Heaton Park events round-up

The Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester has hosted a few low-key events recently which have previously gone by unrecorded here on British Trams Online. To set the record straight, we now catch up with what’s been happening at the park, which should confirm that life is never dull at this unique preserved tramway.

On Tuesday 28th May, the tramway hosted its first ever Teddy Bear’s Picnic. This was also a rare opportunity to see and ride on a tram through the park grounds on a weekday. Manchester 765 was operated due to torrential rain, and carried loads of families including children clutching their favourite soft toys. Despite poor promotion and even poorer weather, the event was reasonably well attended and a repeat performance is expected next year.

Unfortunately, the second planned family-orientated event of the year, a pirate themed day, has now been cancelled. It had been intended to decorate Vanguard 7 (619) to resemble a pirate ship, but due to the delays on depot construction work, this tram has remained out of service and was therefore not available to fulfil this role. This has been another reminder of the desperate need for the new Lakeside Depot to be completed so that the tramway can move forward – thankfully this major project should commence imminently and no other events should have to be axed because of such hold-ups. It is intended to hold a pirate day next year which will hopefully be another great success.

On a more positive note, tram driving experiences were offered to the general public to celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday 16th June, with a round trip at the controls of Blackpool Brush car 623 on offer at the bargain price of just £10. As usual, this proved very popular and provided some welcome extra income for the Manchester Transport Museum Society to assist with their various projects. This led to a decision being made to offer TDE trips like this more frequently in 2014, a development which should be welcomed and may even offer the chance to drive different trams, as the Heaton Park fleet should have expanded by then with Blackpool 680 expected to be on site, whilst Leeds 6 should also be back in traffic.

Meanwhile away from the tramway itself, some preparatory work has been undertaken at Bury in readiness for Blackpool Balloon car 708‘s move to Sunderland which is expected shortly. With the overhaul of Leeds 6 also making good progress, there is plenty of activity at present, and the depot construction work will only add to what is already a fascinating year at Heaton Park.

 

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1 Response to Heaton Park events round-up

  1. Martin Bryan says:

    Thanks as usual for the right up, we are all working hard to become not just a local attraction but a much bigger tourist attraction for the whole family, we must be doing something right as well as even my wife and children assisted with the teddy bears picnic.

    I should however say that as reagrds 680 it is unlikely that to be available for Tram driving experiences due to the need for the driver to sit down whilst driving leaving no room for an instructor inside.

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