Saturday 9th April 2016 was a historic day at Beamish Museum, not just because of the Great War Steam Fair event – but mainly because it was on this day that Sheffield 264 finally made its long-awaited return to passenger service. The tram had last operated in regular service in 2003, and since then has been extensively rebuilt following on from a lengthy period of storage.
Work on the major overhaul of tramcar 264 started about three years ago and was tackled in stages, with the tram split into three main components: lower deck, upper deck and truck, all of which have received expert attention at the museum. There have been a number of delays to the project which was at one time provisionally due to be completed last summer, and the tram also missed a proposed launch date last month at the enhanced tramway operation weekend. However, none of that seemed to matter when the immaculate tram entered service on the third day of this year’s steam fair, a hugely popular annual event which has adopted a First World War theme for 2016. There was no great fanfare, no launch ceremony and little in the way of prior announcement – but for those who visited on this day, the chance to enjoy the immaculate Sheffield tram running again was no doubt one of the highlights of this spectacular event. To say that 264 looks stunning would be a bit of an understatement, and it will no doubt once again be a great asset to its owners.
Incidentally, 9th April saw four trams in action at Beamish, with Sheffield 264 joined by visiting Blackpool Standard car 147 and the more familiar fare of Sunderland 16 and Oporto 196. This meant that three of the four service trams were enclosed double deckers, a first for this particular museum but something which will hopefully become more common during 2016. The only available tram not to run on this date was Newcastle 114 although this car had been used on the first two days of the event.
The annual Great North Festival of Transport continues with ‘Horses at War’ on Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th April, and presumably this will also feature an intensive tram service providing another chance to enjoy most of the current operational fleet doing what they do best – shifting the crowds at Britain’s busiest museum tramway.
Sheffield 264 enters the Town area at Beamish on its first day in service following overhaul. The stunning livery, complete with hand-painted crests and lining, glistens in the sunshine having only just been varnished in the preceding week. (Photo by Gareth Prior)
On Sunday 10th, it was another ‘first’ with an all double-deck service with cars 264, 16, 114 and 147 (in that order) in service.
I’ve been at Beamish before with only double deckers running. Or do you mean ‘ the most’ deckers?
First time a 4 car service with all double-deck cars…
Hmmmm that gets me wondering – does anyone know the most number of double deckers (open or enclosed) which have run together before? When 1068 and 20 visited, did they manage 4? or more? or were they interspersed with single deck?
Thinking about it – when did Sheffield 513 last run at Beamish? I’m wondering if a 4 car service with 31, 114, 264 & 513 ever happened?
Off the top of my head, I think that Birkenhead 20 could possibly have run alongside 31, 114 and 101/703 in 2012, but I’m not sure if that combination ever actually happened. Same applies with Glasgow 1068 the following year, although I certainly didn’t see it at the steam fair that year as Lisbon 730 was generally used alongside 1068 as the two main attractions on the tramway. With both cars only at Beamish for a short visit I suspect neither combination ever happened but am open to being proved wrong!
Well I know 264 and 16 never ran together. 513 had been out of action for a good few years before it went to Blackpool. All very interesting!
If I recall, 31 was out of service in Spring 2012 when Birkenhead 20 visited?
Over the two weeks 1068 was at Beamish in 2013, there were 4 deckers available for service but the only time they were recorded as all on the main line simultaneously was the evening parade/ photo session. (Visiting Lisbon 730 and Boat 605 were preferred)
Looking further back, there is a short window from 114 entering service in Summer 1996 to 31 leaving for Blackpool in September 1997 when it is possible 31, 114, 264 & 513 could have operated together, but in those days any more than 2 cars in service was a rarity. By the time 31 returned after the 1999 illuminations, 513 had already been withdrawn.
That’s about what I thought. All good stuff. Now we just need those adverts off 147 and all will be perfect.