29th of December

Did the Sussex toy and collectors fair at Hayward's Heath, but after taking away the show fee, we made about £11! Still, had good company with John Z and John Hayward and Gordon Dinnage was across the hall, transport picture supremo. I bought more excellent photos of Brighton trams from Gordon, do have a look yourself, they are the best I have seen and I think I own all of them by now! We had two known tram buffs promise to join the society today, will they deliver the goods? One of them spoke to me about panels and doors from an "F" class tram that might be at Amberley, we need to investigate this. Don't forget, meeting in Brighton next Thursday at 7pm, also food and a wee dram will be on offer...

The first truck parts.

19th of December

Tony and myself unloaded the first truck components today. I also did some more measuring of 53 and cleaned up 225, which is looking more tatty! I think we have two years more use of the body, but after that... Saw John, I just have to retype a few oversights on my part on the agreement and we will sign shortly, all as per newsletter! If any of you have held back, or weren't sure, the baton is firmly in our hands and it is up to us to get 53 restored, so make 2013 the year that YOU helped.

17th of December.

17th of December.

Went out to Robertsbridge today, courtesy of our own white van man, Tony B.We collected the small bits of the truck and had a look at the big bits, to try to figure out how to get the big bits to 53,it looks like we need to dismantle the truck body into more manageable components.As for the motors and wheels...! We had a cuppa with Roy and Derek, the site is been rapidly redeveloped for the KESR extension to Bodiam and looks very different from our last visit. I hope we can help the Hastings trams one day, it would be a pity if they fell apart due to lack of interest.When we got to 53 the big gates were locked , so we will unload another day, dammit!

10th of December

It is 10.46 pm, I have a headache and some news. Ray couldn't make the meeting tonight, so the result of the meeting with John and myself was this; A 65/35 ownership split for us ( The 65%) and the ownership is including everything, truck and all. John and I have shaken on it and that is my bond, so I hope you are happy with this. No party can sell the tram without the others agreement and it is not leased to us, so that is good to me. We will sign within the week, once Ray has modified the agreement document.I consider this a fair compromise and John's argument of trying to separate the tram into owned/non-owned bits struck me as common sense, so I hope no-one feels that this was too much of a compromise.Good night all.

6th of December

I have not put anything new up for the simple reason that I have had nothing to report! We have over £2000 in the account, which is great and a little more to come, but Ray and myself meet up with John this Monday and then I will have news of one sort or another. I will delay the newsletter until after that meeting, so don't worry, you will be informed! Don't forget social on the 3rd of Jan, we don't have many takers yet, it is a meeting and a small party, so come along.We are also at the Toy and Collector's fair at Clair hall, Haywards Heath, West Sussex on the 29th of December. I am sad to report that Allan James,membership secretary of the Volk's railway has passed away after being ill for a while.Allan was also a keen tram fan and a driver at Crich.He was very passionate about Volk's and will missed by the team there.

23rd of November.

I forgot to mention that we saw Malcolm Chambers at the Newhaven show last week. Malcolm looked good, but did not spend too long there, I know you will all join me in wishing him a speedy full recovery.Next meeting with John is in two weeks, watch the skies, or this blog for the result!

Prague Trams, sent in by Chris Rails.

22nd of November

The results for the two shows were about £133 for the BMRC and £80 for the Newhaven show, fair results I suppose and a bit more money in the coffers.Thanks to all members who manned the stall. We also had a new member, welcome Tony! We have had a poor response to the meeting /social for the 3rd of Jan, please make an effort, it is good to meet up with others and to hear the latest news.There is also the dreaded Presidential quiz with prizes.....and mince pies.

BMRC show.

17th of November

Only taken £50 today, hope tomorrow is better. have posted pictures of the stall last week at the BMRC show.

13th of November

Ray and myself met John and his son last night for talks on the agreement and have agreed to meet in a month's time, so that John can carefully read the agreement Ray presented. I won't say too much else, but Ray did a great presentation and I did my best to explain to John why we want what we want. I will say the dynamic was different, but what the end result will be, I cannot predict.

