Sunday Mix

Stewart oiling Twizell this morning .....
(photo courtesy of Malcolm Parker)

Sylvan Sleepers

Resleepering in Causey Woods - all photos courtesy of Stu Armstrong:

David & David moving sleepers

Brownies' Visit

Today, Tanfield Railway was invaded by several hundred Brownies ..... but first, the calm preparation .....

Angela watering Twizell
(photo courtesy of Malcolm Parker)

Tomorrow's Trains

Twizell will haul trains from Andrews House for Sunniside and Causey at 11 am, 12.15, 1.45, 3 and 4.15 pm this Sunday.  There will be no passenger trains beyond Causey due to track relaying on East Tanfield bank.

Twizell passing Boyd's on 2 June
(photo courtesy of Dave Hewitt)

We are always grateful for photos for the blog (email address above), but we would also appreciate shots for our association magazine.

Nederlandse Vereniging van Belangstellenden in het Spoor

.... or NVBS, the Dutch Railway (and Tramway) Association, visited Tanfield Railway today.

Our visitors liked the atmosphere of Marley Hill shed

The End of the Line

Last chance for time travel at Tanfield this Sunday!

These time travellers queued apprehensively, but were
returned near to where they left in space and time

End of the Line animated performances will be available in Marley Hill Carriage shed for the final time on Sunday.   For more information and booking of free tickets for the Tanfield time travel train see our website.

Odd Jobs

Dave learning to use a shunting pole

Wednesday's Workers

Nigel & Bob digging a hole for a signpost .....

Rail & River - the coaly Tyne

At one time, the banks of the Tyne were covered with industry.   Rail transport to, from and within sites was the norm.    Nowadays, it is difficult for people to realize or recall how extensive were these sites and railways.   As an example, the Tyne Improvement Commission (TIC) staiths at Whitehill Point was just one area used for transfer of coal from rail to colliers.

Three colliers at the Commissoners' staiths - note the area
covered by rail with few roads (courtesy Kevin Blair)*

* See  http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/Aerialviews.html  for this and similar photos, and http://www.flickr.com/photos/newcastlelibraries/sets/  for more shots of Tyneside through time.

Monday at Marley Hill

Fixing chairs to sleepers for Causey- Eric & Phil
 with Malcolm on the impact wrench ....

Sunday Variety

Dan cleaning Twizell

Sunday Trackwork

All photos below courtesy of Stu Armstrong

Ian & Jason aligning the panel on Houghwell Burn bridge; Ian with dog & bone

Saturday Jobs

Kyle working on a handrail for the LH&JC brakevan, 
and on the 100 year old Harton E9
(photos courtesy of Matthew Pickering)

Tomorrow's Trains

Twizell will haul trains from Andrews House for Sunniside and Causey at 11 am, 12.15, 1.45, 3 and 4.15 pm this Sunday.  There will be no passenger trains beyond Causey due to track relaying on East Tanfield bank.

At 9.30 AW No.2 will take a works train from Andrews House to Causey, and place a refreshment carriage in the bay platform there.  AW No.2 will then take up duty as Causey pilot and works train loco.   The works train will return after the last passenger service.

All photos below were taken last Sunday 16/06/2013 and are courtesy of Ken Snowdon

Twizell outside Marley Hill shed .....

Some Progress

Angela & Ian offloading chaired sleepers
on Houghwell Burn bridge ....

Same Jobs Continue

Malcolm & Dave preparing to chair sleepers

Continued Work

Malcolm & David cleaning S1 chairs .....

Odd Jobs

Bob, Bill & Malcolm oiling stored locos ....

Life on the Ocean Wave

Just for a change, a few views courtesy of Nigel Wheeler of boats of the  North East Maritime Trust  on a trip down the Tyne in May.   There is an undercurrent of watery connections at Tanfield - sea going engineers, shipyard workers, fishermen, narrowboatmen, involvement with NEMT, etc.

On Rachel Douglas in St Peter's Basin, from right,
chief engineer Bob, Bill & captain Steve
(4th engineer Nigel behind the camera)

Monday Matters

Vic offloading on East Tanfield bank .....

