Heaton Park Tramway celebrates record year despite cable theft
MANCHESTER’S Heaton Park Tramway is celebrating a record year during 2019, despite suffering a major cable theft in late-September that forced the closure of the heritage attraction.
Since reopening on October 26 (RM Dec) the tramway has been riding a wave of goodwill, which has resulted in record takings.
Lightopia
Part of this late-season success was a result of Heaton Park’s illuminated Lightopia Festival, which was open every weekend from the middle of November to New Year’s Eve.
The event featured spectacular illuminations brought over from
China, sponsored by the Chinese Government, with the tramway running special illuminated trams in conjunction with the festival.
More than 35, 000 visitors attended the event, thereby helping to boost the tramway’s visitor figures during a period when it is normally closed.
“Last year was a whirlwind year for our tramway, with both tragedy and celebration, so to finish the year on such a high with record takings has been truly magnificent,” said Heaton Park Tramway Company chairman Keith Whitmore.
“Our volunteers have really worked so hard to make this our most successful year, with events ranging from taking one of our trams to be stood outside Manchester Victoria station as part of the 175th anniversary celebration, to working every weekend during most of November and December.
“I want to thank them all.”
40th anniversary
The Manchester Transport Museum Society, which operates the tramway, hopes to build on 2019’s success this year as it marks 40 years since the opening of the tramway.
The anniversary celebrations kick off on March 29 with the Season Start-up event and 40th Birthday Bash, which will feature a three-car service as well as a number of special operations.
The Lightopia Festival will play a big part in the birthday celebrations as it returns for the second of a three-year agreement in November.
For this year the tramway is negotiating the hire of one of the Blackpool system’s famous illuminated trams, a very rare opportunity outside of Blackpool. ■ A further boost came in early January when Heaton Park Tramway was declared Tramway of the Year in the British Trams Online Tram of the Year 2019 awards, following six weeks of voting.
The tramway secured in excess of 60% of all votes cast.