We are now halfway through the Great North Steam Fair – and with the sun shining today visitors could enjoy what must be our best event yet, with a superb line up of exhibits and activity wherever you looked.  We also welcomed many new exhibitors, and the general consensus seems to have been that this is an event not to miss – which Paul, Colin, Ian and myself (who organise the event) take as very reassuring!  There are still two days to go, and more exhibits arriving, so this really is something not to miss if you can make it to the Museum – come early as the car park is filling quickly.

I will put a gallery of images from the festival on here in due course, once all pictures have been downloaded from cameras and phones and I have Colin’s in hand too.  Meanwhile, here is a selection taken during the last couple of days showing just a small part of the event…

Below: We have four showmans engines this year – possibly a first for Beamish?

Below: Today a very special line up took place – the three surviving ex Tarmac engines all in one place and in steam together – I am told for the first time since the 1940s.  The roller is a Fowler T3, the flat fronted waggon is a Sentinel S6 and the big eight wheeler is a Sentinel DG8 – paint still wet such is the newness of its restoration!  A former Tarmac employee was present and showed clear delight at the line-up, which we intend to repeat on Saturday.

Below: The railways have been busy – narrow gauge stone trains being as popular as ever.

Below: There are five First World War vehicles present, a warm up to our 2016 theme along these lines at this event two years from now…