Sunday Sleepers

The following photos of today's track gang at Causey are courtesy of Stu Armstrong

The gang included James, Ian, Steve, Jason, John, Malcolm, Angela, Dave & Stu.

Sunday Mix

Matthew, Stewart & Phil prepare Twizell

In Character

Derek, Martin, Neville, Stuart, Martin & Ian dressed
for Catherine Cookson filming in the 1990s
(photo courtesy of Ian Cowan)

Tomorrow's Fathers' Day Trains

Twizell will haul trains from Andrews House for Sunniside and Causey at 11 am, 12.15, 1.45, 3 and 4.15 pm this Sunday.

For more information about Fathers' Day on Tanfield Railway see our main website.

There will be no passenger trains beyond Causey due to track relaying on East Tanfield bank.

At 9.30 AW No.2 will take a works train from Andrews House to Causey, and place a refreshment carriage in the bay platform there.  AW No.2 will then take up duty as Causey pilot and works train loco.   The works train will return after the last passenger service.

Twizell passing Causey picnic area
(photo courtesy of Dave Hewitt)

Plus the End of the Line at Andrews House station and Marley Hill carriage shed.

Dave's Days

The photos below were taken by Dave Dixon while working yesterday & today

Richard working on AW No,2's compressor 

The Arts at Tanfield

Additional to the animation and acting performances for the public taking place each weekend in June, the railway continues to attract arty folk .....

University of Sunderland students discussing ....

Maintenance

All photographs below courtesy of Nigel Wheeler

Brian & Ronnie working on AW No.2's
air compressor .....

A Typical Monday

Eric cutting wall sheeting for the carriage shed ....

Sunday Variety

The Tanfield Twins
(photo courtesy of Malcolm Parker)

Marley Hill Today

All photos below courtesy of Malcolm Parker

John using the shotblast cabinet

Tomorrow's Trains

Twizell will haul trains from Andrews House for Sunniside and Causey at 11 am, 12.15, 1.45, 3 and 4.15 pm this Sunday only (not Monday).

There will be no passenger trains beyond Causey due to track relaying on East Tanfield bank.

At 9.30 AW No.2 will take a works train from Andrews House to Causey, and place a refreshment carriage in the bay platform there.  AW No.2 will then take up duty as Causey pilot and works train loco.   The works train will return after the last passenger service.

Twizell approaching Sunniside station
(photo courtesy of Dave Hewitt)

Plus the End of the Line at Andrews House station and Marley Hill carriage shed.

Getting Ready

Vic on his Fergie trimming Marley Hill car park

Thursday Tasks

Ronnie & Brian working on No.2's steam pipes

A Couple of Jobs

Steve, Nigel & Bob set up more scaffold
for the Festival of the NE animation

Some Tan at Tanfield

Bill, Malcolm & Nigel in the sun .....

A Few Jobs

The inspector fixing tell tales
to Houghwell Burn bridge
(photo courtesy of Ian Cowan)

Sunday Sleepers II

The photos below of the track gang at Causey are all courtesy of Stu Armstrong

Matthew, Chris & Jason removing old sleepers

Sunday Operations

Ian & Ryan exchange tokens as the works train
heads for Causey

Sunday Sleepers

The sleeper changing crew near Causey - all photos below courtesy of Matthew Pickering

Not sure what they're singing .....

Mystery Objects

Mystery objects are shown above outside Ryhope pumping station.  Their identity should be revealed tomorrow evening when they visit Marley Hill while making their own way to Corbridge Steam Rally (to be held on 8 & 9 June at Corbridge rugby ground).

Saturday at Marley Hill

All photos below are courtesy of Mark Pearce

Neil with TIC No.35

Tomorrow's Trains

Twizell will haul trains from Andrews House for Sunniside and Causey at 11 am, 12.15, 1.45, 3 and 4.15 pm this Sunday only (not Monday).

There will be no passenger trains beyond Causey due to track relaying on East Tanfield bank.

At 9.30 AW No.2 will take a works train from Andrews House to Causey, and place a refreshment carriage in the bay platform there.  AW No.2 will then take up duty as Causey pilot and works train loco.   The works train will return after the last passenger service.

Twizell bringing a train into Andrews House last Monday
(photo courtesy of Malcolm Parker)