Beamish at Christmas and Festive Durham

[50002Superb]

According to http://www.railtourinfo.co.uk/tours.html the above tour is 92 hauled from London to Durham and back albeit I can’t see this actually mentioned on the https://www.ukrailtours.com/product/beamish-at-christmas-and-festive-durham/ website. Does anyone know which 92 is likely to be working?

If it’s one of the Caledonian Sleeper ones I’ll give it a miss.

Also interesting that you can buy separate tickets for the 66 part of the rail tour for the haulage.

 

[Egg Centric]

(Not an answer to your question but for anyone on this trip hoping to "do" Beamish in 3 hours - don't bother, that's a ridiculously tiny amount of time. Stick to Durham instead)

 

[StoneRoad]

(Not an answer to your question but for anyone on this trip hoping to "do" Beamish in 3 hours - don't bother, that's a ridiculously tiny amount of time. Stick to Durham instead)

Tried that with the ALSMOC rally's Sunday Run; which included getting something to eat.
All I looked at was part of the "1950s Town" - but I have the advantage that I have been there several times before ...
Get the tram / bus into the Town to save time & shoe leather.

 

[19Gnasher69]

According to http://www.railtourinfo.co.uk/tours.html the above tour is 92 hauled from London to Durham and back albeit I can’t see this actually mentioned on the https://www.ukrailtours.com/product/beamish-at-christmas-and-festive-durham/ website. Does anyone know which 92 is likely to be working?

On WNXX someone has mentioned that the main leg of the tour will be a class 57; apparently noted on the UKR diary dates page.
I messaged UKR the other day for clarification but haven’t had a response.

 

[50002Superb]

On WNXX someone has mentioned that the main leg of the tour will be a class 57; apparently noted on the UKR diary dates page.
I messaged UKR the other day for clarification but haven’t had a response.

I can’t see it noted anywhere on the UKR website, the link is in my original post.

Only reason I’m interested is that I will definitely book on it if it is a non-Caley 92.

 

[19Gnasher69]

I can’t see it noted anywhere on the UKR website, the link is in my original post.

Only reason I’m interested is that I will definitely book on it if it is a non-Caley 92.

The poster on WNXX said it was shown on the diary dates page - I think entries on that page disappear when tours become available for booking.

 

[50002Superb]

The poster on WNXX said it was shown on the diary dates page - I think entries on that page disappear when tours become available for booking.

Weird because it references the Class 66 haulage.

 

[19Gnasher69]

Weird because it references the Class 66 haulage.

I agree. However, I’ve just had confirmation from UKR that a class 57/3 will haul the main sections of this tour.

 

[DarloRich]

You are not even going to scratch the surface of Beamish in 3 hours.

Imo get off at Durham and get the bus up to the cathedral

 

[50002Superb]

I agree. However, I’ve just had confirmation from UKR that a class 57/3 will haul the main sections of this tour.

Ok, thanks - I definitely won’t bother then!

 

[bleeder4]

When I go to Beamish I really just want a ride on the tramway. I will quite happily spend a couple of hours on the tram just doing circles around the site. Not interested in going in the shops, walking the streets etc. Riding the tram is plenty for me. So 3 hours would be more than enough time for me!

 

[Tetchytyke]

You are not even going to scratch the surface of Beamish in 3 hours.

Imo get off at Durham and get the bus up to the cathedral

Ok, thanks - I definitely won’t bother then!

It's about 30 minutes or so on a coach from Durham to Beamish, and the same amount of time back again. So if the train arrives at 12.30 and leaves at 5pm then, realistically, you will only get an absolute maximum of 3 hours at Beamish, and probably slightly less.

It depends what you would want to do at Beamish. In three hours you would have time to have a ride on the tramway and explore one of the 'zones', but no more than that. Beamish is an absolutely huge site and there is a lot of walking involved between 'zones', or a lot of waiting around for trams which usually come around every 15-20 minutes or so. You'd have about two useable hours at Beamish because you'd need to have a buffer to make sure you're on the coach before it leaves again. It's up to you whether that's worth £35.

Personally I'd stay in Durham City. By the time you've explored the Cathedral and the city centre (and done the Durham Castle tour if the University have it open to visitors that day) then you'll be ready for a pint (The Shakespeare is always worth a visit) and then back to the train.

 

[DarloRich]

Personally I'd stay in Durham City. By the time you've explored the Cathedral and the city centre (and done the Durham Castle tour if the University have it open to visitors that day) then you'll be ready for a pint (The Shakespeare is always worth a visit) and then back to the train.

is the correct answer! Good café in the Cathedral if pints are not your thing.

( I assume the tour company will put a coach on ti/from Beamish but even so.....................)

 

[50002Superb]

It's about 30 minutes or so on a coach from Durham to Beamish, and the same amount of time back again. So if the train arrives at 12.30 and leaves at 5pm then, realistically, you will only get an absolute maximum of 3 hours at Beamish, and probably slightly less.

It depends what you would want to do at Beamish. In three hours you would have time to have a ride on the tramway and explore one of the 'zones', but no more than that. Beamish is an absolutely huge site and there is a lot of walking involved between 'zones', or a lot of waiting around for trams which usually come around every 15-20 minutes or so. You'd have about two useable hours at Beamish because you'd need to have a buffer to make sure you're on the coach before it leaves again. It's up to you whether that's worth £35.

Personally I'd stay in Durham City. By the time you've explored the Cathedral and the city centre (and done the Durham Castle tour if the University have it open to visitors that day) then you'll be ready for a pint (The Shakespeare is always worth a visit) and then back to the train.

I wasn’t interested in Beamish, just what was hauling the main leg of the tour.

 

[SeanG]

Would recommend Vennels cafe in Durham rather than the Cathedral. And echo the point about not going to Beamish (notwithstanding that it is an excellent museum but you need 2 - 3 full days to do it properly nowadays)

 

[D6130]

The Shakespeare is always worth a visit) and then back to the train.

The Victoria Is even better IMHO....but it's a further ten minutes walk from the station.

 

[Egg Centric]

TBH if you're a Londoner then rather than fannying around with cafes I'd be looking to have proper fish and chips with dripping at Bells. Not the best fish and chip shop in County Durham but a heckuva lot better than anything you'll get down there, to the extent it's a different dish.

If you want excellent food then if you can book a table go to Coarse. I can't really stress how great a value propasition that place is, you'll be paying normal London eat out prices for Michelin star quality.