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Chairman's Chat This is my first opportunity to thank all of you who have renewed your subscription to the STG this year. Thank you for your continued support during a year in which membership privileges are greatly reduced due to the Park closure. Hopefully however, as the Park development progresses later this year/early next year we will be able to give our members some privileged access to the tramway while the Park is still closed to the public. As is usual, this edition of Trolley will be sent out to all of last year's membership. Can I ask if you have not yet renewed your membership yet to reconsider as, with a small group like ours, membership numbers do count? Bob Sutherland our treasurer has advised me of the generosity of a number of our members who have included donations with there subscriptions. Thank you for this additional support. Membership income is used to finance improvements to Scotland's only tramway and we do hope to be able to offer unique events to our members later in the year. The group held its AGM in Watermans Restaurant on Monday 19th March 2007. We had a very good turn out, thank you to all who attended. A number of issues required full and frank debate causing the meeting to run over our allotted time. This unfortunately resulted in George Murray's lecture and slide show, which was planned as light relief after the meeting, to be cancelled. The Committee remains as last year with the addition of Jim Wilson who in the past has contributed a great deal to the running of the Group. No tram movements have taken place since Bob Connor returned 53 to the shed on the last day of operation. The complete removal of cladding from the main hall sheds, along with the relocation of switchgear, resulted in power to the tramway overhead being switched off at an early stage during the Park's refurbishment. The Builders have also taken over the top half of the Park down to the bottom gate limiting access to that section of the tramway. Work on the Park refurbishment is progressing with a proposed reopening date early next summer. It is hoped that the building work will be completed in December. The period till the Park opens to the public will be used to reinstall the refurbished exhibits to the main hall. Significantly, the tramway should then be available which will allow the trams to operate. This is important as dampness getting into the motors is always a concern. Driver training will be available, both to refresh the skills of existing motormen and also for anyone with the correct aptitude wishing to operate the trams. A Park workforce led by David Sloan has made a start to track improvements. In some areas the track has been able to move slightly which has caused damage and possible trip hazards on the cobbled roadway. In affected areas the setts have been lifted. The rail is packed and then bolted down firmly onto the concrete base. Once the setts are reinstated the areas treated look very smart. The main Depot sliding doors will also be receiving attention. The door nearest the railway line has had a few bumps over the years. This has caused damage which has allowed the metal fabric to drop. This makes it very difficult to open the doors and there is a real concern, particularly if only one person is available, that the door would not close. Quotes have been obtained and when approved a firm will be engaged by the Park to repair the door. Thursday evening work nights have been held throughout this period with only two evenings being missed due to events beyond our control. Again I would like to record the Group's appreciation to Dave Sloan for his commitment to these evenings. lan Morton, a member of the Friends for a number of years, joined our Thursday night team one evening to see what we were doing. He must have been happy with what he saw as he has joined the Group and now regularly attends work nights. Why don't you follow Ian's lead and come along one evening? Diisseldorf 392: George Murray, lan Morton and I are still involved removing areas of damaged exterior plastic coating from this car. Progress can be seen but is slow as large areas of damage require treatment. Lanarkshire 53: Bob Sutherland with assistance from Andy Jamieson is repainting the ivory paintwork of this car. Real progress has been made on one side of the car. Windows have had to be re- puttied and areas of the decency panel treated for rust prior to painting. The quarter lights have also received a coat of varnish. With only the first coat of paint applied the car is looking much smarter. John Traynor has undertaken the refurbishment of the top deck. The floor has been repainted and John is now busy rubbing down and repainting the black paintwork. This refurbishment has greatly improved the look of the top deck. David Sloan has had to put the controller refurbishment on hold as he required new insulators for the arc baffles. He is also trying to source replacement brake return springs. Glasgow 1017: Charlie Morrison, who leads the team on this car, has not been able to attend work evenings as often as he would wish due to work commitments. He has however offsite been manufacturing components for the revised sanding gear. Graz 225: The bodywork of this car is deteriorating as the car is stored outside. The long term future of this car is uncertain as the wheel profiles are a cause of concern. Once the new workshop is completed 1245 will be transferred there for evaluation. This will leave space for 225 in the depot where a thorough examination of this car can be made, Horse car; Many of you may not be aware that the museum has in store an early Glasgow horse tram. This car is virtually complete but only partially restored. Two well known Edinburgh enthusiasts have examined the car. They have an Edinburgh horse car body which may take part in the Edinburgh tramway opening ceremonies. Whether this visit was just to take measurements of the running gear or evaluate it with a view to borrowing and refurbishment is unknown. A lot of work still needs to be done on the trams before the Park reopens and in order to increase the rate of progress the Group is planning to work some Sundays during the summer months. If any of you would like to become involved, please come along any Thursday evening or telephone the Park on 01236638460 to check when the next Sunday is planned. Remember, there is also a social aspect being involved with the work groups. Recently a trip was organised to the Milan tramway which was open to all which proved to be very successful. Some of you may have read there is a deficit in funds required to complete the refurbishment of the main hall. A shortfall does exist, however the Park is actively investigating all avenues where grants may exist to help cover any gap in funding, some of which have already been successful. The refurbishment is in no way jeopardized as North Lanarkshire Council have agreed to make good any shortages at the end of the project The FORUM set up to identify and bring together various focus groups for fundraising which was actively supported by the Friends and the STG has unfortunately stalled. To generate local interest in the FORUM we have suggested that a tram driving experience could be offered to potential groups of local businessmen etc. .Finally, a quick mention on the fortunes of the proposed Edinburgh Tramway. Should the scheme come to fruition, there are potentially many benefits this could bring to the Summerlee tramway E.g.: -
George Broom |
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