1411

BELOW: The (working) tram wash at Old Trafford Depot, the driver is seen in the mirror. (Rob Moorcroft.)

BELOW: Do you see the point? The route is set to run through Road 10 of the Depot. (Rob Moorcroft)
There are 17 through lines (Roads 7 to 23) here, Martyn Brailsford, far right, pays very close attention.

BELOW: View from the (extreme) end of Timperley Siding south towards Altrincham (Phil Logie.)

BELOW: After setting back from the end of line at The Trafford Centre as the light fades. (Iain Scotchman.)

BELOW: Were we the first to go this far? The 'Normals' opposite certainly look puzzled. (Iain Scotchman.)

Kev and Paul were delighted to run through a different road from the ones that they had done on their
earlier visit (which included the only non-through dead end line in the depot to the end - see plan).

Paul & Tim were on raffle duty (which took £705 - thanks!), a vital part of our tours to maximise the
donation, this time to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Manchester Youth Space, nominated
by Metrolink. First prize wasn't a jar of honey. We were soon up to speed and heading south towards
Altrincham. It was extremely unusual, and possibly a first, to see a high numbered tram on this line as
they are not fitted with the equipment required to run beyond Timperley for the NR signalling.

Thus we were forced to turnback; Timperley Reversing Siding did what it says on the tin. The indicator
showed that the route was set to turn right and the driver eased the tram over the points and close up
to the stops. The crew changed ends and we were soon on the move north again with the Bridgewater
Canal close by for much of the way. Of note our well known member, tour participant and aficionado
of all railways electric, Paul Steane, pointed out his house as we ran though Sale (no, it wasn't for
sale). Furthermore, a very pleasant young married couple from Sale had joined the Society the week
before especially to participate in this members' only tour. Clearly if appearing on 'Mastermind' their
specialist subject would be Metrolink past and present. We hope that they keep their membership up.
Just beyond Sale is a new trailing crossover (see plan) due to be commissioned at Easter we were told.

Approaching Old Trafford Depot (again!), Kev announced that there was a problem with the leading
cab blade (again!) and we had to make a detour into the depot via Gate 1. The fitters attended to fix
the wiper (ahem) and we exited via Gate 2 (more crossovers and track scored). We continued in and
out of the much sought after Cornbrook Pocket line and on through Deansgate-Castlefield left hand
loop platform. The slender 169m Beetham Tower loomed large over us, completed in 2006. It is no
longer the tallest building in the City, as the more recent South Tower in Deansgate is 201m high.

Our tram paused on the viaduct near to the former Manchester Central station, for another reversal,
to take the Outbound Line towards Imperial War Museum. The expanse of the former docks of the
Manchester Ship Canal and transformed Salford Quays were visible to our right. After the descent
from Pomona, the tramway runs on the route of the Manchester Ship Canal Railway giving 'overlap'
for those lucky old enough to have done the latter. Of note the internal passenger information screen
showed us going to 'Pomona' (the quietest stop on Metrolink) all day - we did actually. Participants
were told that this is a quirk of the automatic system when the external indicator is showing 'Special'.

We had expected to turn back at Village but, no, it was on to The Trafford Centre, not 'Intu' now but
'into' the very end of the right hand line. Once the tram in the adjacent platform had left, we shunted
over to cover the other end of line and crossovers. Double trams wouldn't reach that far and only run
on Old Trafford match days, so this was a great bonus. We had a 20 minute break; most stayed near to
the stop. The local roads were jammed up around 16.00 this Sunday with shoppers returning home as
the shops closed. The strange things people like to do on Sundays, almost as bad as washing the car.

Everyone on, we set off, leaving the retail emporium, threading our way back to the City, sometimes
sharing the way with roads. Near Barton Dock Road stop we crossed the Bridgewater Canal. Our tour
curved right past the ITV studios opened in 2013; ITV was concerned about 'noisy trams' passing as
they were trying to record Coronation Street, so insulation and lubrication was installed to reduce the
track noise. Just past Wharfside stop our tram paused, reversed, crossed over and then returned to
Village. Of note at Wharfside are the series of cattle pens football fan corrals with a card 'tap in'
required to escape to the trams on match days. Another interesting piece of rare track was soon to be
covered, Imperial War Museum Turnback from the Outbound to Inbound line - a long 'middle line' to
stable up to three double ECS trams on match days. Trafford Park line completed!

Our tour made its way via Deansgate-Castlefield middle road and past the Neo-Gothic Manchester
Town Hall, one of the finest examples of this style and Grade I listed. We stopped at St Peter's Square
Platform 'C' (inbound to The Delta). The rust on the trailing crossover between the two centre tracks
was gently removed as we reversed and headed over it back to Deansgate-Castlefield centre road.
Another reversal (it's a wonder the driver didn't go dizzy - try selling raffle tickets and work out which
line you are on, let alone which way you are going!) and we took the Second City Crossing route.

At Exchange Square trams turn back in either direction when there is a problem, or engineering work.
Naturally we reversed and trundled over the crossover to retrace our earlier route through to
Cornbrook Pocket (coming to a stand), reversed and returned through the City streets to Piccadilly.
Here, with the good relationship developing between the Society and Keolis Amey, some Metrolink
staff boarded with 'goodie bags' for all. These had branded pens, badges, a notebook etc. Thank you.

The tour was running rather later than expected but most people didn't mind with the extra track
covered (unless they had a train to catch - but no one had a bee in their bonnet about this). We were
soon 'on our bike' heading for Velopark. Reversal there allowed us to cover the lengthy through
Velopark Turnback (again for stabling trams on event days). Approaching Piccadilly there was another
bonus as we took the former scissors facing crossover from the Inbound line to Outbound Platform 'B'.
The other 'blade' of the scissors has been partly dismantled. Martyn 'Mapman' Brailsford recorded this
to amend our Society Metrolink plan (with this BLN) and TRACKmaps Book 4 (which he also edits).

