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As we are approaching the end of our operating season, we will only be running on Sundays until our last day of the season on Sunday the 17th November.
After several weeks of testing and preparation we have finally been able to confirm the tramways reopening date.
We will be reopening on Saturday 26 of October 2019 and we would love for you to come and join us.
The reopening ceremony will be at 11:30 at Middleton Road Depot.
We are hoping for some high profile guests, but we are still waiting on confirmation.
Shortly after the ceremony we will run a 3 car service with Manchester 765, Hull 96 and Blackpool 623 until approx. 16:30.
All fares are free for the whole weekend.
If you haven’t visited us before, please see below for directions.
We would recommend using South car park off Sheepfoot Lane as it is closest to the museum.
Sheepfoot Lane carpark: https://goo.gl/maps/aoBbqNHT8UFnMszt6
Middleton Road Depot: https://goo.gl/maps/7QuAR42Azmd1pycv8
If you have any questions or queries, please email Info@hptramway.co.uk
It is with great sadness that we must announce that we are indefinitely closed due to the theft of overhead wire. Our dedicated volunteers are working hard to work out how best to replace missing wire and repair other damaged caused.
***Update*** We have now launched a GoFundMe page at the suggestion of many of our followers. If you would like to help us get the Tramway up and running again, Please click the link below.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/fundraiser-for-the-replacement-of-stolen-overhead
So its been a while since we have posted anything on here, so here is an update for the year so far.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
765 is packed up and ready to go.
This morning 765 was loaded on to the low-loader and will now spend the day making her way towards the north-east.
765 is off to Beamish Museum for their Great North Steam Fair in April.
Whilst there, work will be undertaken on her bearings.
Feeling nosey? Follow her journey here!
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.
