In recent months I have bought, usually via e-Bay, numerous images of relevance to the Transport and Industry collections at Beamish.  Some show exhibits in a previous life, others will one day be part of a number of publications that I plan to write, when I find a moment!  These will showcase more of the archive material we hold at Beamish, as well as be sold to raise funds for the Museum and its projects.  For now, however, here is a varied selection of views, often from old postcards, now being added to the already substantial photographic archive at Beamish. Some care is required when purchasing from online auctions – sometimes you get the copyright, most of the time you will be buying a copy – something to be aware of!

Seaham Harbour

Below: We start with a classic and common view of Seaham Harbour, showing the North Dock, looking out to the East.  In the foreground a steam colliery positions itself, riding high in the water and with hatches open ready for loading.  In the background a sailing vessel sits against the inner harbour wall, to the left are some of the drops which just miss out the coal drop that is now at Beamish.  Maybe it is fanciful, but there appear to be a number of chaldron waggons evident on the quayside, though the artistic application of colour to the postcard obscure much of the detail.  Below: We now move to the top of the docks at Seaham, where Milo (Robert Stephenson 2241 built 1875) is seen here.  I think this photo originates from the H. C. Casserley collection. Below: From the same collection (though these were a set of original prints), we see Mars, sister engine to Milo.  I would guess this is the early 1950s.  Seaham Harbour never had a shed as such, most work being carried out outside. Below: No problem identifying this one!  A post 1960 view of No.18, sandwiched between two chaldron waggons. Below: Two views, this time from the 1950s (as the cab is not enclosed), of No.18.  Note the stanchions supporting the cab roof, something we are replicating on No.18 today. Below: Still at Seaham and here we have No.17 in the late 1950s/early 1960s when the rear buffer beam was replaced and the frames shortened, presumably as a result of a collision. Below: In the same date window as the view above, here is 17 on the harbourside.  I think the gentleman standing might be Jimmy Taylor, the regular driver on 16, 17 and 18. South Shields Trams

Below: We now move to a pair of coloured postcards showing the South Shields tramway system at Pier Head. Tram 5 and 9 are shown, built in 1905 – 6 by Hurst nelson, Motherwell.  The postcard colourist has fairly well reproduced the crimson lake livery carried on the South Shields trams at this time – as we know from the work to recreate the later livery on our 196, the blue and cream scheme was adopted in 1935. Newcastle Trams

Below: The Tyneside Tramway & Tramroad Company is something of a forgotten system in the region, though its route penetrated some of the most densly populated areas of north Tyneside and included (from 1904) running rights over Newcastle Corporations lines into the City centre and vice versa.  Some of the route to Gosforth outlived the conversion of the Company routes to bus operation, becoming a part of the NCT system.  This view shows the meeting of the NCT system with the TT&TC, with cars from both system evident and passengers transferring between trams and systems. To the east the system met the narrow gauge Tynemouth & District Electric Traction Company, whose trams operated from New Quay to Whitley Bay.  Route mileage was 11 miles, plus 5 miles over NCT track.  Around half of its own mileage was on reserved track (not on streets) from Wallsend up to Gosforth. Below: We now have a selection of commercial postcards showing Newcastle trams, the captions being pretty self explanatory as to the locations! Below: This is an early painting, in postcard form, rather than a paint enhanced photograph. Below: I do like this busy view, not at all usual for the style usually favoured on postcards.

Gateshead Trams

Below: I was delighted to buy this view – apparently torn from a scrap book and crisply showing Black Hawthorn steam tram locomotive No.8 (777 built in 1884). the trailer is one of a batch of sixteen double deck bogie vehicles built by the Falcon Engine & Car Company.  Originally open top, they were later enclosed to protect passengers from sparks, cinders and fumes from the locomotives. Note the plethora of period adverts – even applied to the locomotive! Below: A tinted postcard showing one of the orignal open top cars used upon electrification of the system – see previous articles on Gateshead trams to see why we don’t have one of the 4x series of open toppers in the collection… Below: Another contemporary painting on a postcard.  Note the NER locomotive on the bridge in the background.  Possibly one of their high-stepping 4-4-0s? Below: It is well known that 19 of the Gateshead cars were sold to British Railways for further use on the Grimsby & Immingham Electirc Railway, where one was damaged beyond repair whilst being unloaded and another was converted into a works car.  This view shows how the trams were moved, after being stripped of bogies and underframe equipment and loaded onto low floor bogie-bolster wagons – apparently quite a tight fit! Grimsby & Immingham Electric Railway

Below: We now move onto a batch of Grimsby & Immingham photograhps, the first of which was been on this blog before as subject of a direct recreation at Beamish – the chances of such similar views being possible over a hundred miles apart, and featuring the very same tram, are pretty slim, but it happened all the same!  Here is the original, immediately followed by the recreated view taken at Beamish earlier this year (both in b&w and colour).  Uncanny isn’t it?!

Below: No.30 in an unusual view showing the close proximity of the G&I with the main line ‘heavy rail’ tracks, here occupied by a Riddles (WD design) 2-8-0 in the only livery these locomotives ever carried – filth! Below: A general selection of views of the trams on the G&I system. Below: A direct contrast can be made between the original Brush car in the form of No.1 here, and the Gateshead cars, an example of which is seen parked behind.

It is my intention to create a series of galleries in order to ensure these, plus many other archive images are more accessible on the blog and when searched for online.  Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this interesting mixture of views!