As was reported last month, Beamish currently has an unexpected and unusual visitor – Lucie, a steam train engine which originally operated in Belgium. Having already been seen at other railways and museums in the northeast it arrived at Beamish following an appearance at Shildon’s Locomotion in early June and the main purpose of its visit was to be used during the “A Collier’s Life: At Work & Play” event which took place on 5th and 6th July 2025.
Lucie is a steam tram engine which was built in 1890 by John Cockeril Company and was originally used by the East Brussels Tram Company between Saint Jose Place and Brussels Cemetery, Evere hauling passenger services, funeral trains and the occasional freight working. After the line was converted to metre gauge Lucie was sold on and saw further use by the Vielle Montage Mining Company and at a Silly sugar factory. Then in 1987 it came to the UK, and the current period of its life has seen it restored to working order at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
During its visit to Beamish it has been based on the Colliery Railway, mainly stored in the shed there. Over the weekend of 5th and 6th July it was in action alongside Coffee Pot shunting wagons around the Colliery Railway network making a fine sight.
Lucie waits at the head of a short formation to shunt on the railway.
Coffee Pot No. 1 is in the foreground as Lucie looks on beyond. No. 1 was built in 1871 and is a regular performer at Beamish. Both locos have vertical boilers.
Lucie shunts around the railway light loco. Beyond it here is seen Grange Ironworks South Durham Malleable No. 5 in its long-term resting place.
Looking down to the Colliery with Lucie seen in the centre of the image. The Colliery Railway shed is on the left and in the distance you can see the 1950s Farm. (All Photographs by Trevor Hall, 5th July 2025)