As we reported last month, the tramway at Beamish is set to take a break for the first few months of 2025 to allow maintenance – of both the infrastructure and tramcars – to take place. But before they take a well deserved rest they remain operating up to Sunday 5th January 2025 (subject to weather and yet more weather warnings!). This article takes a trip to Beamish on the first non-Bank Holiday day of 2025 in England. Trevor Hall is our guide.
With the cold snap the country currently finds itself in, it will be no surprise to know that on this visit the two trams in service were Oporto 196 and Sunderland 16, considering the other option at the moment is open topper Blackpool 31! The tramway remains closed via Pockerley and so the service is running Town-Home Farm/Foulbridge-Entrance with the trams passing at Home Farm/Foulbridge as seen here.
Trams at rest in the depot. Operational Blackpool 31 in the centre with currently out of service Sheffield 264 to the right. The left hand side of the photo shows Gateshead 10 under its protective sheeting with Newcastle 114 in front with its panels having been sanded down in preparation for a repaint. (Both Photographs by Trevor Hall, 2nd January 2025)
- Beamish and its tramway remains open until Sunday 5th January 2025. The museum itself – with buses providing the transport interest – is then open Friday-Sunday only between 6th January and 21st February. The tramway is expected to reopen in time for Easter.