Monday 3rd December 2012 was a momentous day in the history of Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway, as it was on this day that excavation works on the site of the new tram depot were undertaken. After much hard work by volunteers clearing the site of foliage, a JCB digger was hired in for the day and the very large hole that resulted from the day’s work represents a major step forwards for the tramway’s most exciting project yet.
As most readers are probably aware, the new depot will be constructed near to the present Lakeside terminus, alongside the boathouse and cafe which overlook the park’s picturesque boating lake. Visitors to the park during 2012 will have seen progress on preparing this area for the planned new building, but now that the bank has been dug out, really visible progress has got underway. Over the next few months, the foundations for the depot will appear and then a brand new depot will be constructed. An ambitious target for completion has been set to enable more trams to be on site in time for a planned spring gala day in March 2013, but more support will be needed if this is to be achieved.
The second depot at Heaton Park will allow the resident tram fleet to expand considerably. New arrivals expected once the new building is completed will include two recent acquisitions from Blackpool: Ex-Towing Railcoach 680 and Balloon car 702. 680 is expected to enter service shortly after it arrives – another incentive to progress work as quickly as possible – whilst 702 is likely to need some attention before it can run at its new home, having been stored outside at Bury for the past year. The fact that both trams were in excellent condition upon withdrawal in Blackpool will no doubt prove advantageous when it comes to commissioning them for further service.
Other trams which will benefit from the increase in covered accomodation at the park, will include Blackpool railgrinder 752 – which is also stored in the open at Bury – and Leeds 6 which has been at Beamish Museum since April 2010 and remains operational. Vanguard car 7 will also be able to be housed indoors again, and should be back in action for summer 2013, when it should prove very popular on fine days. Clearly the new depot will be a momentous development for the tramway, and will finally allow the Manchester Transport Museum Society to show off its fantastic, varied collection of trams in their rightful home.
In the past critics have questioned how realistic the MTMS’ proposals are, but today’s developments show that this dream is going to become a reality. To help this to happen, donations to the depot appeal are still extremely welcome, and funds will of course also be needed to transport some of the trams mentioned above to the park. Anyone wishing to help can do so by visiting http://www.heatonparktramway.co.uk/ and donating online. Many generous people have got the MTMS to this point, and just a few more will allow this project to be brought to its conclusion early next year.
A view from 3rd December shows excavation works on the site of the new Heaton Park tram depot at an advanced stage; more earth had been cleared by the end of the day. In just a few short months this land should be occupied by Britain's newest tram depot! (Photo by Joe Savage)
Just one of the 'new' trams set to move to Heaton Park when the new depot is completed: Blackpool 'Balloon' 702, seen being prepared to leave its home town on 6th May 2010. (Photo by Andrew Waddington)