The Great British weather hasn’t exactly been kind to us over the last few days with some very unseasonal rain and wind battering the UK and its tramways. We take a look at one such heritage line, at Beamish Museum, on a very inclement Sunday 10th August when a three tram service was in operation using all enclosed cars.
Beamish are a little short of trams this year with only five available for service due to Sunderland 16 still being out of service following various unforeseen delays to the mechanical work currently in progress, and Grimsby & Immingham 26 also being sidelined with worn tyres as it waits its turn for overhaul. On this day therefore, all of the serviceable enclosed trams were in service – namely Sunderland 101, Oporto 196 and Blackpool 280. The other two active trams, open toppers Blackpool 31 and Newcastle 114 were sensibly kept in the depot on this particular day thanks to torrential rain. It’s at times like this that we are certainly thankful for the presence of car 280, which is of course on loan from the Manchester Transport Museum Society, as it provides a much needed extra tram for use in poor weather and on busy days.
280 was sometimes dubbed a 'Winter Railcoach' in its native Blackpool and it is proving equally invaluable in poor weather at Beamish. The tram is pictured at Foulbridge on 10th August.
A very damp Beamish Town is the setting for this view of Oporto 196 in its striking South Shields livery.
Blackpool 280 meets Blackpool 703/Sunderland 101 at the Pockerley tram stop.
The fourth and final stopping point on the Beamish tramway is at the main entrance and that is where we see Oporto 196 with Sunderland 101. (All photos by Bradley Jones)