Hello,

as not everyone will have read it: On the Yahoo group the subject of a possible next Access Tram cropped up and there were some interesting remarks about the possibility of Blackpool OMO 5 to be restored as Access Tram. Paul Hatton kindly agreed that I may copy his opinion here:

Paul Hatton wrote:> Absolutely right Jason, I believe that OMO 5 should not be altered in
> any way, it should be returned to operational condition in as transformed
> condition. If it hadn't been for the OMO Cars, I doubt very much whether we
> would still have an operating tramway in Blackpool. Love them or loathe
> them, the economies that these trams made for BTS saved the tramway.

You will find the other comments at http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/t ... ssages?o=1

Regards

Christoph

Actually, you need to be a group member to view the messages.

Link ------>http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/tramway_museum/.

Please note, that while these groups are not directly connected, they do cover the same things.

BG7

Personally I think 5 would make an excellent access tram. I doubt the modifications necessary would be significant as the cars are relatively open plan anyway. The centre exit would have to be used for a lift and the platform is raised here (compared to Blackpool railcoaches), so with removal of a half bulkhead something could be done to allow wheelchair access.

No doubt Crich would wish to undertake a thorough rebuild but I doubt permantely disfiguring alterations would be needed and any changes could easily be rebuilt back out.

Although a Blackpool OMO was a runner up in a TSO contest c1988 when cars 1 and 12 were withdrawn but 5, 8, 10 and 11 still ran, it has fallen behind other projects since. While it could, theoretically, be adopted by TSO, it may be that an externally funded Access Tram could be the best chance of seeing the car run.

Paul

bluegoblin7 wrote:
Please note, that while these groups are not directly connected, they do cover the same things.

BG7

Does rather beg the question as to why two separate groups are needed! If posts are copied from one to the other the duplication is less logical. Why not work together to manage one group so that everyone can join just one?

Paul