The tram fleet at Beamish has once again had a busy year with two or three trams in service on any given day when the museum is open (which is daily from March until the start of November!). This has led to some of the trams enjoying some much needed TLC recently (including Sunderland 16 which was due back in service just after the 70th anniversary of the closure of its original home tramway on 1st October) and allowed for the chance to see some of the trams at rest in the depot. Trevor Hall with the photo.
As well as being hard working trams going round and round the museum circuit, Beamish is also open more often than any other heritage tramway in the country. It is currently open on a daily basis up until 3rd November (closing 1700 until 25th October and then 1600).
The winter season then starts, with opening as follows:
- 4th November to 13th December – Wednesday to Sunday 1000 to 1600
- 14th to 24th December and 27th December to 5th January 2025 – daily 1000 to 1600
- 6th January to 21st February 2025 – Friday to Sunday 1000-1600
- 22nd February to 2nd March 2025 – Daily 1000 to 1600
- 3rd to 30th March 2025 – Wednesday to Sunday 1000 to 1600
Sunderland 16 – after receiving some TLC to its bodyside panels and paintwork – and Blackpool 31 in the depot. The sheeting on the far left show where Gateshead 10 is located. On the other side of the photo we see Teeside trolleybus 11 which is currently the only intact trolleybus at Beamish following Newcastle 501’s move to Sandtoft on loan. (Photograph by Trevor Hall, 30th September 2024)