In Pictures: Christmas gets underway at Beamish – a day late!

The Christmas season at Beamish is now underway, although it happened a day later than originally planned because of heavy snowfall in the northeast. As a result of the snow the museum had to remain closed on Saturday 23rd November with the official start of the Christmas events at Beamish taking place on Sunday 24th November instead.

We reported a few weeks ago how the winter season tram operating fleet was due to be made up of Sunderland 16, Sheffield 264, Oporto 196 with Blackpool 31 in reserve if weather allowed. Unfortunately, 264 has suffered a fault and so is currently unavailable for service and with 196’s limited capacity it means that 31 is being pressed into service more regularly than planned – allowing for a nice and cool journey up top for any passengers who wish to take the chance on the vagaries of the late autumn, and soon winter, northeast England weather!

The first day of the Christmas events saw 31 in service and it was joined, as expected, by Sunderland 16 in a two tram service. Much of the public transport slack at the museum continues to be taken by the buses, which have recently been boosted by the arrival of Sunderland Corporation Guy Arab III 139. This now gives five heritage double deckers which can help to operate the service.

  • Beamish is open Wednesday to Sunday until 13th December and then daily until 24th December. After being closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day it reopens on 27th December and will be open each day until 5th January 2025. It’s then Friday-Sunday only between 6th January and 21st February 2025.

The continued popularity of the trams at Beamish is seen in this view of Sunderland 16 with a long queue of would be passengers in the Town. Although museum was closed to the public the previous day due to snow, on this day there was not a trace of it left!

A bit of cold doesn’t matter! Plenty of people on top of Blackpool 31 in the Town. (Both Photographs by Trevor Hall, 24th November 2024)

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