Its been a while since we’ve reported on the long-term overhaul of Gateshead 10 (Grimsby & Immingham 26) at Beamish so let’s remedy us following a recent update on the Beamish Transport and Industry Blog. The tram last ran in 2016 (time flies as it doesn’t feel that long!) at which point it was withdrawn for a full overhaul which has seen delays but it is now well on the road to a return – hoped for in 2023 when the Beamish Tramway will be celebrating its 50th anniversary.
For those who follow the Beamish Tramway scene you’ll remember that last time the tram operated it did so as its later identity of Grimsby & Immingham 26. Starting off life as Gateshead 10 it was one of the trams from the northeastern system which was sold on for further use to British Railways on the Grimsby & Immingham line and probably owes its survival to that acquisition.
It was the first tram to arrive at Beamish and started the tram service in 1973 and was a stalwart of the service right up until its withdrawal in 2016 (although did have a rebuild from 1983-1985). Running mainly as Gateshead 10 it was repainted as Grimsby & Immingham 26 in 2012 and retained this identity until its last passenger runs in 2016. After it was withdrawn work started on a full overhaul of the tram but various factors have seen this delayed although it should now be back in use in 2023 to help celebrate the anniversary of the tramway.
Recently a start has been made on repairs to the body and in repainting the tram – finally losing its British Railways green livery after ten years! The panels have been rubbed down, bodywork is then repaired and once all that is done primer is applied. More work is required on some sections of the bodywork before it can be considered for a full repaint.
It will be finished in Gateshead colours again but it will look slightly differently to how it was last time it was no. 10. The side advertising panels will be replaced but they will not feature adverts as it will represent a different period in its life when adverts were carried on the lower panels instead. Its planned that the upper panels will be painted dark blue to start with although if this doesn’t look right the team at Beamish will try black instead (photos are in black and white so its difficult to tell what the right colour is!)
Other work taking place has seen attention to the track brakes and the bogie frame is also seeing progress in the workshops.
Elsewhere with the trams at Beamish and the summer has seen low availability in the resident fleet with at one time just two trams being available for use. Oporto 196 has now returned to service after repairs to its lifeguard whilst Blackpool 31 is waiting for repairs to its resistance grids and remains out of service. Sheffield 264 is also out of action with a motor problem leaving Sunderland 16 and Newcastle 114 to operate the service at times during the busy period – ably assisted by the buses.
- Read more on the Beamish tramway fleet and more from the Transport side of operations at the Museum on their blog at http://beamishtransportonline.co.uk/
The last of the British Railways green livery has almost gone from Gateshead 10 with it mainly in grey primer now.
Blackpool 31 sits in the depot with trolley tied down awaiting repairs. Newcastle trolleybus 501 stands alongside.
Sunderland 16 in service passing Rotherham Daimler 220.
Newcastle 114 was also in service. Here we see it passing the latest access bus – Crossville 716. (All Photographs by Ken Jones, 25th August 2022)