Before a news report, a reminder for anyone thinking of coming to Beamish this weekend that it is the Somme commemoration and we are operating the narrow gauge railway plus offering footplate rides on No.18 at Rowley Station.

Crewe Tractor

Below: The work on this conversion was sufficiently complete by the end of last week to enable a quick coat of paint to be applied before the Crewe Tractor was placed onto the narrow gauge Pershing Waggon as part of the display on the narrow gauge railway for this weekend’s Somme commemorations.

Below: The bonnet was swapped at the last minute as there was an opportunity for this to be signwritten at an event elsewhere (so costing us nothing!) – fortunately there was a spare in the garage and this, despite its condition, looked rather well!  The Model T tourer usually on display in the Garage showroom was extracted and also mounted aboard the Pershing.  This will now be recommisioned, completing a restoration started but never finished many years ago.

Below: Traditional hemp rope was purchased to secure the two Model Ts onto the Pershing wagon – the cut ends were sealed by binding and then dipping in molten candle wax to prevent the ends fraying and make tying the knots easier.

Below: Moelwyn and its First World War US Army train…

Duke of Sutherland’s Saloon 58A

Below: Work on 58A proceeds in fits and starts.  The gold leaf is being applied to the exterior panels and the drawgear is also awaiting fitting.  The luggage nets have been overhauled and refitted and look much the better for this attention.

NER Hut

This sequence of views shows the extraction of the NER Carriage & Wagon hut from the Colliery and its subsequent removal to the RHEC for restoration.  It is to be relocated at Rowley Station, for use by the gardens and mens groups working at the station.

Below: Matt B captured the views above in the morning gloom.  Later in the day the hut was placed outside the workshops and an assessment started.  It is in good condition and will have localised repairs, the floor refitted, insulation and boarding installed, a stove fitted and some cosmetic attention before wiring, painting and removal to the station.

Narrow Gauge:Glyder

Below: Work has started on the removal of tubes from Glyder, a partially successful process but as a number of the tubes have disintegrated, their extraction, without a handy access point into the boiler, is proving to be challenging.  Here Matt nicks the ends of the tubes inside the firebox before a rod is inserted through the tube, tightened at both ends with a collar at the firebox end and a spacer on the smokebox tubeplate.  A combination of hammering and winding of nuts then draws the tube out.  Sounds easy, in practice it isn’t quite so straightforward, but a dozen or so tubes have now been removed so far.

Odds and ends

Below: With the Model T tourer removed from the showroom, space was available to move more cycles into the space.  The Armstrong car has had the roof folded down (to reduce its proximity to a light fitting!) and looks rather different for this.  Some of the motorcycles will return soon and be placed on display in this area.  The Black Prince is also on display, in the rear workshop area.

Finally…

Some more views of the Model Ts and WW1 display of working equipment on the narrow gauge railway this weekend.