Below: Road 1 of the tram depot is now insulated and lined, ready for painting.  This will become the dedicated workshop road, and also area for painting, in rather warmer and cleaner conditions than have previously been available!  Once painted, the lighting will be imrpoved, floor sealed and painted and some improvements to the depot power supply made.

Below: Twizell and 985 meet at Marley Hill.  Due to wear on one of 985’s driving wheels, it is restricted in operation on the Tanfield Railway and will be the yard shunter at Marley Hill for the duration of the event.  It will return briefly to Beamish before visiting the NRM at Shildon, and will return to Beamish facing west, in order to mitigate the tyre wear until the end of the season on our very short and low-speed line.  Work on the loco and the track will then take place in readiness for recommencement of the Rowley operation next spring.  Measurement of the check rail on the curve at Rowley, which forms a significant percentage of the route, has shown that it is no longer fully effective and therefore this section of line will require remedial attention upon the close of the season.  Hopefully 985’s non-appearance on passenger trains on the Tanfield line will not cause too much disappointment – a great event is planned and the weather forecast is very promising for the next few days ahead…