The annual Trans Lanc Rally day, staged by the Greater Manchester Museum of Transport, sees a huge array of historic vehicles displayed in the vast grounds of Manchester’s Heaton Park. To compliment the event, an enhanced tram service operates through the park and usually provides the tramway with its busiest day of the year – and 2016 was no different with three different cars in service over an eight hour period.
At times, three trams were all running simultaneously – these being Hull 96, Blackpool 619 and Manchester 765. Of note, this was 96‘s first use at a rally since 2009, and its first in Hull livery for even longer! The tram interest was not solely confined to main line activity though, as two more elusive vehicles were extracted from Lakeside Depot for display, these being Manchester 173 (still retaining some of its decorations from the Somme centenary commemorative event held in July) and the rather more dilapidated Oldham 43. The latter car’s remains are being seen as an increasingly useful tool in illustrating to the public the challenges of tramcar restoration, and the state that some trams arrive at museums in before they are restored to working order.
Further interest was provided in the museum and gift shop near to the Middleton Road park gates, where a small model tramway exhibition delighted visitors. A sales stand was also present at Lakeside, in order to capitalise on the number of people at this area of the park.
Whilst the 2016 season has presented the Heaton Park tramway with a number of challenges, particularly due to at least one of their regular volunteer drivers being on sick leave over the summer, it is always good to see the line thrive at events like this and the previous Somme centenary event. The tramway is always good at participating in bigger events in the park and Trans Lanc 2016 was no exception, with a team of volunteers doing their best to put on an impressive show for the many visitors who took a tram ride as part of their day out. The result was a grand total of 500 passengers being carried on this one day, which will no doubt be a welcome boost to the tramway’s coffers and assist with the various projects which are either in progress or are planned for the near future.