After a few quiet days on the blog, here is some news from the T&I side at Beamish…

Below: Gateshead 10 has been carefully nursed in recent months, with a known tendency for one of its motor bearings to run warm, usually late in each day of operation.  However, yesterday it was sat on the pit for the offending motor to be removed, having finally reached a point where it was no longer considered opperable. As the tram will be subject to a reasonably heavy mid-life refurbishment in the not too distant future we hoped that it would last a bit longer in service, but this was not to be and as the tram will be required for service this winter, the motor was stripped and removed (and even dispatched to the contractor we use for such works) within a day!  Here 10 is seen in its ’26’ guise, and also a view through the floor hatches showing the motor being lowered from the tram into the pit, where it was later extracted from with the forklift.

Below: The Temperance van repaint is progressing well – we chose an unusual livery for (which I for one think looks very classy!) as we were not constrained by replicating the original carried by this van.  The lettering is now being added with wheels to follow so it is very close to being handed back to the Period Food department.  The wording is copied from various real Temperance signs, selected to reflect its purpose at Beamish, usually located on the path to Pockerley Old Hall.

Below: With the summer definately over, the Track team have taken advantage of a couple of fine days to progress installation of an additional turnout on the narrow gauge line, before they drop on to a number of other projects this autumn.  Before the turnout could be installed, Chris first had to build up the rail head with weld, filling extensive grooves of nearly an inch deep, created during the turnout’s life at Groverake Lead Mine.  It came to us very much third-hand, after spending a brief spell at Killhope.  We have already installed one other similar turnout on our small (but growing!) system.  Here the process is seen, with the second view showing Chris tapping off the slag following application of a layer of weld.

Below: Dave Young is setting up various components for Samson on the machines in our new machine shop.  Here the reverser pedestal, with pump and regulator quadrant, is seen set up for drilling of the locating holes.  Once these are completed the casting can be secured to a jig for further machining work to take place.

Below: The first two driving wheel castings have arrived, and are seen here.  The pattern is now to be modified in order to produce the second two castings, which are different in that they incorporate lugs onto which spur gears are fastened on the left hand side of the loco (the side not in the original photograph but shown in two contemporary engravings).

Below: The roadside static chaldron is progressing, with the body ribs fitted and numerous other brackets and metal items (including the couplings) added.

Below: Following a number of queries via the blog and with visiting members of the public at the Museum, I thought that a copy of a sketch from my pad might be of interest – I have dozens of such books and hundreds of such sketches for all manner of projects that may or may not happen!  This one has been tidied up digitally but shows an early view of how I foresee the Colliery railway area developing.  I should make it clear that this is just a sketch but it shows what we are working towards in terms of developments in this area.  Some of the proposed features are merely ideas, but I am keen to one day introduce a regular ‘drive a steam locomotive’ activity in this area making the most of the track available, possibly a daily narrow gauge ‘turn up and drive’ experience, and maybe full day experiences on the standard gauge.  The benefit this brings is that the whole area comes to life for all visitors, and we can offer something that I think many visitors (enthusiasts or otherwise) would very much enjoy!

Shown on here are the new standard gauge sidings, feeding a shed located at the far side of the Pit Yard (this work will start shortly), with an additional siding alongside the existing engine shed (to follow later) which could be roofed over to provide additional display and storage space.  The Coke Works and Brick Yard are very much longer term aspirations but are allowed for by the trackplan.

Hopefully this shows something of our intentions for gradual development of the railways in this area (the map does not feature the additional mining features that are planned) and some of the additions we would hope to develop over coming years – subject (as ever!) to the usual disclaimers about turning such ideas into reality…