Beamish Museum's 40th Anniversary
 

After normal closing time this evening Beamish Open Air Museum played host to several hundred invited guests plus live television on both BBC & ITV local news to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the opening day.
I was there as a gatecrasher, being the driver for 2 members of the invited brass band who entertained during the evening. I bumped into several T-T members and enjoyed a very pleasant evening. There were also 5 traction engines in steam as well as Furness Railway No. 20 giving rides from the railway station. The traction engines will be in steam all weekend.

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Neil Corner's Winston Churchill with his Gaudin Organ

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This is a new one to me. Fowler T3 Roller "Whitby Jet"

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Photography was very difficult with a strong setting sun, deep shadows and 4 of the engines pointing the wrong way for pictures

Yes, altogether a very pleasant do - although time pressures meant that there wasn't really time to stop and chat to folk sadly. Ah well, maybe next weekend at Shildon...

that was a good night after the event we took the marshall the walis and the fowler t3 over to the stables beamish hall pub

The Gaudin Organ is actually owned by Norman Smith and Alan Curry ,although the ERF does belong to Neil.

Sorry. It was just what the organ operator told me. I was trying to find out which Gaudin it was. I was wondering if it was the one I saw at Dick Preston's in Potto back in the 1960s. I was told it was owned once by George Parmley and was now owned by the organ society and looked after by Neil Corner. Will someone put me right with the history please?

Yes the organ was in Preston`s yard in the late 60`s .George Parmley had bought the Gaudin from Belgium in 1966.It is owned by the Chester-le-Street Organ Society,Whom are Norman and Alan