An exciting announcement has been released confirming that Blackpool ‘Pantograph’ car 167 is set to visit Beamish Museum. The popular single-deck tramcar, which is owned and operated by the Tramway Museum Society and based at Crich, is set for an extended holiday in the North East starting later this month, which will enable Beamish to operate a very credible four Blackpool trams together!
167 is no stranger to road journeys, having returned to Blackpool no less than three times since entering preservation. It has also been to the North East before – in 1990, it was a last minute addition to the tram line-up at the Gateshead Garden Festival as a substitute for Gateshead 5 as this car proved incompatible with the track layout there. Incidentally, the rails from that temporary tramway were subsequently re-used at Beamish for the Pockerley extension, so 167 will be on familiar track, albeit in a totally unfamiliar location! 167 was actually pencilled in to visit Beamish back in 2011, but this loan was cancelled after it suffered a bearing fault. Having run extensively at Crich for well over a year since this problem was rectified, confidence in its performance is now sufficient for it to be loaned out again.
167 will therefore join fellow Blackpool trams Marton Box 31, Railcoach 280 (680) and Balloon 703 (disguised as Sunderland 101) at Beamish. Plans are now being formulated for an extra mini event weekend featuring all four Blackpool trams in service, which will be held either in late February or early March. Watch this space for further announcements on what promises to be an exciting event for all fans of traditional Blackpool trams!
Blackpool 167 has already been admitted to the Crich workshops in preparation for a move to Beamish, which is expected in late January. Once commissioned, the tram should then operate at weekends, during the February school holidays and during the Great North Festival of Transport before departing. This will duly become the longest stay at Beamish for any visiting tram from the national collection; previous loans involving Cardiff 131 in 2010 and Glasgow 1068 last year both lasted less than a month.
Deals like this further cement the excellent relationship that has been created between these two museums, and follows on from the recent, and permanent, transfer of Gateshead 52 to Beamish for future restoration. Crich are certainly becoming more open to the concept of lending their trams to other collections for various events, and hopefully this trend will continue as everyone involved stands to benefit, especially us enthusiasts who gain from additional interest and novelty value!
A typical view of Blackpool 167 in service last year, seen at Crich tramway's Town End terminus. (Photo courtesy of the Beamish Transport & Industry Blog)
Will Stockport 5 still be going?
As far as we are aware, yes! That should give a total of three visiting trams at the April transport event with 5 joining 167 and 680.
Paul Jarman confirmed today that three trams are booked to appear at the Great North Steam Fair in April 5, 167 and 280.
Beamish here I come!!
Don’t forget the Model Tramway Exhibition on April 5/6th.