This was the end of the tour but participants were kindly allowed to stay on for the return ECS working
and most did. We reversed in Sheffield Street Pocket again, particularly pleasing two participants who
had missed it first thing due to their late arrival. From here we ran through Piccadilly, past The Delta
and via Deansgate-Castlefield middle line (again!) to Cornbrook Pocket where our tram paused.
The route indicator showed we were set to cover the final Pocket connection to terminate at Trafford
Bar. Incredibly our tram had travelled 124.51km (77m 32ch), similar to King's Cross to Peterborough.

Three cheers for our very enthusiastic and knowledgeable drivers and crew; nothing was too much
trouble and they were able to answer our many detailed questions. Most participants caught the next
tram back to Piccadilly to round off a most unusual and satisfying rare track tour. It is understood that
Keolis Amey were very impressed with the way everyone 'beehaved' themselves and our £4,054
charity donation (from just 70 participants) was far greater than they had hoped for. The stewards
were praised for keeping everyone informed, collecting litter and standing. The tram returned to the
depot 'spotless'. Thanks to all involved in organising, delivering and partaking in this tour which ticked
all of the boxes. Hopefully a further tour/s will be organised to cover the eastern and northern routes
next year; maybe Kev will even sport a beehive hairstyle to celebrate so may then need a honeycomb‽

:Details must be checked ..1411 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN.
2572] Only 55 Days Until Christmas! The Railway Benefit Fund charity Christmas Shop is now open at
https://shop.railwaybenefitfund.org.uk/ for Christmas cards, calendars etc. 0345 241 2885.

2573] DalesRail cuts: That's 50% OFF Off-peak Day Returns until Sat 1 Apr 2023 rather than service

cuts for once! Applies on the Leeds - Settle - Carlisle and Leeds - Skipton - Lancaster - Morecambe
routes for Dales Railcard holders (with up to 81% off for accompanying children). The cards are just
£10 per year but you have to live in the area! Not valid for local journeys Skipton - Leeds/Bradford or
Carnforth - Morecambe. Select 'Dales Railcard Winter CDR' at ticket machines or if booking online.

2574] Sat 19 Nov; Blackpool Trams, Balloon 715 farewell tour: Owned by Fylde Transport Trust (FTT),
before going on static display at Tramtown. Blundell Street (14.00) - North Pier & Tower heritage stop
- Bispham centre line - Thornton Gate centre line - Fleetwood inner loop - Fisherman's Walk (rev) -
Fleetwood outer loop - Cleveleys (rev) - Thornton Gate (rev) - Cabin (reverse) - Little Bispham - Starr
Gate (wash line) - headshunt (rev) - Starr Gate Depot (rev) - North Pier (rev) - Pleasure Beach - Tower
(rev) - Blundell St (break approx 80 min before the evening illumination tour) - Cleveleys (rev) - Starr
Gate - Foxhall (rev) - Blundell St (approx 20.00). £20 per person or £12 for either part, all proceeds to
FTT projects. Advance payment only, email [email protected] or message FTT on Facebook.

2575] 2 Feb 2023; Railway Children Sleepout: https://bit.ly/3sDzsbt try sleeping rough at a station!

CONTACT DETAILS: See BLN 1397 - full list in BLN 1350 (18 Apr 2020) on our website or via BLN Editor:

●Editor: Paul Stewart [email protected] 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX 01684 562862 07790 652351.
●Bookings: Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Road, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL 07983 541887.
●Sales: Graeme Jolley [email protected] Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, Powys, SY20 8NN. 07484 646542.

●Printed by Willow Printing & Design Ltd [email protected] 75/79 Back Cross Lane, NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS,

WA12 9YE 01925 222449. ●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, STOKE GIFFORD, BS34 8NP.

X.206] ABOVE: Weedkilling special at Ramsey, Manx Electric Railway, 12.52 Fri 4 Nov 2022. (George Hobbs.)

X.207] RAIL MEETINGS IN EASTLEIGH:

The South Hampshire branch of the Southern Electric Group and the southern area of the Light Rail
Transit Association (LRTA) hold joint meetings in Eastleigh. Anyone with an interest in railways and
tramways is very welcome. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month, except July and
August, at the Eastleigh Railway Institute in Romsey Road, SO50 9FE, starting at 19.30. This venue is
close to the railway and bus stations, and ample parking is nearby. We request a £3 donation to cover
costs. Please note that the meeting room is on the first floor accessed only via stairs.

The future of the Institute is in some doubt, therefore the 2023 meetings are subject to confirmation.

●6 Dec 'Mixed Railways': Martyn Davies shares more of his slide collection.

●3 Jan Mike Russell presents a pot-pourri of his 2022 travels.

●7 FebMark Greening - The South of England in the Early 1990s.

●7 Mar John Laker will share some more of his ever-popular tram ciné library: BR Southern,

Lisbon trams 1984, Soller 1983, Blackpool centenary 1985 and LU Standard stock on the IoW.

●4 AprEric Nicholass on the Talyllyn Railway.

●2 May Bob Hodges presents more live action from his tramway DVD series, taken from the LRTA

2022 trip to Dresden, Magdeburg, Olomouc, Ostrava, Katowice, Krakow and Chestochowa.

●6 Jun Members' slides.

For further information about the Southern Electric Group's south Hampshire branch, please contact
secretary John Goodrich on 023 8067 0028, or visit www.southernelectric.org.uk The LRTA area
officer is Martin Petch who can be contacted on 023 8077 4186. See our website: www.lrta.org