Annual Report on 2009

As usual I must caution readers that this statement is written in January 2010, and reviews the year 2009, looking forward into the future. By the time the AGM considers this report in May, events will have overtaken it, and some items may be out of date.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee has continued with its policy of meeting four times per year, with dates fixed to best suit the needs of the Society business year, and will do so again in 2010.

Tramway Liaison Committee

As in previous years, our membership of the Tramway Liaison Committee is a useful exchange forum between the Light Railway Transit Association, the Tramway Museum Society, and ourselves.

Publications

In May the Society published the booklet, 100 Years of Wolverhampton Tram 49. This is based on reprints of two articles from Tramfare with additional photographs. One article by Stan Letts covers the restoration of Wolverhampton tram 49 at the Black Country Living Museum. The other by me is an explanation of the Lorain surface contact stud system. Our Tramfare Editor, Graham Sidwell, is thanked for overseeing this project. For 2010 the Society is working on a new publication covering the modelling of the electric tramways of the Isle of Man.

Models

We are pleased to report that BEC models has recommenced their production of continental models as white metal kits, and remind members that the BEC motor units are still being manufactured by Ian Williams. Mark Hughes has produced an interesting 4mm resin moulded Aberdeen car and elsewhere Robert Hendry is added to his range of card tram kits for 00 and 0 gauges, particularly those for the Manx Electric Railway. In July Chris Cornell released his etched brass LCC F and G class cars in 4mm scale. TLRS sell the full range Cornell and Hendry kits on-line.

UK Tramways Progress

The new tramway in Edinburgh is progressing well and we look forward to its opening. Elsewhere there has been some progress with proposed extensions, but with the current economic situation and a General Election in the first half of 2010 nothing is totally certain. The traditional tramway in Blackpool has been partly closed for renewal and new Flexity 2 cars have been ordered from Bombardier.

Tramfare

We are pleased with the production of Tramfare by our new printer, Latimer Trend, and the high standard has continued and at the same time giving us substantial savings. Thanks go to our Editor, Graham Sidwell, for his continued efforts compiling Tramfare, and for producing the printed version of the AGM annual report, and also to Geoffrey Heywood for magazine distribution.

Festivals and Exhibitions

The 2009 Festival of Model Tramways at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum was once more interesting and successful despite economic "hard times", with members and area groups taking an active part as usual. Elsewhere the TLRS was represented by members, including our German speaking members, at a number of model exhibitions, with some area groups running their own local shows. For 2010 the Festival of Model Tramways will return on 24/25th July to the Manchester Museum of Transport where once more the TLRS will be strongly in attendance.

TLRS Website

The TLRS web pages are hosted by my Tramways Information website. The smooth transfer of the site to the new location at www.tramwayinfo.com caused no loss of traffic. As before the site continues to be a major source of new members. People can join the TLRS and renew subscriptions or purchase publications and models.

Membership

TLRS membership is still falling slightly, with losses at renewal time being partly made up during the year with new recruits. The average age of members is still on the increase, but since we have addressed the subscription rates this is no longer a problem. During 2009 I once again had the pleasure of visiting a number of the groups as a guest speaker Some groups are experiencing a falling of attendance, but as always I found those there to be full of the enthusiasm that keeps our hobby alive. It is particularly sad that this year three of our Life members passed away, John Gillham well known for his maps, modeller Roger Meadowcroft and one of our earliest members Alan Gildersleve.

Archives

There has been a continual increase in items donated to the archives and model collection, including additional photographic images. Work has continued in the digitization of our negatives. The Society is grateful to members who bequeath items to the archive, and from time to time we publish advice on the form bequests should take. A number of our images have been used in publications.

Future Prospects

Repeating my statement of last year, the savings made as a result of changing the Tramfare printer means that the subscription rates are adequate to cover our expenditure, even allowing for the increase in the proportion of senior members. The revenue from "Gift Aid" still helps us although is less than it used to be. The low value of the pound in foreign exchange means that our subscription rates look very cheap for our overseas members. On the other hand a section of our income is derived from the interest paid on our capital and interest rates are still exceedingly low. However, on balance the financial position of the Society remains sound and we can look forward to the year ahead with reasonable confidence. However, the recession in the UK has lasted somewhat longer than expected and once more the committee will need to closely monitor the situation.

Go to --->