A MUSEUM has stepped into the breach to help fill the gap for rail enthusiasts who have come to the region for the ill-fated Millennium Cavalcade of Steam.

The demise of the event this Bank Holiday weekend has left many disappointed fans. But Beamish Museum, Stanley, County Durham, said while it can't lay on such a large scale spectacle it will help fill the gap. Two magnificent working replica 19th century road carriages will be in steam at Beamish this weekend.

The machines will be on display at the museum's newest exhibit, the 1825 Railway, where visitors can take a ride on a re-creation of the world's first ever, steam-hauled passenger train, headed by Stephenson's Locomotion No 1.

A replica of Walter Hancock's 1833 steam road carriage Enterprise will be on static display near the Great Engine Shed.

The machine was completed earlier this year by Tom Brogden of Warrington, Cheshire, and is making its second public appearance.

Walter Hancock was one of the most successful steam road engineers of the early 19th century.

Enterprise was contracted out to the London and Paddington Steam Carriage Company running a regular service through central London.

General conditions, however, were not ready for these alarming vehicles and the company eventually reneged on its agreement to order more of Hancock's carriages.

Hancock himself continued to experiment with steam carriages until 1840 when, disappointed, he joined his brother Thomas and helped to found the British rubber industry.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to see the replica of the first powered road vehicle - Richard Trevithick's London Steam Carriage, also built by Mr Brogden.

The original, built in 1803, could carry up to ten passengers. A number of trail runs were made through the streets of London at speeds not exceeding 9mph.