March 2004

Tony Wilson
Archive Films
Report - Unknown

Tony Wilson brought the past to life when he set the film reels in motion. Tony’s acquisition of a collection of cine films has added to his own personally filmed transport subjects which continue to entertain wherever they are shown. The first sequences were on three short reels — Blackpool in the third millennium, tramways in the Hague (1959) and then to the closure of the lmmingham system in July 1961.

Vintage Seaton Tramway next — September 1971 with trams using battery power drawn from a towed truck and then to July 1972 drawing power from the completed overhead. Tony used to be a volunteer driver at seaton and had shot some memorable footage over the years.

Then Blackpool trams were on the big screen again during the years 1973 to 1975. We saw Brush cars operating before they were altered and the “Balloons’ still with twin destination blinds. More recent views of Blackpool were set before the audience as Tony showed Coronation 304’s first Out since restoration. 304 was the subject of Channel Four’s Salvage Squad series.

Double-deck operation to Fleetwood was suspended last year until the track was re-laid and, of course they are now back on that portion of the route. Good use was made of the Twin Sets during the affected period. We saw Blackpool’s vintage operations which involve Stockport 5, Bolton 66, Sheffield 513, and Blackpool 147. All four-wheel cars are confined to the central services.

The National Tramway Museum at Crich was featured whilst operating Leeds and Sheffield trams on 3d July 1975. Tony is to run a trip in August for Yorkshire Day. Now renamed Crich Tramway Village, the organised trip should be a chance catch up with the new features on offer there.

A trip to Holland and Germany gave the opportunity to see the tramways scene forty years ago with some very interesting rolling stock.

Altogether, a very enjoyable evening (with more to come in November) with our sincere thanks to Tony and also to our resident projectionist, Paul Wooding. Further thanks (as usual) to Fred Karno for his sterling efforts to boost the corporate finances and to David Qyston for his contributions to the coffers.