2026 has been a fairly low-key year for the trams at Beamish so far, although that’s not to say there hasn’t been lots going on in the background with major projects ongoing to bring more trams back into service.
For most of the year there have only been four trams available for service, and at times this has been further reduced with faults, repairs and general maintenance required. The trams which have managed to turn a wheel in service have been Sunderland 16, Blackpool 31, Oporto 196 and Sheffield 264.
Recently Blackpool 31 has enjoyed what is being described as a cosmetic refresh. This has seen its paintwork/livery refreshed over several weeks in the tram depot, before it was able to return to action again on 11th September.
Newcastle 114 remains out of service following its withdrawal last year after a controller flashover. Initially a contractor was due to undertake the repairs on behalf of Beamish but big delays mean much of the work will now be completed in-house by the team at Beamish.
The good news from the tram fleet concerns Gateshead 10 which has now started testing on the mainline! Taking place after the museum has closed this allows it to accumulate mileage as part of its commissioning. As expected some adjustments are required as part of this process but the list of jobs now required to bring the tram back into service (last used in 2016!) is getting ever smaller.
On 1st September we peer into the depot and see work underway on refreshing 31’s paintwork. Sunderland 16 is behind.
Seven days later and the depot is still home to 31 which has clearly made good progress. We can also see Gateshead 10 in the centre whilst Lisbon 730 – which continues to be worked on as time allows – is back left.
Then on 15th September and 31 is back in service with the paintwork nearly as good as new. (All Photographs by Trevor Hall)