The Family Day is something a bit different - a day to relax and to share a little of our professional interest with family and friends.
So it was that a number of us set out to the Tramway Village in Crich, Derbyshire for this year’s event. For most of us this was by train to Derby station, where a coach had been arranged to take us to the museum as a quicker alternative to a somewhat hilly trek from Whatstandwell Station. It was not long before we were well into hilly Dales country – meadows gave way to hills and brick houses gave way to picturesque stone.
We rendezvoused in the car park with those who’d driven, made introductions and met friends and colleagues. We were guided by museum staff down the main parade, which is along the formation of an old quarry line, but which has been transformed into a street with historic shops, small businesses and of course the main tramway, with tram lines built into the stone setts. The tracks diverged into the main depot near the terminus and it was to here that we were guided for a special tour of the depot facilities, which are only partly seen from the public viewing gallery above.
As soon as you enter, you can tell it’s an electric depot - clean, orderly and with a quiet purpose about it. To the cities who received the first trams, this form of transport must have been a complete revelation in speed and cleanliness, compared to the alternatives at the time. The knowledgeable and friendly staff showed us every stage of restoration and heavy maintenance: bogies and castings stripped down, springs and running gear neatly racked, craftsman-shaped wood panelling, each finished with 16 coats of paint then signwritten and coachlined by a time-served expert who is passing his skills on, unpaid, to his 21-year old successor.
At this point the party diverged. Half had a remarkable tour of the archives, through every range of contemporary material, including disciplinary notices and the documentation sadly closing most of Britain’s urban tram systems.
For the other half, particularly those urged on by children, it was on with the business of riding the tram routes! Straight onto the top deck of a Southampton tram and away.
The track runs for over a mile into the hills, before reversing. While the driver manually swings the current collector around, the passengers become participative, reversing each chair over to face the new direction. I do recall this manoeuvre, some years ago, from the marvellous trams surviving in Lisbon. Just before we set out, we had an informative briefing from the conductor.
The friendliness and pride of the staff and volunteers was evident throughout the day.
We returned to the terminus and ate in the café, before heading out again, this time on a bigger London tram. We didn’t come all the way back but alighted at the Wakebridge tram stop for the woodland walk. Here we found forest sculptures, trails, a stone maze and wonderful views across the limestone dale of the Derwent. An indoor and an outdoor play area were checked out and kept the interest going for the little ones! Returning back, we walked round the sizeable tram sheds, with representative vehicles from most British cities and some European examples. There are also some remarkable survivors – a snow brush tram, a steam tug and an unrestored example from, of all places, the Leamington and Warwick tramway. Ice cream and old-fashioned sweets kept the interest going, before it was time to join the coach back to Derby.
The Family Day is a slightly different event in the main calendar and left us with happy memories of a great day out. Give it a try next year!
By Richard Dugdale, IRO Member and Senior Commercial Schemes Sponsor, Network Rail