FORMER British Sugar Corporation Peckett 'B3' 0-6-0ST No. 2000 has come to the end of its hire agreement with Beamish Museum, after more than two years in the North East.
The 1942-built loco arrived at Beamish in August 2018, initially for a year's hire, but its extended stay has been severely hit by the coronavirus.
The loss of income from the museum's closure has resulted in the transport team needing to review its future outgoings for the short-term, and it has said it is unlikely to hire in any more locomotives.
The Rowley station site is also in need of some work to the track, which has subsequently joined a growing list of work which will need to be prioritised through the winter and into spring of next year.
Steam operations next year will be handled by former Yates, Duxbury & Sons Peckett 0-4-0ST May (1370/1915), owned by Chris Beet's Jubilee Locomotive Company.