of public service over the half term.

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765 Leaves for Beamish!

What a day! Phew, i’m glad that’s over.

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.

752 towed by 96
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Getting Ready For Service!

Are we nearly there yet… Yes!

This weekend saw a lot of work undertaken in Midleton Road depot.

96 and 623 have had a full service inspection ready to carry passengers for the first day of service on the 17th February.

Work has continued on 765 including brass polishing, paintwork touch ups and packing a few extra pairs of socks ready for her holiday to Beamish.

The track has had a bit of TLC to clear the winters sludge from the groves and all the points have been cleaned.

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765 is off on Holiday!

Manchester 765 to visit Beamish Museum

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

765 In Beamish