Power from the Past 2011 – The countdown begins here!
18th July 2011
Well, in no time at all we have reached the countdown weeks for the September transport event ‘Power from the Past’, and so, as in the spring, we will have a flickr page dedicated to the confirmed entrants for our event. However, until this is up and running (next week), here is a taster of what to expect…
Below: Road Steam (in the ‘Vintage & Veteran’ category) will, as ever, be well covered, and this year includes Jeremy Craske’s wonderful Fowler steam roller complete with associated living van and other equipment. Working demonstrations will be given in the Colliery area.
Below: This is ‘Teddy’, a Yorktown Peckett o-4-0ST and a make of engine that I don’t think has yet operated at Beamish. Built to an incredibly light axle loading, this engine will be performing in the Colliery area.
Below: The narrow gauge railway will this time feature internal combustion locomotives, with this Baguley 0-4-0PM dating from the First World War visiting from the Abbey Light Railway in Leeds. Again, operation will be in the Colliery area, hopefully the last time we use the temporary railway in this particular location – for next April something different is in the pipeline to develop this popular feature…
Below: And one that is sure to please the tramway enthusiasts (myself included!) – Blackpool 11, otherwise known as a ‘Marton Vambac’ and to attend courtesy of its owners, the East Anglian Transport Museum. September will be a busy time for our partnership with this organisation – as ever, watch this space for more… Photos courtesy of Jason Cross.
It is hoped the appearance of 11 here will make up for it unfortunately being unable to attend the Blackpool 125 celebrations, and will enable our crews to sample something rather different on the circuit here! It also ties nicely with the ‘Circular Tour’ theme of the event, and 11 will meet our own Blackpool ex ‘Marton Box’ No.31 in passenger guise for the first time.
Lots more has been invited, and will be confirmed in coming weeks (via this blog or the flickr page which you can access to the right of this posting). The Friends are working hard to deliver an impressive display of vintage and veteran cars, motorcycles and bicycles, I am hoping we will have a number of classic buses to choose from for rides and a diverse range of other transport of varied propulsion, as well as a fair dose of steam plus all of the site attractions (including the chippy!) in full flight. It is likely, subject to sufficient interest, that on the Saturday evening we will hold another public photo session, perhaps also featuring a parade of all available tramcars. I think we might even try an inland beach somewhere – we are currently looking at the location and logistics for this! These events have become a big part of the calendar, and your attendance ensures we can keep putting these shows on so please do help us make it a success!
Sounds like it will be good! Any idea if Balloon 101 will be completed in time?
Hi Matthew – we’re working on it but keeping the rest of the fleet (including buses) running at this busy time has an impact, and our tram technician is retiring, so we are dependent on the brilliant work of the Beamish Tramway Group for all progress on 101, based on two working days per week. Hoping it will be ‘live’ in about two weeks, so I think use in passenger service unlikely, but it might make an appearance for the photographers and maybe take part in the parade I mentioned – fingers crossed!