Monday mornings are always hectic at Beamish, as the team takes stock of the past weekend and any repairs and maintenance arising as well as preparing for the week ahead, attending meetings etc.  Today was particularly busy as we had a number of jobs to accomplish whilst the Museum was closed, not least the dismantling of Sheffield 264.

Below: The day began with the movement of a Portacabin (not very exciting, so not shown here!).  This was followed by the collection of the completed box chaldron waggon No.2485, and its movement to the Colliery.  It is seen here being craned aboard the Hiab and then in place on the Colliery railway.

Below:  The next job was to shunt the tram depot to prepare for 264’s lift.  The top deck was first to come off, being removed on Road 2 to enable a clear lift free of overhead wiring (the wires are between road 2 and 3 at this point).

Below: The balcony ironwork was left in situ for removal by our forklift.

Below: The top deck is stowed on two bogies, which required careful shunting from road 2 to road 4 where the top deck will be stored for now.

Below: The saloon/platforms were then removed from the truck, with wary eyes ensuring nothing remained connected and fouled the operation.

Below: Once the body was lifted the truck was drawn clear and the Hiab crane loaded 264 onto its deck.

Below: 264 scattered everywhere!  At this point it is hard to imagine the finished tram after overhaul, but all projects have those moments when nothing looks at all promising!

Below: A brief interlude whilst Danny wrangles escaped pit ponies…

Below: The lower saloon outside the timber shop pending final positioning inside.

Below: Work on N&G 49 has also progressed, with the side panels removed to reveal the framework.  This is in good order and can be repaired fairly quickly, so much so that new panels are on order for fitting in the not too distant future.

Below: Work also progressed over the weekend on R025, with the steering sweep being straightened and fitted and the front rolls being cleaned and primed.

Below: Also in the Erecting Shop, temporarily, is this charabanc (once of Lotherton Hall in Yorkshire) – it is not ours and is not staying at Beamish but forms part of a complex deal involving horses.  As the paintwork needs a decent environment for application, a space has been found for this vehicle for the next couple of weeks.  It has seen operation in the past at the Museum, but a restoration move was truncated when the ‘Blaydon Races’ (I’m sure it isn’t the real one!) charabanc was purchased around six years ago as an immediate replacement for the Happy Days charabanc that was then under restoration (and is now in use here).  Horse drawn vehicles can have complicated lives…