We move locations again in “Picture in Time” and we’re heading to Beamish for a historic image.
The below photo was taken almost 50 years ago on 30th May 1976 and whilst the location is recognisable to visitors to Beamish in 2025, being taken as the tramway makes it way between Foulbridge and the Town, the surrounds are very different!
Beamish Museum Tramway opened in 1973, running between Foulbridge, the depot site, and the town. The museum itself had only opened in 1972 and in 1976 the tramway was still in the early stages of development. The destination blind of trams running northbound shows Rowley Stn, which suggests that the first short extension into the town itself may not have opened by that time. The service over this short section of route was operated on 30th May 1976 by a single car and the site looked remarkably undeveloped – as well as quite muddy and wet!
The working car was Gateshead 10, a 48-seater built in Gateshead works in 1925. It operated on a rear entrance/front exit basis, as seen in the prominent sign on the front. Withdrawn in 1951 on the closure of the Gateshead system, it was purchased by BR to work the Grimsby and Immingham line, where it was numbered 26 and painted in the route’s standard green livery. On the closure of the Grimsby line in 1961 it was saved from scrapping and returned to the North East in 1968, ultimately becoming the first car to work in passenger service at Beamish in 1973.
Obviously in the intervening nearly 50 years things have changed a lot at Beamish with a lot of development (ongoing). Its not all been new structures appearing either as the low structure on the field has been removed.
Photograph by Donald Brooks, 30th May 1976