Gateshead 52
Readers and followers of other forums, blogs and internet sites, as well as those who are members of the Tramway Museum Society and in receipt of ‘Contact’ will no doubt be aware that there have been some discussions regarding the future of Gateshead No.52, which is a part of the TMS collection and currently in store at the TMS’ Clay Cross site. I thought it would be worth confirming what the current situation is regarding our part in this…
The facts are these: We have had some discussion with representatives of the National Tramway Museum and the TMS board with a proposal for No.52 to be transferred to the collection at Beamish, for restoration (as 52) and to form part of our fleet here. The components for latterly similar car No.51 are kept in store at Beamish and may well form the basis of a restoration of 51 or (more likely), Gateshead 45 (which was rebuilt to create 51) as there would be little benefit in having two near identical single deck enclosed trams from the point of view of operational flexibility if 52 were to join the fleet. The two will not be combined.
The TMS will consider the matter at their AGM in July 2012 and the matter will require a special resolution to be proposed, to the membership. It should be remembered that the decision is entirely theirs and that it is by no means a foregone conclusion. We are extremely grateful to the TMS and its board and members for considering the idea.
A long term plan and strategy for the transport collections at Beamish forms part of a wider Museum development plan and in due course I will explain some of the aspirations for the tramway and fleet. In the short term we will be tackling 196 this winter/next spring thereafter we will attend to worn tyres on Sunderland 16.
Below: As built the car (52) was numbered 7 in the original fleet and operated with open platforms. It is seen here at Bensham terminus with the crew posed for the photograph (note the direction of the trolleypole!). This version was in turn a rebuild of an earlier form which had included a combination-type body (very much like Manchester 765 which visited us earlier in the year), though the open sections were later enclosed. Such was the versatility of the tramcar as a basic platform for modification, customisation and reconstruction. Of course many ‘rebuilds’ were in fact accountancy tricks to cloak construction of new vehicles (therefore obviating the need for capital expenditure and all that this entailed) – the Blackpool Standard fleet is a particularly well known and illustrative example of this. It also occurred on the railways and no doubt throughout industry and commerce.
Below: The car was later rebuilt (following a severe accident on the notorious Bensham Bank) and became one of the two ‘Teams’ cars (used on the route of that name). Essential differences included and enclosed platform and longer truck. It is seen here at Sunderland Road Depot.
Would 196 not give you the underframe,motors and control gear to restore 51. It’s not a local tram but would mean you could restore 51
Hi Paul
That would be a bit of a shame for 196! It had originally been purchased as a donor for 114, but was found to be in good enough condition to trial and gave such a good account of itself that it was decided to overhaul it instead. Oporto 176 was instead acquired as a source of components. The body of the latter was sold and has done the rounds on the rally circuit, now mounted on a trailer.
We do have a spare truck frame for 51, which could be modified to provide the requisite wheelbase (114 had the same treatment on its truck frame). The hard work of the Beamish Tramway Group over the last four decades has ensured that we have amassed a good stock of spare parts and controllers. The restoration of 51/45 is a very long way into the future so we have time to gather our thoughts and materials!