Three former drivers from the Tyne and Wear Metro have taken on new careers by re-enacting the role of miners at Beamish Museum in Country Durham.
Before their change of career, the men drove trains on the Metro for over 30 years. In their new role at the Beamish Colliery, they provide visitors with an immersive experience showing them what life was like down the pits in the early 1900s.
The former drivers, Michael Bushby, Bob Blackburn, and Ian Jefferson, are used to working below the ground as for many years they drove trains through tunnels beneath Newcastle and Gateshead. At Beamish, they are going underground again, showing visitors around the museum's Mahogany drift mine, and telling stories about the harsh realities of working in a mine in Northeast England in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The first driver to join Beamish was Michael Bushby, who retired in 2021 after 33 years at Metro. Inspired by Michael's change of career, Ian and Bob both managed to get positions there when they applied.
Michael, 60, of Felling in Gateshead, said: “I really enjoy my role at Beamish, and it's been amazing that I've been joined there by two of my former driver colleagues from Metro.
“It all came about we had our annual get-together. I told them guys all about what I was doing at Beamish, and they were intrigued. They came to see me at the drift mine and it all went from there.
“Ian applied and was successful and then Bob decided to give it a go and he was also lucky enough to get a role there too. We've all been re-united at Beamish working as miners and in the 1900s pit village.
“I love working with people and I love local history, so the job is absolutely ideal for me. It's fantastic to be able to be there and bring local history to life. The harsh reality of life working in a mine is something I never tire of telling people about.
“I love the school groups as it gives me the chance to pass on our heritage to future generations. We also get a lot of international visitors, and I'm proud to be able to tell them all about our region's industrial heritage.”
Bob, 67, of Long Benton, said: “After seven years of being retired it's great to be back working once again with good friends Michael and Ian. We all share the same enthusiasm for keeping the history of Northeast England alive through our work at Beamish, where you get the chance to live and breathe the proud heritage of our region.”
Ian, 66, of Consett, said: “I retired from Metro after 30 years of driving in 2022 and I had always wanted to so some voluntary work in later life.
“I have a keen interest in history, and after I went to see Michael in his new role at Beamish I was inspired to get involved. I was captivated by the mining village and the museum in general.
“I saw a chance to give back to my local community so I applied to Beamish for a role there. I was honoured to get the opportunity to work at the museum with my two former Metro colleagues.”
