Another very Tiring but good day.

Well at last after 111 years 107 is now back on its own set of wheels and actually ran on rails properly for the first time since October 1901.

The team gathered at Whitkirk at 08.00 gain and the first task was to extract the running gear from the 'midddle garage.  It rolled out on its temporary track panels and then had to move laterally about six feet to line up with the driveway that it was to be lowered down.  After we realised that the gauge narrowed when we moved the track we ended up using pinch bars to slide the whole assembly sideways.

Here it can be seen ready to be lowered down the steep drive using Paul's car as an anchor point and a large block and tackle.

The running gear got to the bottom of the drive safely

The crane lorry turned up and it was quickly loaded for its trip to Middleton.

There it was unloaded and weighed at the same time, though we needed binoculars to read the scale on the weigh unit.

The chassis was then moved to near the body and the old underframe taken off.

The body was then lifted with the Middleton Railway Trust's Smith of Rodley crane and the running gear was pushed under the body.

Though various obstacles had to be overcome by 4.30pm the tram was safely united with its running gear.

It was then pushed back into the Engine House where it will be on display for the next few weeks.  The cross stays, tie bars and brake gear need to be refitted.

A fuller explanation of the move is in the picture gallery on this link.

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.

Not a huge amount of progress this week.   Jim had been in on Tuesday to put a coat of white gloss on and the body now looks very  nice.  Today he continued rubbing down ready for the next coat in due course.  I had picked up the rocking arms of the upper deck seats so Ian spent the day putting primer on those.  We now have all the parts for the seats.  I spent the morning putting floor latts down on the platform at B end and then in the afternoon spent time checking that everything is in order for the move next week.   Ian then rubbed down the stair treads and put undercoat on so that the steps will look a bit better when the tram moves.

Three of us again today and much preparation for the move in two weeks time.  Ian was with us till after lunch and spent the time rubbing down the platforms ready for latts to be fitted.  They had got quite dirty with assorted bits of trodden in mastic, paint etc.   Jim attended to more rubbing down and preparation and then later gave the interior a good sweep out, which took some time.

I continued with floor latts.  The idea is to have as many as possible fitted when we move so that we have less loose timber to take with us.   I started on D end platform.  This is tricky as the platform tapers and each latt has to be marked and cut individually after the previous one has been fitted.  However with a little jig and a few trial attempts this got sorted out. We ran out of screws so didn't quite get finished but this is the end result.

I won't be able to fit all of them until the dash is positioned and we know where the various parts of the brake ratchets and draw gear go.  However it looks better than I expected.

A very warm and muggy day but quite a lot got done.  To begin with we had a rehearsal for how we are going to get the tram out of the garage when we move it.   I laid atemporary set of wooden and then steel rails in front of the garage and levelled them up.  Jim and I then shoved it as hard as we could and managed to move it about 3 ft before we ran out of walls to push against with our feet.  It's a lot heavier than the last time we moved it.  However the good news is that it moved.

Here it is with the paintwork showing well. Jim and Ian then got on with rubbing down, initially by hand and then after a trip to B & Q with power sanders, which improved the work.  I spent the morning drilling a set of floor latts and countersinking them, then in the afternoon screwed two sets down on the roof.  It's good to see the start of the seat layout showing on the roof.

Away from the tram I collected the brake columns this week and here is one of them.

After a dollop of grease it all worked well, which was a relief.

Just 2 weeks to go to the move.