Its traditionally been the last hurrah before the end of the season – October Half-Term week – and it would appear that 2021 has been no different with many attractions seeing bumper attendances from families wanting to enjoy a day out before the clocks go back and we all start to count down until Christmas! One such attraction was Beamish where with increased visitor numbers (still on timed tickets) two trams were in service instead of the more usual on we’ve seen since trams returned on 4th September.
The October Half-Term was the end of daily opening for Beamish (until the Christmas holidays) with the museum now just open Wednesdays to Sunday from 1st November until 17th December. Trams are expected to run any day that the museum is open although it is fully expected this will be back down to the one-tram service again. Maintenance work on the tramway will also be continuing over the winter with the hope that a full circuit service can resume in 2022.
The midday queue to get into Beamish. Snaking around it looks long but didn’t take long to clear with everyone having to pre-book a timed slot.
With a bus at The Town stop Sunderland 16 has offloaded its passengers outside the Co-op. Northern General AEC Routemaster 2099 waits in the queue.
Trams passing in service once more. Taken from the top deck of Sheffield 264 at Pockerley we see Sunderland 16 awaiting its arrival so it can tackle Pockerley Bank.
The trolley is turned on Sheffield 264 just beyond the Town. (All Photographs by Trevor Hall, 28th October 2021)