Plans to build a new tram depot at Manchester’s Heaton Park, in which to house some of
the Manchester Transport Museum Society’s growing collection of historic trams, have made another small but potentially significant step forward, with the plans for the building now available to view on the tramway’s website. The design drawings have been on display at the current depot/museum building for a while now, but this move allows interested people who may not be able to visit the park to get a glimpse of what is in store.
The new depot is to be constructed opposite the boating lake at Heaton Park, close to the new tram terminus which opened last summer. It will have three tracks, each of which will provide space for up to three small four-wheel trams, or alternatively two larger bogie cars (such as the Blackpool streamliners). The Society need to raise £30,000 in total to turn this plan into a reality, and although some very generous donations have already been received with gratitude, more help is needed! Some initial work to prepare the site for
building work – such as clearing away foliage – has already taken place and, with planning permission now approved, contractors have been approached who could potentially get involved with the construction stage. Although the MTMS are keen to use volunteer labour where possible, contractors will be needed to carry out the building work and this inevitably pushes up costs considerably.
Having a second, larger depot at Heaton Park will enable several trams currently in storage to take their rightful place in service at Manchester. These should include the likes of Blackpool Railcoach 680, which remains at Rigby Road, Blackpool Balloon 702 which is stored outside at Bury, and Leeds 6 which has been on loan to Beamish Museum for almost two years. These trams will undoubtedly add a great deal of extra interest to one of the UK’s growing heritage tramways, but only with support from the enthusiast community.
Don’t forget that, even by visiting the tramway and having a few tram rides, you’ll be doing your bit to help the British tram preservation movement – and hopefully enough support will be forthcoming to allow the project to progress during 2012.
Any readers who would like to help the MTMS by donating towards their appeal should
click here – http://www.heatonparktramway.org.uk/ – where you can donate online
using PayPal, or to download a donation form to submit by post.