Easter Monday at Bowes Bridge

Cochrane approaching Bowes Bridge
(photo courtesy of Dave Hewitt)

175 years ago in 1839, Bowes Bridge gained a stationary engine which moved waggons on the Causey east incline on the former horse drawn Tanfield Waggonway.   There's a web page with more detail of the inclines as they were in 1839, except I've never found evidence of an engine at Gibraltar Bridge.   If anyone knows any more, please add a comment at the foot of this post.

In 1881, the branch was converted to locomotive working from East Tanfield to the top of Fugar Bank at Streetgate.   The engine house became a locomotive shed.   The turntable pit and coaling stage extant at Bowes Bridge are from this period.

Cochrane passing Bowes Bridge coaling stage
(photo courtesy of Dave Hewitt)

Cochrane passing Bowes Bridge coaling stage
(photo courtesy of Dave Hewitt)

69090 passing Bowes Bridge coaling stage,
with empties for East Tanfield colliery in the 1950s

Cochrane returning from Bowes Bridge
(photo courtesy of Dave Hewitt)

Meanwhile at Marley Hill, Tom works on the Lambton van
(photo courtesy of Kyle Allsopp)