Briefly Back to Boxing Day

The photos below were taken on Boxing Day 2014 by Rob Langham 

David running Twizell round its train

Joint Maintenance

Dave doing minor maintenance on No,2 .....

North Pole Express Reprised

The photos below were taken on Saturday 20 December 2014 by Ken Snowdon

No.2 & Cochrane with the empty stock.
& what appears to be Marley Hill forest behind

Other Sunday Stuff

Angela removing the concrete from No.2's smokebox,
to gain access to the leaky main steam pipe joint

Last Operating Day of 2014

David shunting the empty stock, with Steve coupling up

Xmas Eve NP Express People

David waiting on Cochrane in ET bay while
No.2 propels the train into the main platform
(photo courtesy of David Reed)

Tomorrow's Trains

Twizell will haul trains from Andrews House at  10.30 am, noon, 1.30 pm & 3 pm  for Sunniside, Causey, East Tanfield & return.   The run round loop is not yet in place at East Tanfield, so AW No.2 will be used to release the train loco.

Twizell on a NPE at Causey in December 2013
(photo courtesy of Ken Snowdon)

Boxing Birthday

Birthday boy David on Twizell at Andrews House
(photo courtesy of David Reed)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to volunteers & all - thank you for helping to make the North Pole Express enjoyable

A scene not be seen until late next year
- a North Pole Express heading out
(photo courtesy of John Turnock)

 PS Photos for the blog would be especially handy over the next few days .....

North Pole Express Day 10 of 10

Ian fixing the wire to signal no.9 this morning 

North Pole Express Day 9

No.2, the banking loco, has run round to the south
end of the empty stock at the North Pole
(photo courtesy of David Reed)

Trains Today & Tomorrow

Cochrane & No.2 will take the North Pole Express from East Tanfield to the North Pole (AH) & return today (Tuesday) & tomorrow (Christmas Eve).   All tickets to see Santa have been sold - sorry.

No.2 on a NPE at Burdon Plain last Saturday
(photo courtesy of Dave Hewitt)

Odd Jobs Again

The rainbow I followed to Marley Hill this morning
(photo courtesy of Nigel Wheeler)

North Pole Express Day 8

Ian, Angela & Matthew cleaning carriages inside the shed

Final Santa Saturday.

This morning: Phil cleaning out No.2's ash pan 

As David and Angela prepare to oil around Cochrane.  

Mobile Users

I've changed the mobile template for this blog to be the same as that for PCs.

An increasing number of readers of this blog use tablets & smart phones.   I would like the same blog buttons & features to be available on both PCs & mobiles, but don't have time to develop & maintain a separate template for mobiles.   I try to make the blog load quickly on a PC, so this aspect should be reasonable on 3G.   New blog posts should be just as accessible on any device.   However, mobile users may have to resize areas to get the same view as previously.

If you would like to comment about this change, please click on the email link below right of the title picture block (on the PC template).   Or you could become a member (at the bottom of the PC template), and submit a comment.   I may have to remove elements or change their position to assist mobile users.

Assorted Jobs

Vic clearing his work site

Trains This Weekend - More NPE

Cochrane & No.2 will take the North Pole Express from East Tanfield to the North Pole (AH) & return this Saturday & Sunday.   All tickets to see Santa have been sold - sorry.

A North Pole Express leaves East Tanfield last Saturday
(photo courtesy of John Turnock)

Bowes Railway Blog Updated

Bowes Railway Blog 

Joint Lifting

Rob manning the gates, Geoff looking out as
the works train passes Causey Level Crossing

East Tanfield Loop Extends

Dennis, Dave, John & Geoff removing screws
from the loop south point

East Tanfield Loop Again

Rob mans Causey Level Crossing gates for the works train 

Odd Jobs

Peter nipping up Cochrane's glands 

North Pole Express Day 6

Callum & Philip preparing Cochrane

North Pole Express Day 5

NPE arriving at the North Pole
(photo courtesy of David Reed)

Last Saturday's North Pole People

The photos below were all taken on Saturday 6 December by Carl Chambers:

David oiling No.2 as the North Pole Express
picks up passengers at East Tanfield

Today At Marley Hill

Cochrane, Twizell & No.2 were lit up this morning

Trains This Weekend - Similar to Last

Cochrane & No.2 will take the North Pole Express from East Tanfield to the North Pole (AH) & return this Saturday & Sunday.   All tickets to see Santa have been sold - sorry.

Cochrane & No.2 double head on ET bank

& pass Causey Level Crossing, on Sat 6 Dec 14

(photos courtesy of Ken Snowdon)

Blackfell Hauler Open Afternoon

Martin Hulse of Tyne & Wear Building Preservation
Trust (the owners) talking about the building to a small
but interested audience inside Blackfell hauler house

A Morning on ET Loop

Geoff & Dave with the works train at Causey Level Crossing

East Tanfield Loop

Nigel (far left) & Bob (near right) turning a rail .....

Reopening of Blackfell Hauler

Blackfell Hauler engine house will be open to the public tomorrow, Thursday 11 December, between midday & 2 pm, following refurbishment by Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust.    It has been on English Heritage's 'Heritage at Risk' register, but grants and a year of work have improved it..

The hauler house is on the rope worked section of the Bowes Railway between Marley Hill & Springwell, on the incline which passes under the A1.   It's on the lane to the Bowes Incline Inn & Northside Farm - off the minor road north to Eighton Banks from the Mill House roundabout dog leg of the A1231 (at the north west of Washington).   OS NZ 280576, 54°54'44"N   1°33'51"W

Around TR Today

All photos below are courtesy of Dave Dixon:

Dave & Colin filling bags with coal, Ian taking them to Andrews House .....

Mainly No.6 Again

Ian grinding a bead from a boiler tube end .....

Saturday

North Pole Express Day 4

Outside Marley Hill shed, Chris, Tom, George & Matthew prepare No.2 & Cochrane

North Pole Express Day 3

Angela & Ian pause for coal with the empty stock
(photo courtesy of David Reed)

Preparation

Vic's still tidying the top standage

Trains This Weekend - Like Last

Cochrane & No.2 will take the North Pole Express from East Tanfield to the North Pole (AH) & return this Saturday & Sunday.   All tickets to see Santa have been sold - sorry.

The photos below were taken on Sunday 30 November 2014 & are all courtesy of Ken Snowdon:

The North Pole Express heads over Houghwell Burn
headed by Cochrane & banked by HL No.2 .....

A Couple of Jobs

Geoff retightening fishplate joints south of Causey Level Crossing .....

Polar People #2

The photos below were taken on Saturday 29 November 2014 & are all courtesy of Carl Chambers:

Peter watching his vac gauge in the MS&L brake