2oth May 2010

Various bits and pieces from on and off the site…

Below: Sunderland 101 is born! After completion of its repaint, Blackpool 703 has moved back to the main depot at Rigby Road in Blackpool. It looks very smart and is due to arrive at Beamish in June.

Below: The B Type bus has had the roof replaced and the top deck sides and seats refitted. It has had a temporary repaint pending a full one later in the year, into NCT blue and primrose – not a livery carried by the Bs that did operate in the region, but one felt more appropriate for this replica bus to carry at Beamish.

Below: Blackpool 31’s temporary green livery has been rubbed down and will shortly disappear underneath new coats of paint as it gains its 1920s scheme once again. Phil Anderson has done extensive preparatory work to the tram in order to give a very high quality final finish – due to be completed next month!

Below: The new access gate and wall adjacent to the colliery engine works are complete – as this view shows, enabling better access for some further landscaping and improvements as well as for plant access to the engine works itself.

Below: The chip shop is coming! Not quite transport, but it will feature the chip van (on wheels!) that has appeared on the blog before. Planning and design completed, work has started on the ground. It is aimed to build it this year and fit out over the winter, complete with coal fired fryers! This view shows where it is, on a new street behind the Chapel in the Pit Village.

Below: A photo of one of the project information boards that gives an impression of how it will look – narrow gauge enthusiast readers might notice the similarity to the original Tywyn Wharf station!

Below: The gate to the back of Francis Street has been replaced and rearranged to block the colliery railway tracks when open (it will be closed normally though). A second gate is being positioned to complete the pair – seen in the photo below this.