Beamish Festival of Transport May 2025
After mentioning that there would be a change to our event format for 2025 (see the post below), I can now confirm our 2025 programme, due to take place between the 24th May and 1st June this year.
We also want to fit our events into the national Railway 200 programme as well, and are looking at some activities for October half-term, as something of a one-off, given the anniversary.
In terms of programme, then, here is what we have planned:
Saturday, Sunday and Monday 24/25/26 (BH) May
- Rowley Station operating
- Waggonway operating
- Trams (clockwise)
- Intensive bus service including visiting vehicles (counter-clockwise)
Highlight: Re-opening of Rowley Station for operating passenger trains for the first time since 2020 and an intensive heritage bus service on all three days with several visiting vehicles in use
Tuesday and Wednesday 27/28 May
- Rowley Station operating
- Waggonway operating
- Trams (clockwise)
- Buses (counter-clockwise)
- Vintage and Veteran Cars and Motorcycles (clockwise) with displays on High Street outside Redman Park
Highlight: A selection of vintage and veteran cars and motorcycles visiting the museum’s road network, and a display from the museum’s own collection in the Town
Thursday and Friday 29/30 May
- Rowley Station operating
- Waggonway operating
- Colliery Railway (Friday 30th May only with Coffee Pot No.1 if overhaul is completed in time)
- Trams (clockwise)
- Buses (counter-clockwise)
- Road Haulage (clockwise) with displays on High Street @ Redman Park
Highlight: A selection of road steam engines and commercial vehicles from the pre-war era of British road haulage
Saturday and Sunday 31st May/1st June
- Rowley Station operating
- Waggonway operating
- Colliery Railway (Saturday 31st May only Coffee Pot No.1 if overhaul is completed in time)
- Narrow Gauge Railway (Glyder, Samson and potentially two visiting narrow gauge locomotives)
- Trams (clockwise)
- Intensive bus service including visiting vehicles (counter-clockwise)
Highlight: Visiting narrow gauge steam engines and operations across the museum’s railways, augmented by a selection of post-war vintage buses operating around the museum.
As usual, there are the obvious caveats regarding ‘subject to availability’ of exhibits. But we have aimed to ensure a programme across the whole of the half-term holiday that interests visitors and enthusiasts, and also sits within the museum’s operation within what can often be quite a busy period. I am currently in the process of confirming the arrangements for the hired-in locomotive that will operate at Rowley, and as soon as I am able to, I’ll report this on the blog – needless to say I think it is a very suitable Victorian locomotive for the setting…
Note – the header image is selected to be a generic representation of the event, rather than specifically reflect those exhibits that are being invited to attend!
The Firness Railway Trust’s 0-4-0 would look very nice – again!
Sorry: “Furness”.(as would a Victorian L B & S C ‘Terrier’ Tank such as the Bluebell Railway’s “Fenchurch”).
Both of those would certainly look well at Rowley (again in FR 20’s case!)…
Here are my guess’s along with the Furness railway loco. Marcia, Kent and East Sussex, portbury, Bristol harbour railway, Caledonian tank engine, Bo’ness and twizell from the Tanfield.
Hi Ben. Portbury has been before, and Twizell has too-long a fixed wheelbase with flange-less centre driving wheels, so would not readily be suitable (when it last ran here, the curve was not fitted with a slightly raisedcheck-rail). The Caley tank would be too heavy I suspect, whilst Marcia might be more fun in the Colliery…
I do have a list and discussions are always ongoing for suitable locos to visit us in the future… We might see one or two in 2026 when Rowley celebrates it’s 50th anniversary since being formally reopened at Beamish. Watch this space!
Actually sir Birkly
My (new) guess is the Middleton Railway based (Vintage Carriages Trust owned) 0-6-0ST “Sir Berkely” – which would re-create a Victorian ‘light railway’ cameo. If so, bet the crew(s) hope it doesn’t rain!