
Remaking Beamish: Bus Depot
One of the next elements of the Remaking Beamish programme to be commenced is a new, purpose-designed, bus depot. The work on site has already commenced, to prepare for piling and ground stabilisation. We thought that blog readers might like to see some of the 3D computer generated images of the depot…
The depot is a key part of the Remaking Beamish scheme, recognising that as the museum gets busier, so the transport system will need to both work harder and achieve greater levels of reliability (in order to provide, in basic terms, more seats per hour for the visitors). There is significant investment coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Reece Foundation and Go-North East for this project, which will provide accommodation for several motor buses as well as a bespoke workshop for them to be maintained in. The historic vehicle operation will also be maintained in the same workshop.
The building is styled on 1930s/40s practice, as applied to bus depots built in this period. It is fairly non-specific in period however, housing as it will buses dating from the First World War to the 1950s. The gable end and colour scheme reflects the Northern General Omnibus Company, whose name will also appear on the timber panels, along with an appropriate clock.
We were keen to avoid any steel/metal cladding in order to avoid the ‘sweating’ that can occur in such buildings (reducing condensation forming on the buses) so a cement fibre panelling system has been selected, to clad the roof and upper sides of the depot, which is a steel frame building with truss-frame style roof and brick panels to the outer skin. Internally there will be painted block walls, which will be disguised with period posters and signage.
The workshop area is vital to our operation and for the first time will enable all of the buses to be accommodated on a pit (rather than the wider ones sharing the tramway maintenance pit). It will also house a secure store and space for carrying out routine maintenance on the historic vehicles of a non-passenger carrying variety that operate at Beamish. Trams and Trolleybuses will be maintained (and kept!) in the existing tram depot. The space gained there from re-homing the motor bus fleet will enable some reorganisation of the depot and workshop area, with a new dedicated transport workshop being created for both tramcars and railway rolling stock (at the rear of Road 4/Road 5). The existing vehicle workshop will become a fabrication shop, the current one being used to expand the machine shop.
As can be imagined, this is an expensive and significant investment, and whilst we would love to have had a larger depot with more frills, the design that has been arrived at greatly enhances our facilities. Externally there will be a vehicle washing area – essential with us using the transport collection so much during winter (on salted roads). There will also be considerably more public access, with the bus depot area being open to the public whilst the workshop will have viewing windows to enable maintenance work to be observed.
Below are some of the architectural renditions provided by our contractor, Team Build, and which show some of the external elements of the building. The site is now in the hands of the contractor and we hope to have access to the completed depot and workshop in the autumn, all being well. The main depot entrance faces the direction of the Foulbridge tram stop, and lies parallel to the existing footpath and tramway. The workshop has an entrance facing onto the service road into the Foulbridge office area, and the workshop floor sits lower due to the slope of the land (whence separate doorway).
Thanks for this info it explains what we saw just today on our visit. Will be great to view the workshop later this year.
A fabulous addition to the site. Access to the public would be a good feature, one which the tram depot currently lacks. IIRC, in the past prior to the ‘remaking Beamish’ proposals of recent times, there had been a proposal to erect a bus garage in the 1950’s town using reclaimed materials, and one which would provide a display of period vehicles and an area of covered accommodation to visitors during inclement weather – has this plan now been dropped from the 1950’s town?
Hi Alex
There is no present plan for an Edwardian bus depot – and never was a plan for one in the 1950s. There was once talk of a tram depot in the Town area as well, but operationally I prefer all of our resources to be grouped together – both from a maintenance point of view but also staff signing on/off at one point. I have a thought we might one day have a small depot in the Edwardian Town or even Pit Village, but these are no more than a dim thought in my mind at the moment. My focus has to be on the many other buildings we are currently developing and working to complete over the next few years! I would love to have more of the collection on display and available for inspection – and the 1950s (really a 1930s onwards) depot will provide for this to a large extent, but I also understand the desire for an older depot at some point in the future – and there has been no decision taken that would preclude this…
Best wishes
Paul Jarman
Assistant Director – Transport, Industry & Design
I’ve always wondered what happened to the old Durham bus station that once formed part of Beamish’s plans?
Hi John
The matter of the Durham bus station has become something of an urban myth with Beamish. What was salvaged (largely post-demolition) were a number of components from the earlier part of the building (the structure was extended during its life). These remain in store at Beamish and I have looked at them from time to time with a view to adapting what survived into a bus shelter for passengers here. However, their condition is very poor and any reuse is likely to be long-term and very expensive. However, it remains an objective to one day create a bus station/stand using components recovered from the old Durham bus station.
Best wishes
Paul Jarman
Hi Paul,
Many thanks for your answer; I really appreciate it.
You and the rest of the team at Beamish are doing a fantastic job. I wish all the best for the future.
All the best, John