Among many notable firsts the Society has achieved over the years, this tram tour did not disappoint. First the tour name; the Manchester worker bee is one of the best known symbols of Manchester and has been an emblem for the City for 180 years. The bee denotes Mancunians' hard work ethic and that the City is a hive of activity. It has also come to represent the sense of unity in our great City. In 1842, the bee was first officially incorporated into the Manchester coat of arms and bee symbols will be found extensively - and the real thing, bees help to counteract air pollution, so there are many hives.

Since its inception back in 1992, enthusiast tours on Manchester Metrolink have been virtually nonexistent and even our Society hadn't been able to negotiate a tour over the unusual parts of the network. I have covered all the Metrolink branches and looked longingly at the crossovers, loops and tracks in the depots. This tour originated from when our Fixtures Secretary and BLN Editor won a charity auction prize of a visit to Old Trafford Metrolink Depot. Although at significant expense to themselves, it was a most enjoyable and informative afternoon. More importantly they met the right people, made the right contacts and Kev kept in touch with them. Less than two weeks before the tour, he received a phone call out of the blue from Metrolink's Managing Director about a tram available on 26 Sep The well oiled BLS machine sprang into action and we were able to fill the 70 places; everyone who applied was accommodated - perhaps we should have given Nectar Points on this occasion?

So, the 'Busy Bee' fixture popped up on our website at relatively short notice, with a special email message going out to those who had signed up for these. The advertised route had to be read more than once to be believed. A booking was made and an immediate email confirmation received.

On the day, Manchester Piccadilly was a 'hive' of activity, with people 'swarming' all over the place. Familiar faces appeared on the concourse and congregated around the main characters (Kev and the Stewards - sounds like a rock band). We were 'buzzing' as we made our way down to the Metrolink Outbound Platform (that is away from 'The Delta' - the system datum point for distances - towards Ashton-under-Lyne) and waited. At 10.00 prompt, as booked, Tram 3145 arrived (one of the latest batch to enter service; it was so new that it didn't have any Metrolink information vinyls, or adverts, inside!). The doors opened and rapid loading took place. Seating wasn't allocated, participants just entered in an orderly fashion, populating the two carriages. The stewards stood for the tour to enable more of our members to participate but I think they found empty seats for the occasional sit down.

We were soon on our way out of the gloom and stopped to wait for Tram 3031 to exit Sheffield Street Pocket (AKA Piccadilly Reversing Siding); once the way was clear, we scored the first piece of rare track of the day. Our tram was almost on the flexi-plastic stops. Our driver walked through and we were soon on our way again, passing through Piccadilly Inbound Platform. Bemused members of the public 'normals' stared wondering why they couldn't board?

Threading our way through the urban city landscape we crossed another transport route, the Rochdale Canal; now only leisure craft disturb the waterway. We turned left at 'The Delta' and weaved through Deansgate-Castlefield centre road, then alongside the ex-Cheshire Lines Committee Railway viaduct. It is now a National Trust 'green space' with free entry although a booking is needed (BLN 1406.1916).

Our tour went through Airport Jn to West Didsbury. The very knowledgeable and enthusiastic driver gave a commentary on rare moves that we were about to cover. Another of our on board Metrolink team exited the tram and manually reset the points for a turn back move - we reversed and scored the trailing crossover. Heading north we veered left after Firswood tram stop, to run onto the line towards Old Trafford Depot Gate 3. We stopped short of the depot as it was our reversal point; then, taking the crossover there, we made our way towards Manchester Airport.

Our tram ran near another transport corridor, the M60, then climbed up and over it to make for the (non-preferred) non-used Airport platform (left on arrival) to the end of line. We believe that this was its first ever use by a passenger carrying tram - ECS tram tests and driver training runs do use it from time to time. Kev had arranged with Metrolink to run to the end of line at every terminal line visited (and we did) - not possible normally with a single tram due to the way the tram detection system works. Here there was a comfort break of 30 min; most of the party went in search of food/drink, or to use the facilities. Some of our stewards in their high-viz vests were approached by 'normals' asking about services, ticketing and in one case even where the ladies toilets were - being well 'trained' over the years, they were willing and able to assist.