Brighton Model Railway Club show 10th and 11th

The Saturday was busy, Sunday was quiet overall, but we made £133.45, a very respectable sum for a small show. Many thanks to all who helped and to Ray, Tony and Paul for extra stock. We also did get a lot of local people into trams, many having never realized that Brighton had a system! The idea of trams in Stanmer park was rated as excellent by all.... I spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Dowling, who own the works car. This has just been painted , so they don't want to sell up, but they said if they ever move, the tram will be donated to us!!!!

Glasgow Cunarder and Coranation trams 1962

The old Eastbourne trams that became the Seaton trams!

Shows and Exhibtions

If you wish to meet us in person and find out more, we are at the following shows; Brighton model railway Club show, November the 10th and 11th at Patcham library, Ladies Mile Road, Patcham, Brighton, BN1 8TA. Newhaven Railway Club Show, 17th and 18th of November, at Newlands school, Eastbourne Road, Seaford, BN25 4NP. Toy and Collectors fair, Clair hall, Haywards Heath, West Sussex 29th of December. Brighton Model World Feb the 22nd to the 24th, 2013, at the Brighton Centre on the seafront, a very big building, you can't miss it!

Trams In Ghent and Lille.

Malcolm Chambers

I have just returned from holiday and on going through my e-mails, I have just received an e-mail from Malcolm Chambers saying he has had a heart attack. Malcolm has been a very active member and a great help to our society, so on behalf of the society may I wish him a full recovery. One of the great bonuses of this project is the the tram fans I have met and Malcolm has always been great company, intelligent,with a great sense of humour and full of ideas. Our thoughts are with you Malcolm.

19th of October.

19th of October

Malcolm, Allan and myself went out on site to check 225 and to continue measuring 53.The good news is 225 does not leak, the bad news is, some of John's hay bales fell over and broke another window, gawd! We will secure with plywood, as well as the other window.We saw John and he is still mulling over our proposals and is now talking about a 40 year lease! WE say, what about ownership of the bits we add? WE will send our legal standard document and once more it is horse, or should I say tram trading time. This is enough to make me consider just modelling trams.All the while 53 rots and still, I am afraid to say, has active woodworm in some areas. We did some more measuring, but we couldn't help ourselves, we ripped up some of the flooring to check the steels. This has all been recorded, so it was to see how 53 is put together. The top web of the steels does show some rust, but Allan M will do a thorough assesment of them. The wooden floor is mostly gone and will need to be replaced. I continued underneath measuring the steel frames.

Inside Clay cross, the forbidden shed!.

Cab end of tram 63, thanks to John the farmer.

October 14th

Just to update you all on the latest happenings for 53. We had an excellent committee meeting last Sunday, courtesy of the BMRC with much being discussed. The trust/charity application has finally gone off, many thanks to Ray for dealing with this minefield of paperwork! Ray can also draw up a legal standard document/agreement, so we can save replying to the convoluted and pointless contracts of John's solicitor and we can put it exactly as we want. Plans were also discussed if we cannot get agreement with John, what else would be useful, as it seems a shame that if we cannot agree on 53 the effort and group should be wasted. This is very dark thinking, but crunch time is approaching, and though my meeting with John was very cordial, what will he actually commit to writing? The next two shows we are at will be the Brighton Model Railway Club at Patcham Library, Brighton on the 10th and 11th of November and then the Newhaven show at Seaford on the 17th and 18th of November. I plan to be on site at 53 this Friday the 19th, to check 225 and to continue measuring up 53, can some one help me measure and tidy up?

1st of October

Just a brief notice posted at 22.38 pm. I had a meeting with John with a draft of our version of the agreement and he will ponder this. We had a very pleasant and frank meeting and I did my best for 53, but who knows what result will ensue? I am tired, so good night to you all.

22nd September

22nd of September

I am very pleased to say we had a lot of people out at 53 today! I didn't take photos but we did have seven of us! We shifted the supports for 53 and she now sits on the same area as the wheels did, in other words the right place! John the farmer appeared and all had a chance to say their bit. I will go over and talk man to man to him shortly. Am I optimistic? Been here before! I really don't know, but this is the best way to reach an agreement or to find out we are been suckered. I will post when I have rapped with Mr. How. We have appeared in the local Brighton magazine for Preston park, nice article, thank you Preston pages!

