News round-up

News round-up

It has been a busy couple of weeks with progress on several fronts but primarily a focus on various projects and research subjects that will manifest themselves in due course. However, work on various current projects continues and below is a summary of some of these:
Below: Hunslet at Statfold Barn now have the parts to fit to the tank and cab of the Lewin and this week will receive the final drawings to enable work to progress. The boiler is now ready for testing and at Vince’s we have completed painting the external parts of the frames and the driving wheels. This week the plan is for him to assemble the motion, make the running plates and perhaps trial fit the sandboxes. Work is also required on the bufferbeams so that I can get the timber cut to make these. Back at Beamish I am working on the cylinder covers, which will also include black border lining in the finish.
Below: Tony Vollens has been busy in the engine shed working on overhauling the Waggonway train. He and I are also starting the planning for the new workshop development, which will form our ‘Regional Heritage Engineering Centre’ and which is being supported by a private funder. This work is due to start in the spring, meanwhile there is a backlog of repairs and maintenance to carry out in readiness for the season ahead. The painters are currently working on the steps and decking for the Gallopers and will soon drop onto the Waggonway train once the new timbers have all been fitted as required.

Below: This photograph was a recent e-bay purchase and shows Gateshead 52 at what I take to be the Teams terminus (?) of the route with which this tram was synonymous. It is a very good image and dates from late 1939/1940 – adverts were restored in 1942. Thanks to John Henderson for information on the image.