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Saturday 31 August 2013

Beamish Connections

In this morning's post I mentioned the connection for Twizell.   The following are a few shots from Beamish's Agricultural Power from the Past today, with connections to Tanfield Railway:

On the road in the Sentinel Super Lightweight Steam Wagon.....

Steam Trains Tomorrow

Twizell will haul trains on the world's oldest railway (1725) 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 on the modern 1839 section beyond Causey to East Tanfield due to track maintenance.
Twizell shunting our Victorian carriages on Monday
Twizell is one of world's few remaining locomotives built by Robert Stephenson & Co - in 1891 in Newcastle upon Tyne.   Twizell is owned by Beamish Museum, but on loan to the Tyneside Locomotive Museum Trust - whose collection has a focus on locomotives built and/or worked in the North East of England.

Wednesday 28 August 2013

Wednesday at the World's Oldest Railway

Dave & Nigel moving scaffolding from the carriage
shed - which needs to be clear for the gala in 8 days 

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Tuesday at Tanfield

Matthew painting a buffer beam on the Husky
(photo courtesy of Nigel Wheeler)

Steam Trains Tomorrow & Thursday

Steam trains will run from Andrews House for Sunniside and Causey at 11 am, 12.30, 2 and 3.30 pm tomorrow (Wednesday) & Thursday. These are the final summer mid week trains in 2013.   There will be no passenger trains beyond Causey due to track relaying on East Tanfield bank.

It is intended that Sir Cecil A Cochrane will be used Wednesday, and HL No.2 Thursday.
Cochrane and No.2 at Causey earlier this month

Monday 26 August 2013

Saturday 24 August 2013

Ops & Photos - from Thursday

On Thursday's post there is a photo of  Dave Hewitt  trying for the perfect shot - here are a couple of his results:
Peter driving HL No.2, with the approach to
Andrews House through the spectacle

Trains on Sunday & Monday

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 arrives at Andrews House on 4 inst.

Friday 23 August 2013

A Quiet Day

 Ian coaling Twizell; Alan doing essential paperwork

Thursday 22 August 2013

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Steam & Sleepers

Exchanging tokens with Angela as the works train heads south

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Tuesday on Track

Today, we did more spot sleeper replacement south of Boyd's crossing:
Dave, Graham & Ian at work

NE Industrial Loco Sheds

Every year, there seem to be fewer heavy industrial sites in North East England.   Next to disappear may be the remaining colliery loco sheds at Philadelphia, under development plans recently put to Sunderland Council.
Philadelphia sheds this morning, with the offices
at the far right (below Penshaw Monument)

Monday 19 August 2013

Monday Matters

Eric & Malcolm work on parts of the ET ground frame

Sunday 18 August 2013

Sunday Sleepers

Several people helped with spot sleeper replacement north of Causey during today:
Jason replaces the first sleeper of the day

Sunday Ops at Causey

The works train with refreshment carriage arrive at Causey this morning
(photo courtesy of Jason Peppercorn)

Saturday 17 August 2013

Saturday Stuff

Dave & Mark working on a  LH&JC van end frame
(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 propelling stock onto the Tanfield Branch in early June

Friday 16 August 2013

Thursday 15 August 2013

Trains & Track

 Tom steaming Cochrane; Dan taking AW No.2 to Causey

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Track & Trains

James on AW No.2 exchanging
tokens with Angela

Trains Today & Tomorrow

Sir Cecil A Cochrane will haul trains from Andrews House for Sunniside and Causey at 11 am, 12.30, 2 and 3.30 pm today & tomorrow (Thursday). There will be no passenger trains beyond Causey due to track relaying on East Tanfield bank.
Cochrane on East Tanfield bank earlier this year
(photo courtesy of Ken Snowdon)

Tuesday 13 August 2013

Monday 12 August 2013

Sunday 11 August 2013

Teddy Bear Day

Twizell in disguise, running round at Andrews House
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Saturday 10 August 2013

Harton Electric Locos

There are 4 electric locomotives in existence from the Harton colliery system.   E9 & E10 celebrate their centenary this year at Tanfield.   E4 is at North Tyneside, and E2 is at Beamish.
An early photo of E1, latterly owned by Beamish
but scrapped at Bowes Bridge about 1979
(photo courtesy of Richard & Derek Charlton)
The Electric Edwardians blog has recently completed posts on each of the preserved locos:
E2    E4    E9    E10 

or see all posts about Edwardian Electric Railways which includes NER items.

There are many more photos on the web, and the book "Harton Electric Railway" by William J Hatcher, Oakwood Press 1994.

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, which is teddy bear day, on which children bearing teddies travel free.   However, no bears or children will be able to travel between Causey & East Tanfield due to track relaying on East Tanfield bank.
Photos of Tanfield Railway, Gateshead
This photo of  Boris is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Friday 9 August 2013

A Sleeper Replacement Job

A few rotten sleepers in Marley Hill yard needed replacing.  The job was done on Sunday, so had to be fitted between trains heading out at the start and returning at the end of the day, and was awkward because of the confined location.   The opportunity was taken to demonstrate team and track work to some of our younger workers.
Youth team members digging out ballast
prior to replacing sleepers

Thursday 8 August 2013

North News & Pictures Article

There's a  North News & Pictures  article about Tanfield Railway at  http://www.northnews.co.uk/article/716  with photos from Paul Kingston and quotes from me.
Alan at work in Marley Hill signal box
(photo copyright Paul Kingston/North News & Pictures)
Paul takes many railway photos in the North East - these can be seen in the  pictures section  of the NN&P web.

This week's picture puzzle #2

What, where & when do these shots show?    Who was involved?   What changed afterwards?


No prizes, but please email answers or any similarly interesting shots to 

Wednesday 7 August 2013

Today's Trains

The photos below are all courtesy of Matthew Pickering
 Ian, Chris & Antony preparing Twizell this morning

Trains Tomorrow

Sir Cecil A Cochrane will haul trains from Andrews House for Sunniside and Causey at 11 am, 12.30, 2 and 3.30 pm tomorrow (Thursday).  There will be no passenger trains beyond Causey due to track relaying on East Tanfield bank.
Cochrane on East Tanfield bank earlier this year
(photo courtesy of Ken Snowdon)

Vandalism

This is what kids can do with insecure waggons

This week's picture puzzle #1

1950s Northumberland colliery blacksmiths
- which one is Neil's dad?
(photo courtesy of Neil Morgan)
No prizes, but please email answers or any similarly interesting shots to 

Tuesday 6 August 2013

Trains Tomorrow

Twizell will haul trains from Andrews House for Sunniside and Causey at 11 am, 12.30, 2 and 3.30 pm tomorrow (Wednesday).  There will be no passenger trains beyond Causey due to track relaying on East Tanfield bank.
Twizell arriving at Andrews House last Sunday