With everyone back on, we awaited the arrival of Tram 3107; it crossed over to the 'normal' passenger platform. This allowed us to use the rare crossover to take the Inbound Line as far as Roundthorn. One of the crew manually set the points and we reversed over the crossover to head for Robinswood Road. Another switch of the points allowed us to crossover to the Inbound Line to just short of Sale Water Park. The crew sprung into action again to operate the points; we took the crossover and went to Martinscroft. After a short wait we reversed again to do that crossover - this one was done in both directions (yippee!) - completing all the rare crossovers on the Airport branch in one very efficient visit. That leaves just the Airport preferred platform extremity (where double trams are not seen) to cover.

Returning towards the City, we turned left via Old Trafford Depot Gate 3. An instruction was shouted out to 'shut the windows' as we ran through the tram washing plant. High pressure jets tested the seals of the doors and windows but did not force any water in to the tram so we all stayed dry. We then cautiously made our way around the South Loop to run through Road 10 (all of the other roads had stabled trams); we then used the North Loop to exit the depot complex through Gate 1.






Kev and Paul were delighted to run through a different road from the ones that they had done on their earlier visit (which included the only non-through dead end line in the depot to the end - see plan).

Paul & Tim were on raffle duty (which took £705 - thanks!), a vital part of our tours to maximise the donation, this time to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Manchester Youth Space, nominated by Metrolink. First prize wasn't a jar of honey. We were soon up to speed and heading south towards Altrincham. It was extremely unusual, and possibly a first, to see a high numbered tram on this line as they are not fitted with the equipment required to run beyond Timperley for the NR signalling.

Thus we were forced to turnback; Timperley Reversing Siding did what it says on the tin. The indicator showed that the route was set to turn right and the driver eased the tram over the points and close up to the stops. The crew changed ends and we were soon on the move north again with the Bridgewater Canal close by for much of the way. Of note our well known member, tour participant and aficionado of all railways electric, Paul Steane, pointed out his house as we ran though Sale (no, it wasn't for sale). Furthermore, a very pleasant young married couple from Sale had joined the Society the week before especially to participate in this members' only tour. Clearly if appearing on 'Mastermind' their specialist subject would be Metrolink past and present. We hope that they keep their membership up. Just beyond Sale is a new trailing crossover (see plan) due to be commissioned at Easter we were told.






Approaching Old Trafford Depot (again!), Kev announced that there was a problem with the leading cab blade (again!) and we had to make a detour into the depot via Gate 1. The fitters attended to fix the wiper (ahem) and we exited via Gate 2 (more crossovers and track scored). We continued in and out of the much sought after Cornbrook Pocket line and on through Deansgate-Castlefield left hand loop platform. The slender 169m Beetham Tower loomed large over us, completed in 2006. It is no longer the tallest building in the City, as the more recent South Tower in Deansgate is 201m high.

Our tram paused on the viaduct near to the former Manchester Central station, for another reversal, to take the Outbound Line towards Imperial War Museum. The expanse of the former docks of the Manchester Ship Canal and transformed Salford Quays were visible to our right. After the descent from Pomona, the tramway runs on the route of the Manchester Ship Canal Railway giving 'overlap' for those lucky old enough to have done the latter. Of note the internal passenger information screen showed us going to 'Pomona' (the quietest stop on Metrolink) all day - we did actually. Participants were told that this is a quirk of the automatic system when the external indicator is showing 'Special'.

