Renown back up north - tomorrow! 15th November

[Timothy Hackworth Jr]

Just had a visit to Beamish this afternoon. As well as Michael Davison's old Marshall traction and Guy Rutter's newly restored Wallis Advance, the Howard brothers have Renown and their Savage gallopers in steam tomorrow only - sorry for the short notice, only found out meself yesterday, but nice to see steam in an appropriate setting and Renown back in the land of her commercial days with John Murphy.

[BLACKTOP]

AH that solves the mystery saw them heading north on a1 at dishforth thursday couldnt find where they mite be going as its unusual to see them this far north

[Motorman Tel]

There is a photo of "Renown" in action with the steam gallopers at Beamish Museum on
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23689245@N08/4108039141/ and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23689245@N08/4108040859/

[Cygnus X-1]

It would have been great to see Renown and gallopers at Beamish last May , I understand there used to be a set of gallopers up there in past years .
Shame about the weather looking at the photo's even so Renown and Gallopers always look superb.

[Motorman Tel]

There has been a set of gallopers there for a number of years but they were privately owned and contracted into the museum. I understand that the owner retired at the end of 2008 season and was unable to get a successor, so the carousel was dismantled and removed. I'm told that it was later advertised for sale in "Old Glory" and, presumably, elsewhere. The museum did try to negotiate an alternative period ride but negotiations failed to produce a result. It's a pity because the carousel was always very popular and we are still regularly asked when it will be replaced.

There are photos of it on the following:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23689245@N08/2784254463/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23689245@N08/2362142312/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23689245@N08/2499271721/

Note: the Showman's Engine in the third photograph was a passing visitor and nothing to do with the carousel.

[Motorman Tel]

How's that for a coincidence!

Less than a week after I posted an item mourning the loss of the gallopers at Beamish Museum I discover that they have this week purchased a new set.

Beamish has purchased the 1893-built Savage 3-abreast steam roundabout from the Ayers family. This is the famous Sally Beach set and is in remarkably original condition. The museum has been told it is probably one of the best sets in the UK in terms of this, and is complete with centre and organ engine (though both require work before the ride can be operated under steam - it is currently electrically powered). It is still fitted with the original (as far as can be ascertained) 87 key Gavioli organ, which is also in need of attention.

It is planned to have the gallopers up and running from Saturday 28 November at the Pockerley area of the museum, and they will be in action every weekend through to Christmas when they will be dismantled in order to overhaul the centre engine. Once this work is complete it will be re-erected on a new fairground site adjacent to the museum town area.

My apologies to Paul Jarman, Curator of Transport at the museum, for lifting most of this information from his blog.

[Motorman Tel]

After a couple of days of frantic building, assisted by the Ayers family, Beamish Museum's newly acquired set of Savage gallopers went into service today, 28 November 2009. The following photos show it during a very successful inaugural running day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23689245@N08/4140916573/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23689245@N08/4140919063/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23689245@N08/4140924279/