This is in effect an extended edition of “Trams &” as we head to Beamish to see a few shots of trams along with buses. These were all taken during the recent Festival of Transport (24th May to 1st June) which saw the return of trains from Rowley Station for first time since 2020, and included Beamish’s main contribution to the Railway 200 celebrations taking place this year. Trevor Hall took the attached images.
As well as trains running again at Rowley, the trams continued to do what they do best – carrying thousands of visitors around the museum site on the circular tramway. They were also joined by buses, nothing out of the ordinary there but the volume of buses was as the resident fleet were joined by several visitors and at least 27 different buses were seen around the museum site during this visit.
One of the most popular guest buses was Glasgow Leyland Titan TD1 no. 111. Owned by the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust it is a visitor to the museum and looks as if it may have a more extended stay than just the event. In this view at the Entrance the bus passes the familiar sight of Sunderland 16.
Passengers continue to board Sunderland 16 at the Entrance and the tram is now passed by another bus. This time its Darlington Daimler no. 7 which is being used. This is a sister bus to Beamish resident no. 4. (Photographs x2 by Trevor Hall, 24th May 2025)
16 has now gone and is replaced by Sheffield 264 with more passengers getting on to head further into the museum. More bus interest here as AEC Regent V, now in Lockeys livery, passes. This was new to East Kent in 1959.
Outside the depot and Oporto Coal Car 65 remains stored under tarpaulins. It has some temporary company here as Middlesbrough Corporation 99, a 1958 Dennis product, is parked alongside.
And Sunderland 16 features again in this final photo, One time Doncaster Transport Leyland Tiger Cub 33 – as SYPTE 1033 – is seen alongside this time. This bus came from Sandtoft and was accompanied by a group of volunteers from that museum. (Photographs x3 by Trevor Hall, 31st May 2025)