Back to Beamish

 The hoot of Tawny Owls and the leaves dropping from above on MB's roof was the only sounds heard last night. Quite thankful that we didn't get any rain 'cos frankly being directly under trees, the plopping of the water droplets would probably have kept us awake. It was a lovely place to stop, although quite dark being surrounded as we were by trees, and one to remember the next time we come to these parts.

 

So back to Beamish for the second time. We didn't bother waiting for a bus or tram this time choosing to walk to the town instead. Good move because hardly anyone was about, almost had the place to ourselves. Made life easy as far as going into the shops and houses.

 

Photographers

The Bank

Garage workshop

Chemist, hardware and millenary

Dentist

1940 terrace houses

We found out from a chap at the Tram terminus why the tram yesterday only came to the one-stop by the entrance. Apparently before Covid lockdown two trams trundled the circuit in both directions. Then while they were closed due to the lockdown, part of the track subsided between the 1900 town and this terminus. Now the tram only goes 3/4 of the way around on a single track. If only this had been made plain yesterday, people wouldn't have been so peeved. 

 

We did manage a ride on the tram and watched fascinated when the pickup arm was changed due to the  tram reversing its course. It's all to do with the arm having to trail and not be pushed.

Gosh those stairs were steep and narrow. How the Victorian ladies got on with there huge skirts is beyond me!

 

Consensus by both of us is this is a great place to visit. Iron out the few niggles and lack of information and it would have been perfect.

Here are some of the many photos taken today.

Rowley Station

Pit village

Bring back any memories?

FARM

Colliery Yard

6 yr old and too young to have been a pit pony. The last pit pony died 10 years ago at the age of 30.

And I still didn't get my carousel ride!

The farm animals

We stopped at Derwent Reservoir. Only £10 for the night and secure because this is run by the waterboard and they lock the gate at 8 pm. Quite good views too across the reservoir.