The major investment in the infrastructure at Beamish, which has seen no trams run since the start of 2025, is continuing with good progress being made on the track replacement work at the east end of the 1900s town (the end where the 1950s town starts). This is just one part of the investment being put into the tramway this winter which will see the trams back running by the spring.
The work on relaying the track at the east end of the town has seen contractor Haigh Rail trialling a robotic arm for rail welding on the check rail side of the grooved rail in the section of tramway in the traditional setts as seen throughout the main town street. The results of this trial seem to have been promising and discussions are now underway as to whether it can be used elsewhere on the tramway, subject to cost.
Just outside of the 1900s town as the tramway curves away, passes the entrance to the 1950s town and heads around to Pockerley rail replacement has been ongoing. This has seen the old rails removed with new track then being prepared for laying in a like for like track layout replacement.
This work is expected to continue over the next few weeks.
The Beamish Transport and Industry blog has also revealed the tramcar mileages for 2024 which saw over 20,000 miles covered by the five trams which ran during the year. Top of the class was Sunderland 16 (6031), followed by Sheffield 264 (5931), Blackpool 31 (4536), Oporto 196 (2646) and Newcastle 114 (1259). The trams used the most probably shows the kind of weather experienced in 2024 with the larger capacity and more enclosed trams taking the main share of the load. Newcastle 114 came in last having spent large periods out of action.
A view of the new track being laid at the east end of the Town. (Photograph by Gordon Bulmer, 1st February 2025)