Take a locomotive ride at the Great War Steam Fair

When: 5th – 8th April 2018

Where: Beamish Museum, Beamish, County Durham DH9 0RG

£: Admission to the museum and fair costs £19 for adults, £14 for concessions and £11 for children. Family tickets also available

What is it?

More than 100 steam locomotives and vehicles, of all shapes and sizes, will be gathering at Beamish Museum in County Durham for the Great War Steam Fair, from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th April.

Taking on a First World War focus for this centenary year of the end of the war, the fair will feature locomotives, traction engines, steam rollers, cars, lorries and motorbikes, many of them in military colours and livery.  Visitors will be able see an array of transport in action and on display, with about 30 road steam vehicles and 90 internal combustion vehicles, including a fire engine.

Steam locomotive Peckett 1370 will be running passenger rides at Rowley Station, whilst Puffing Billy will take visitors on a trip through the Georgian landscape at Pockerley Waggonway. On the narrow gauge railway in The Colliery Yard, two guest engines, Hunslet Statfold and Jack Lane, will be hard at work; alongside the museum’s very own Samson, built by Beamish volunteer David Young.

During the four-day event, and adding to the First World War theme, military re-enactment groups – Durham Pals, Gordon Highlanders, Scots at War, 10th Essex and the 29th Field Kitchen – will be taking part, with displays, demonstrations and activities.

Some of the more quirky attractions will include the chance to watch two steam-powered saw benches at work, see some pewter casting by the William Lane Foundry (Middlesbrough’s oldest surviving foundry), and view a model colliery exhibition on the Saturday and Sunday.

The Friends of Beamish will be in action too, showing off their splendid collection of historic transport, including bicycles and motorcycles.  There’ll also be the opportunity to take a ride on the Beamish model engineers’ railway (a small charge applies).

The Great War Steam Fair will be the second event running as part of the Great North Festival of Transport, which will conclude with Horses at War from Friday 13th to Sunday 15th April.

Award-winning Beamish Museum uses its collections to tell the story of everyday life in the North East through time. History is brought to life by costumed staff and volunteers, and visitors to the 350 acre open air museum site can explore a town, village and buildings from the 1820s and early 20th century.  Many of the buildings have been moved from across the region and the museum’s collections focus on rural life, social history, transport and engineering/industry.

More info: www.beamish.org.uk