Operation on ‘The North Eastern Branch’ at Rowley Station this Easter commences on Good Friday, April 3rd.  The motive power hired for the fortnight includes ex Great Eastern Railway No.229, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and 90 years since it was sold into industry.  Sir Berkeley is a return visitor to the museum and makes a popular comeback to Rowley.

The schedule for the locos is a little variable at the moment, but GER 229 will be operating the four days of Easter weekend, and possibly for the full two week holiday period as well – as a tube leak on Sir Berkeley is under investigation – we hope to be able to address this so that it can play a part in the operation.

We hope that visitors will enjoy the experience of riding on trains from Rowley once again, which we intend to repeat for Whit week in May, and some weekends in July.  Operating costs (for hiring locomotives) precluded regular operation throughout 2026, but when the long-running restoration of our own locomotive, Dunrobin, is completed, we will be able to offer more frequent operating dates from 2027.

Below: GER 229 commenced trial running on Tuesday March 31st, to ensure compatibility with the rolling stock and enable crew familiarisation with the locomotive.

Below: The recent clearance of trees and vegetation in the Rowley Station area has restored views of the station and trains that were starting to become obscured.  No.229 is seen during one of its test runs, matched to the Highland Railway-liveried North London Railway coach, and the Duke of Sutherland’s luggage saloon.  (photo by Dave Hewitt)

Below: 229’s birthday and entry into service as a passenger-hauling locomotive was marked with the presentation of a cake, baked in Beamish’s own bakery, on Thursday 2nd April.  229’s owner, Bill Parker (on the right), and I present the fabulously decorated cake to 229 for its birthday…

Photographs in this post by the Beamish Comms team, Dave Hewitt and Paul Jarman