More exciting news from the Heaton Park Tramway where they will be holding A Celebration of the British Works Car on Sunday 30th November. This unique event will see examples of two types of works car being in operation - Leeds 6 (aka Hull 96) and Blackpool Railgrinder 752.
Leeds 6 represents the converted passenger car as it started off life as Hull 96 before becoming a works car and later being sold on to Leeds. This tram is being re-launched to the public on the day after a 12 month overhaul. The purpose built works tram is represented by Blackpool 752, a general purpose works vehicle and rail scrubber.
Also on the day Heaton Park are proud to be hosting the launch of Works Trams of the British Isles by David Voice. David is an acknowledged authority on tramway history and has been writing tramway books for 25 years and this will be his 22nd published book. The book is published by Adam Gordon of Brora, Sutherland who specialise in tramway history publications and also sell second-hand and antiquarian tramway books.
Additionally there will be a models competition bring along your models of works cars to be in with the chance of winning a very special prize the chance to drive one yourself!
A special vehicle guest for the day will be a Bolton Tower wagon provided by Greater Manchester Museum of Transport at Boyle Street.
The full programme of events is as follows:
10.00 3.00: Works car models on display and works car model competition
10.00 11.30: Tram driving experience using 752, pre booked 1 trip TDE (contact John Whitehouse on 01282 436802 to book)
10.30 12.00: Tram service with Manchester 765.
11.30: 752 posed on siding at Lakeside for photos.
12.00: Official re-launch of Leeds 6. Trams on display, 6 and 752 side by side outside depot. 765 and Horse Tram L53 on the depot road.
12.00 12.30: First runs with 6 using bow collector for photos and filming.
12.30: launch of the book with photographs etc. on/with the two works cars.
1.00 + :Book signing and sales.
1.00 3.00: Tram service with 765.
1.00 2.00: TDE with 752. One trip available on the day, pre-booked.
2.00: Judging of the model competition. Small scale and large scale prize.
1st prize copy of Works car book and an afternoon TDE voucher.
2.00 3.00: Demonstration runs with 6 and 752, parallel runs etc. Passenger service terminates at centre crossover, giving a photo opportunity of works and passenger cars working around each other. Also demonstration of scrubbing gear on 752.
3.00: close to the public.
3.30 5.00: Trams in the dark for invited and pre-booked guests, including dusk run of 6 and 752 in the dark, which is when works cars were usually active. (To book, contact John Whitehouse on 01282 436802)
5.30 Close.
Source: J D Whitehouse, Operations and Commercial Manager, Heaton Park Tramway