Percy Main Anniversary Headboard Exhibit

This past week, Cameron has fabricated a headboard bracket to be installed on the wall in the museum to accommodate the anniversary headboard of Percy Main shed.

He cut a section of scrap angle iron, before welding to the shape of a headboard bracket.

    Once all welded, the bracket is painted and fixed on the wall.

It was only fitting that it was placed above the enamel BR(NE) Percy Main station sign.

Museum Decorating

Over the past few weeks, volunteers have been busy decorating the museum ready for the upcoming 'Elf Express' trains, starting on December 2nd.

This has involved building a stage in front and mock-up tunnel in front of Meaford No.1 (complete with smoke machine in the smokebox!) where the visitor experience begins with a performance by Santa and the elves.

E4 looking very festive!

Museum decorations

Meaford No.1 decorated and set up in the museum ahead of Elf Express

 

Elf Express stage good to go

A new smoke/fog machine has been put in place underneath Meaford No.1, with the added lighting we think it looks superb!

 

Mock up tunnel painting

Volunteers Michael and Alice have been busy painting the mock up tunnel which has been constructed around Meaford No.1

 

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Volunteers have been hard at work the past few days decorating the museum ahead of this years Elf Express

 

Stage assembling

Volunteers assembling the stage in front of Meaford No.1 in the museum

 

Mock up cab goes into storage

The Tyne & Wear Metro Mock Up cab has now gone into storage to make room in the museum for Elf Express

 

Musuem decorating

Jean has made a start decorating the museum ahead of this years Elf Express

 

Metro cab dismantling

With the last operating day of the 2022 running season done and the museum now closed till Christmas, work has begun on dismantling the mock up Metro cab ready for it to be collected tomorrow, to go into storage

 

Black Umfolosi

 

Zimbabwe’s a Capella band Umfolosi playing in the museum today

T&W Metro Mock Up Cab

Today we have taken delivery of the new Tyne and Wear Metro trains mock up cab from Gosforth Depot.

The mock up cab was created for Metro to give their drivers a feel for the new trains that are currently being constructed, the first of which is being delivered in November this year. Thank you to Nexus, the public body who owns and operates Tyne & Wear Metro, who have donated the mock up cab to Tyne & Wear Museums & Archives and the North Tyneside Steam Railway Association. The cab will be on display inside the museum for the remainder of the year and, when volunteer availability allows, opened to the public so you can have the chance to sit in and be talked through how it all works!

The first few photos show the cab being loaded at Gosforth depot after Michael, Steve and David dismantled it. Followed by arriving and re-assembling at Middle Engine Lane.

 

In the Museum

From the dawn of the railway age with the Willington Waggonway and Killingworth Billy. Through to Tyne & Wear Metro we've got it all in the Museum

 

Clio exhibit

If you’re visiting the museum today why not give a look at one of our oldest and most locally important exhibits!

The cab of Clio has recently been adapted to create a driving simulator. Here you can learn how steam engines work and how what you do affects the steam pressure in the boiler. Try and discover all the functions and don’t run out of steam! 

Fit for all ages, anybody is welcome to have a go!

Clio is significant as the last surviving part of a Blyth & Tyne locomotive, she was built at Percy Main in 1867.

 

Jubilee Decorating

Preparations have been underway today in readiness for our Platinum Jubilee trains tomorrow & Friday.

With both steam and diesel locomotives in service (Bagnall 401 & 08915). And our Waggonway tearoom will be open on Friday too!

Our timetable:

11.15am (steam), 12.10pm (steam), 1.10pm (diesel), 2pm (steam) & 3pm (diesel)