Heaton Park Tramway projects progress

Since the opening of the new Lakeside Depot and the return to service of Manchester 765 in July, volunteers at the Heaton Park Tramway have been keeping themselves busy with work on some other trams in the fleet. This short report provides an update on recent progress involving both Blackpool 1 and Hull 96.

The most visible development in recent weeks has been the repaint of the tramway’s resident multi-purpose works car, Blackpool 1 (ex-752). Since returning home to the park last year after a period of outside storage at Bury, this tram has looked rather untidy and so it has been quickly repainted, with the aims of both helping to preserve the bodywork and improve its appearance – although the shade of green paint chosen for the body will take some getting used to! The truck frame has also been treated to a darker shade of green paint, whilst the bumpers have been repainted white and the visible parts of the underframe are now gloss black. The tram also sports attractive ornate fleet numerals on the dash panels giving no doubt as to the fact that it will now be known by its original identity as car 1.

Meanwhile, preparations for a more authentic repaint on Hull 96 continue. The lengthy task of stripping more than a century’s worth of paint from the body panels is the main task in hand, and this has revealed some very interesting details of the car’s original livery which were not previously known about. One whole side of the tram and the vestibule of one end are now stripped of paint and several painted quarter lights have been stripped back so that they can be varnished instead, once replacement fittings can be sourced. One end fender has also been receiving attention to replace the life expired timbers in place there. The seat backs have also recently been removed for attention and some of the glazing has also been taken out. A recent visit to the Hull Streetlife Museum has also been made by one of the MTMS Board members who took the opportunity to closely study the finer details of the livery worn by the only other complete Hull tramcar in existence – Hull 132.

Any readers who can remember 96 previously carrying Hull livery at the Heaton Park Tramway between 1988 and 2008 will probably know that the livery was previously white all around the top half of the tram. However, stripping back the paintwork has revealed that the paintwork on the corner pillars should actually be maroon, complete with gold lining and a thinner white line inside it. A couple of dedicated volunteers have also spent many hours chipping away at the trams internal bulkheads, revealing that these bulkheads were also previously painted maroon with gold lining and a thinner white line inside. It is intended to recreate all of this ornate lining-out, which should create a truly stunning vehicle once this work is completed. The thoroughness of this work means that no timescale has yet been confirmed for the completion of 96, but it should definitely be well worth waiting for and it looks set to be the smartest tram in the fleet once finished.

As well as the current projects, Stockport 5 also remains out of action awaiting the replacement of some rotten roof timbers – a task that will hopefully be carried out over the coming winter, as this popular open topper has been sorely missed this summer. With plans also afoot to assess the condition of Manchester 173 with a view to completing its long-running restoration, and Blackpool Balloon 702 also waiting in the wings for its turn to be restored to running order, there will certainly be no shortage of work for the dedicated team of volunteers at Heaton Park in the next few years!

With thanks to Martin Bryan for providing the information for the update on Hull 96.

A preview of Blackpool 1 with its near complete paintwork as the tram basks in the sunshine outside Lakeside Depot on 31st August, with service tram 619 in the background. (Photo by Joe Savage)

A close look at one of Hull 96's corner pillars, showing where numerous layers of paint have been stripped away, revealing hitherto unknown details of its original livery which will be recreated before it returns to service. (Photo by Martin Bryan)