We had expected to turn back at Village but, no, it was on to The Trafford Centre, not 'Intu' now but 'into' the very end of the right hand line. Once the tram in the adjacent platform had left, we shunted over to cover the other end of line and crossovers. Double trams wouldn't reach that far and only run on Old Trafford match days, so this was a great bonus. We had a 20 minute break; most stayed near to the stop. The local roads were jammed up around 16.00 this Sunday with shoppers returning home as the shops closed. The strange things people like to do on Sundays, almost as bad as washing the car.















Everyone on, we set off, leaving the retail emporium, threading our way back to the City, sometimes sharing the way with roads. Near Barton Dock Road stop we crossed the Bridgewater Canal. Our tour curved right past the ITV studios opened in 2013; ITV was concerned about 'noisy trams' passing as they were trying to record Coronation Street, so insulation and lubrication was installed to reduce the track noise. Just past Wharfside stop our tram paused, reversed, crossed over and then returned to Village. Of note at Wharfside are the series of (cattle pens) football fan corrals with a card 'tap in' required to escape to the trams on match days. Another interesting piece of rare track was soon to be covered, Imperial War Museum Turnback from the Outbound to Inbound line - a long 'middle line' to stable up to three double ECS trams on match days. Trafford Park line completed!






Our tour made its way via Deansgate-Castlefield middle road and past the Neo-Gothic Manchester Town Hall, one of the finest examples of this style and Grade I listed. We stopped at St Peter's Square Platform 'C' (inbound to The Delta). The rust on the trailing crossover between the two centre tracks was gently removed as we reversed and headed over it back to Deansgate-Castlefield centre road. Another reversal (it's a wonder the driver didn't go dizzy - try selling raffle tickets and work out which line you are on, let alone which way you are going!) and we took the Second City Crossing route.

At Exchange Square trams turn back in either direction when there is a problem, or engineering work. Naturally we reversed and trundled over the crossover to retrace our earlier route through to Cornbrook Pocket (coming to a stand), reversed and returned through the City streets to Piccadilly. Here, with the good relationship developing between the Society and Keolis Amey, some Metrolink staff boarded with 'goodie bags' for all. These had branded pens, badges, a notebook etc. Thank you.



The tour was running rather later than expected but most people didn't mind with the extra track covered (unless they had a train to catch - but no one had a bee in their bonnet about this). We were soon 'on our bike' heading for Velopark. Reversal there allowed us to cover the lengthy through Velopark Turnback (again for stabling trams on event days). Approaching Piccadilly there was another bonus as we took the former scissors facing crossover from the Inbound line to Outbound Platform 'B'. The other 'blade' of the scissors has been partly dismantled. Martyn 'Mapman' Brailsford recorded this to amend our Society Metrolink plan (with this BLN) and TRACKmaps Book 4 (which he also edits).

This was the end of the tour but participants were kindly allowed to stay on for the return ECS working and most did. We reversed in Sheffield Street Pocket again, particularly pleasing two participants who had missed it first thing due to their late arrival. From here we ran through Piccadilly, past The Delta and via Deansgate-Castlefield middle line (again!) to Cornbrook Pocket where our tram paused. The route indicator showed we were set to cover the final Pocket connection to terminate at Trafford Bar. Incredibly our tram had travelled 124.51km (77m 32ch), similar to King's Cross to Peterborough.






Three cheers for our very enthusiastic and knowledgeable drivers and crew; nothing was too much trouble and they were able to answer our many detailed questions. Most participants caught the next tram back to Piccadilly to round off a most unusual and satisfying rare track tour. It is understood that Keolis Amey were very impressed with the way everyone 'beehaved' themselves and our £4,054 charity donation (from just 70 participants) was far greater than they had hoped for. The stewards were praised for keeping everyone informed, collecting litter and standing. The tram returned to the depot 'spotless'. Thanks to all involved in organising, delivering and partaking in this tour which ticked all of the boxes. Hopefully a further tour/s will be organised to cover the eastern and northern routes next year; maybe Kev will even sport a beehive hairstyle to celebrate so may then need a honeycomb‽