During the school summer holidays, the tram fleet at Beamish was pushed to its limits with Blackpool 31 and Oporto 196 joining Sheffield 264 on the absentee list and leaving just Sunderland 16 and Newcastle 114 available for use. The situation has now improved with just 264 (which has been out of use since May) out of service leaving four trams to operate the service. With the buses adding extra capacity this is sufficient for the quieter period now being experienced with the schools back. The photos in this article come from Trevor Hall from Wednesday 15th September 2022.
One of two trams in service on 15th September was Sunderland 16. Here the tram stands at the Entrance.
Also in action was Blackpool 31. This shows the tram at Pockerley.
31 and 16 at Pockerley with the B type replica bus just peeking into the shot on the right.
In the depot and 264 remains out of service. Gateshead 10 is behind the Sheffield double decker and Oporto 196 sits alongside.
The fourth operational tram is Newcastle 114. In this shot inside the depot it stands alongside Newcastle trolleybus 501 which is due to run at the museum once the trolleybus route into the 1950s town opens. (All Photographs by Trevor Hall, 15th September 2022)