There was a bonus before the start; the usual Jim Sellens' souvenir ticket came in an envelope with a £5 cash refund reducing the members' fare to only £15.The tramway did very well financially too! This was because the number attending (44) was pleasingly far more than expected. The first tram used was Hull Corporation Tramways '96'. Small tram, large party. It was very cosy, shades of rush hour Victoria Line with the rolling stock and wider headway of old. After loading outside the Museum we ran forward, then set back into the Museum building itself, doing this twice to the specially cleared end of the single line, the trolley pole leading on the way out. The Americans and Australians have a word for this. The former 'back poling', the latter 'spear poling'. Some of their systems used terminus Wyes*. The Americans went one better, there is a town 'Wyeville' in Wisconsin. It is named because of a Wye on the Union Pacific nearby. [*From 'Ys' but essential a triangular junction for turning.]

The tram then went to the Middleton Road park entrance gates using the famous 200yd of the track that is original 1905 vintage in its original location (said to be the only such example in the World). The right hand line was taken in direction of travel to the line end (an immovable planter box on the track). All the reversals on '96' involved passengers on the rear platform changing ends so that the driver had the leading platform to himself. The tram then returned past the Museum towards Lakeside, shunting twice again en-route, for full measure, into the short stub at the pre-Lakeside terminus at the Boating Lake. This is not wired, the pole continued at an angle on the adjacent running line wire. Our tour ran into the right hand road, in the direction of travel, of the new (since our last visit of 7 Sep 2013, four years ago) Lakeside tram shed as far as the rear wall, again twice! Participants then left No.96 and transferred across to Manchester Corporation '765'. This was luxury, more room and even a wooden seat.



This tram returned to the Museum, reversing at the headshunt end of line twice, as had become the norm, and out to the other (left side) stub at Middleton Rd, twice of course, via the other adjacent original 200yd of tramway. A staff member held the pole rope loosely when the tram speared to re-wire if needed (it was not). After a photo stop it was back to the Museum for hot drinks, biscuits, a good natter with other members and a look round the interesting Museum and shop. This was the forecast finishing time so I left to reach downtown Manchester in time for my booked train back to Euston.

As a child I travelled on London trams on family visits, but these were on conduit and plough routes. I did do a pole ride at the last gasp, Sat 5 Jul 1952 (final day of London Trams), Lee Green to Woolwich and back. It was my 8th birthday; Dad enjoyed it as much as I and the tickets are still in my possession!






As to future tramway development 'Manchester's second tram system' - the Heaton Park Tramway - received a large donation of used tram rail and fittings, spares from Metrolink's Second City Crossing in February. It was from the single track bidirectional section used during the St Peter's Square work. Heaton Park Tramway has previously been extended three times and is now about a kilometre long.

The slowly diminishing number who stayed were able to complete the middle and left hand roads in Lakeside shed on Blackpool tram '619', almost to the end and the non-electrified facing stub (its first use) off the left hand line installed to bring in a first generation Metrolink tram. Taking advantage of its extra long tram pole, we then went the 'extra mile' considerably outside the Middleton Road left side gates (new track for all). A fantastic end to a very friendly and comprehensive trip, with thanks to John Cameron and the supporting BLS cast such as Kev Adlam, Martyn Brailsford, Jill Everitt and Jim Sellens.