The wonder of the internet: Gateshead 10 and the Forcett coach.
Below: I was recently trawling the Internet looking for background information or any new photographs of trams/locomotives/rolling stock in the Beamish collection when under the search ‘Grimsby & Immingham’ this picture turned up. It was taken by Bill Wright on the 18th October 1965 from a train passing through Clay Cross. As has been seen on these pages before, for some time in the 1960s G&I No.26 was stored there following its withdrawal from service on the Grimsby & Immingham Electric Railway in 1961. It was, of course, previously Gateshead 10, one of a number of similar cars sold in 1951 when the system closed. 26 was listed by the British Transport Commission (BTC) as of national significance and was earmarked for a future railway museum of the nation’s railway (and transport) history. Clay Cross served as a store for many of the items for this collection (later to become part of the NRM/National Museum of Science & Industry) as well as being the National Tramway Museum’s off-site store.
What is terrific about this photograph is that not only does it show 26, but next to it, under the tarpaulin, is the body (on underframe) of the Forcett Coach! This shows clearly that it was mounted on its original underframe but sans W irons, axleboxes and wheelsets. This adds to our knowledge of the Forcett Coach (No.179) at this period of its life.
There has been some suggestion of this idea before, and ideally we would be looking for sponsorship to help towards the costs of the repaint which would be timed to allow for a debut at the 2012 Power from the Past event on September 1-2 2012 and then some running through the autumn in that guise. This really is a maybe but it would seem to be an ideal opportunity to recreate this lost identity. If anyone is in favour of this, and could even offer some support, then they can contact me via the comments section on the blog…
What a great find! And more importantly, an excellent idea to recreate Grimsby & Immingham 26. I very much hope that this idea will bear fruit and I’m certain it would be extremely popular with many tram enthusiasts. Keep up the good work!!!
I think it’s great idea and if it will help I’ll donate a couple of 4mm models (powered or unpowered, your choice) for you to either sell or auction,finished in BR Green. I produce the Gateshead single decker as a 3d CAD model see http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/172/entry-6684-gateshead-car-cad-completed/
Excellent idea. An opportunity to recreate one of the last working UK tramways. I can remember Gatehead 5 in G & I livery at Crich in the early/mid 60’s.
Great idea! Is there a date for the SOS bus entering service yet?
Hi folks – there seems to be a lot of support for this idea so I will pick up this particular thread in January and see how we can progress it to an exciting conclusion! Thanks to those who have offered support and kind words to the idea!