The fate of 53?

16th of September

The last present work party is next week, on Saturday the 22nd.Please can you attend if possible, there is plenty to do and to make sure 53 is ready for the winter if we are not out there again.The membership has voted with it's feet not to work out there and until John signs up, I quite agree. After next Saturday, I want an agreement in writing.We will go out there to continue the CAD plans of 53 and to do a little work on 225 if need be, but that will be it.I hope this is not the case, but the ball is firmly in John's court and we will see by his actions if he is really concerned about 53.

9th of September

9th of September

Out at the Lavender line today in superb sunshine,, a day of Riley's railway, to raise funds for a children's hospice. We made £23 and gave out some leaflets, thanks to my wife and Paul Marriott for helping, that is how things do get done. I notice that some of you who have been eager for the free tokens have never appeared at a work day, or helped out at a stall, think again please.

8th of September

Out at 53 on my own that is the last time I will do that. I managed to get 225' s roof done, but I couldn't even do all the measuring for the CAD plans I needed another pair of hands.Another day like today and I am back to the Bluebell, 53 deserves better.

Friday 7th of Sepember

Just a quick post to say the 53 roadshow will be out at the Lavender line on Sunday,Isfield, East Sussex at the scale steam rail day. Various live model steam locos will be in operation and if you can help out, please come along, should be sunny!

Work party!

Work party this Saturday, the 8th. If you have never been or are thinking about joining, come and see 53 for your self! E-mail tram53project@yahoo.com for directions, it might be the last for a while. I have not received anything from John , surprise, er surprise.

Machines and tickets

29th of August

Met David Grimstone at Conway Street bus depot today. David is one of our members who works on the buses and he had a ticket machine, old boxes and tram coins! He had helped clear out a retiring bus man's house and came up with this lot,see pictures.The ticket machine is a Bell Punch Solomatic,from 1966 and was used on the first one man buses.He also has stacks of the tramway post office tokens, which are been sold on E-bay for silly money! There are also accident forms for buses and trolley buses, will report back, once I have delved more, thanks David.

25th of August

25th of August

Only one of the the work party to turn up, I guess the early rain put others off, but weather was ok on site. I can't say that this makes you feel that you are part of something. Drew up some more plans of the lower saloon interior, then painted 225 on the outside and tried a new rustproofing technique on the steels underneath 53. New member Darren popped in for a quick visit and we discussed what to do and where to put the truck.

Stanmer Park

21st August

I am putting up some pictures of Stanmer park, re a possible running site for 53. I drove the route which goes from the park entrance to the manor house and wondered if it would make a good 53 route.It goes somewhere to somewhere, and is very close to Falmer Stadium and rail station, but would the people of Stanmer want it? Food for thought, also work party this Saturday, last for August, I hope not the last for a while.

18th of August.

Found camera in back of car, so I have now published picture of our oldest member Maurice Wheatley in front of 53.It was a pleasure to see Maurice out there, and I am still stunned over his generous donation. I am sad to report that the agreement with the farmer has hit a change of heart.We agreed that last year 53 will never be worth much in a financial sense, but is priceless as a piece of history. I won't go into details, but this agreement seems to have been forgotten and at the moment it is all in the balance. I am satisfied that we have presented a fair agreement and if greed does enter the equation then I know the society will have to walk, period. Don't lose hope, but dear reader be aware that members will not do this at any price, because I know I won't. It will be a great pity if greed or just plain avarice stops a project that can happen. I know that 53 will not have another chance like this, so many good things have happened or appeared, so let us hope that the gods of tram beneficence will continue this run, and we can get on with this most worthy restoration.

Maurice in front of 53.

16th of August.

Our oldest member Maurice Wheatley came out for the first time to visit 53 today. Maurice either rode either 53 or 52 when they were running in 1938/9! It brought back a lot of memories for him and it was a pleasure to show him 53. he has also given a £100 to the truck fund, a very big gesture for a pensioner, thank you sir.I have left my camera out there, so I cannot give you any pictures today, sorry! If anyone is passing.....

12th of August