Beamish catching up after Covid-19

BEAMISH Museum is tackling a backlog of maintenance following the Covid pandemic.

While efforts are being concentrated on bus and tram overhauls, as they are essential to moving visitors around the still expanding site, the railways are not being neglected by any means.

At present, the working industrial fleet is reduced to one locomotive, 0-4-0VBT

Coffee Pot No. 1, built in 1871 by Head Wrightson, which will be supplemented by hired-in visitors as required. Sister Head Wrightson 0-4-0VBT, works number 33, built in 1873 is being considered for restoration in the future. The working steam locos will be concentrated on the colliery area as the NER station area is being revamped and likely to reopen in 2025, all being well.

The Pockley Waggonway will be operated by the replica Puffing Billy, built by Alan Keefe in 2006 as works number 71, with others on display. In the workshops is replica Steam Elephant, built in 2001, which is about to commence a major overhaul. The locomotive was retubed in 2019, but due to the pandemic all work was stopped. It is intended to start work on the chassis during the coming summer and return the engine to service.

Lewin 0-4-0ST No. 18, works number 683, built in 1877, is stored in the running shed alongside other non-working locos, but in around three years the museum will try and fit in a boiler and mechanical overhaul.

A locomotive not seen for many years is Sharp Stewart 0-4-4T Dunrobin, works number 4085, built in 1895 and currently undergoing major overhaul on the Severn Valley Railway at Bridgnorth. It is slightly unusual in that it was never a main line locomotive but was built for the Duke of Sutherland’s private railway.

The overhaul of Dunrobin could be completed later this year. Following a testing and commissioning, the loco is expected to move to Beamish for use on the revived NER branch line.