The new Front Street Terrace – part of the new 1950s Town at Beamish – was officially opened on Saturday 19th February. Although the trams will not be running into the 1950s Town (eventually a trolleybus route is planned), the grand opening day of Front Street did see a three tram service in operation – thought to be the first time since at least March 2020 that three trams have been in public service at Beamish at the same time.
The three trams which were running on this day were Oporto 196 (anti-clockwise) and Sunderland 16 and Sheffield 264 (clockwise), which were probably the three most seasonal appropriate trams which are currently available for use. The tram service continues to run around the complete circuit of tramway following the reopening earlier this month of the section between Foulbridge and the Town passing the Events Field. In addition to the trams both the Daimlers, the Northern General replica and the Crossville wheelchair accessible bus were all in action as well.
The crowds on Front Street – At the top is a ladies hairdressers – bookable online! and this end out of sight is a fish and chip shop – Sunderland 16 can be seen in the distance showing how close the tramway gets to this new development.
Oporto 196 has dropped its passengers off outside the Co-op as there was a bus at the tram stop. Sheffield 264 waits in the distance.
264 at The Town.
196 and 264 pass at The Entrance. (All Photographs by Trevor Hall, 19th February 2022)
For the appearance of a real 1950s street they should lay worn-out tramlines then partially tar them under for the trolleybuses to operate over them. Some abandoned tram overhead rosettes with cut-off wire still attached (the trolleybuses having new traction standards – and of course a fenced-off shored-up gap between buildings where a bomb fell during the blitz. The present buildings are not sooty enough for post-war England.