Transport

Beamish Tramway

Our trams and vintage buses are operating throughout the day on a circular route around the museum, calling at the Entrance, Pockerley, 1900s Town and Foulbridge.

Beamish Tramway, opened in 1973, serves to re-create the experience and atmosphere of tramway operation of an earlier generation, whilst providing an essential means of transport for visitors around the site.

As well as the electric trams, there are replica Edwardian motor buses and, part of the present development plans, trolley buses and motor buses to increase access around the site and serve the new 1950s developments.

The Tram and Bus Routes

The original 1973 route comprised a single track from the Depot at Foulbridge to the boundary of the Town site.  This was extended into the growing Town in 1975, and then extended beyond Foulbridge to the new Visitor Entrance in 1988, bringing the route to a mile in length, with passing loops at all three stops.

Then in 1993 a major extension completed the circle from Town via Pockerley (with a further passing loop), up a steep gradient through Birch Wood, back to the Visitor Entrance, this completing Route 1. Route 2 serves the Colliery (Pit Hill) and is operated by replica buses from the Edwardian period.

The proposed trolleybus route will run largely in parallel with the tramway, except for a divergence into a 1950s bus station and through parts of the 1950s urban developments.  This route will be operated by both motor and trolley buses.

The Overhead Line and Power Supply

The distinctive poles supporting the overhead have all been recovered from former tram and trolleybus systems, in many cases restored to their original length by specialist welding.  They are set in concrete to a depth of about 2 metres.

The trolley wire is grooved copper alloy, 4/0 gauge (80 sq. mm), suspended either from bracket arms or on span-wire construction, at a normal height of 6 metres.  A second (negative) wire is provided in the Depot area, for safety earthing purposes, and for test-running the trolleybus.

The trams are all fitted with trolley poles and carbon-slipper trolley heads, and return their traction current via the running rails.

Overhead fittings have been salvaged from the Newcastle, South Shields, Tees-side and Bradford systems, and in the Town area period fittings have been used wherever practicable. Trams use a single wire with the negative route via the rails, whilst trolleybuses use a pair of wires, the negative being one of this pair.

The Tram Depot

The Depot is located within the Foulbridge workshop complex and includes accommodation for our trams on four roads (1, 2 3 and 4). Road 3 is equipped with an inspection and service pit.

Mechanical and Electrical workshops and Stores provide the facilities for routine maintenance, repairs, overhauls and complete restoration work, not only on the vehicles but also on the track, power supply and overhead line system. Although much of the work on the trams is carried out on site, some specialist work such as traction motor overhauls and wheel re-profiling is undertaken off site by local contractors. The Depot also houses the substation and telephone exchange.

Northern General Transport Bus Depot

The Northern General Transport Bus Depot enhances the rich and diverse stories we tell regarding the history of transport in the region.

The exhibit can accommodate up to eight buses and supports Beamish’s important work of passing on heritage engineering skills. Restored buses will also transport visitors to and from The 1950s Town as part of the Remaking Beamish project.

The Fleet

The operating fleet usually consists of between four and six trams, with others in store or undergoing heavy maintenance. The fleet is now being put into an approximate 7-8 year cycle which sees their intensive maintenance followed by a body lift to allow the motors to be overhauled.

There are two Edwardian replica buses based on the London B type (in Newcastle Corporation livery) and a Northern General Daimler.  A 2007 built bus and adapted 1932 Leyland Cub provides wheelchair access.  An Armstrong Whitworth replica car is also available as a limousine, and a supporting fleet of cars and vans dating from the 1920s to early 1960s can also be seen at work around the Museum.