A Tiring but Great Day

Well at last 35 years after travelling up York Road on a Ford Transit in its unrestored state, 107 was on the move again and even made a rail borne journey.  Starting at 8 am the team, made of of volunteers from many sources, including the regulars plus Andy Bailey from the Crich Workshop and many others started extracting 107 from the garage that's been its home since April 1977.

The first task was to build some temporary track and run it out of the garage.   This was't easy but after various forms of manpower it was eventually towed out by Paul's car using my old climbing rope, also dating from 1977.

Its new coat of gloss Leeds tram primrose and Leeds Tram white looked rather nice in the morning sun.

Then we had to put it on blocks and extract the temporary rails and wheels ready for lifting.

After some delays the correct lifting gear arrived and after being assembled the tram gradually rose into the air.

It was then tied down on to the lorry and set off down York Road, passing the Shaftesbury where it had been photographed in 1977.

It arrived sfely at the Middleton railway where it was placed on an accommodation trolley and then was towed by a diesel shunter very slowly towards the Engine House.

It was then pushed very carefully backwards into the Engine House

There it was carefully wiped down and hopefully next week it will be able to rest on its own wheels for the first time since 1901.   More pictures of the move can be found at this link.