Redheugh Gasworks

Another industrial landmark will disappear with the imminent demolition of Redheugh Gas Works, which has connections with Tanfield Railway:

• the works were adjacent to the Tanfield Branch at the Teams
• Sir Cecil A Cochrane was built for & spent all its industrial life at the works
• Cochrane was registered with the Railway Executive to run on BR, so is one of only three existing locos (NER 1310 at Watergate, AB 32 Stanley at ET) to have worked on the Tanfield Branch

Looking south west into Redheugh Gasworks on 20 August 2017,
with demolition contractor's paraphernalia appearing
The Tanfield Branch ran where the trees are on the left

Looking south west from Team Street bridge along the route of the Tanfield
Waggonway / Branch - the trees on the right are on the left of the previous photo

Looking north east from Team Street bridge - the Tanfield Waggonway / Branch went straight on
- the northern part of the gasworks was on the left (see later Cochrane photo)

Walking south west along the waggonway, looking over the fence into the gasworks .....

...... & viewing the only remaining gas holder frame

Having walked past the gasworks, looking north east back down the waggonway
along the "Teams Cycleway", which has a very disjoint route because of later developments

Back at Marley Hill, Peter sketches the layout of the gasworks as he remembers it from 50 years ago

OS 6" map section showing Redheugh Gasworks at the turn of the 20th century
(Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland)

• The 5 gas holders are shown, although the works were later expanded on the north side of Team Street (see below).
• The Sheet Iron & Steel Works south of the gasworks has expanded and remains today as Spartan Redheugh Limited.
• Note the proximity of Dunston Staiths - to ship coal from the Tanfield Branch would have required reversal at Redheugh & Dunston Junctions  - it is more likely that Tanfield Branch coal headed east up the Redheugh Incline in the gap between the NER's Gateshead Works & Gateshead Greenesfield Shed, thence to Tyne Dock.

Redheugh Gasworks in 1939; Tanfield Branch operated by the LNER on the right
(see the book Lost Industries of the Tyne, Tyne Bridge Publishing 2013)

The existing site south of Team Street showing redevelopment of the north site between
Team Street & the Tyne; the Tanfield Waggonway route is in the trees on the right of centre
(photo Ken O'Heed - see Skyscraper City)

Cochrane on the road to its shed (through the RH arch) on the north side of Team Street.
On the left, the Tanfield Branch heads south west under Team Street bridge.
(photo Armstrong Trust / Malcolm Dunnett)

Cochrane at work on the north site; beyond is the Redheugh Branch, & over the Tyne is Elswick
(photo Armstrong Trust / Malcolm Dunnett)

Redheugh Junction looking west; Tanfield Branch on the left, Redheugh Branch on the right, Cochrane's domain lies between
(photo Armstrong Trust / Derek Charlton)

During World War 2 at Redheugh Gasworks, women shovel coke into a waggon
(Gateshead Libraries)

Tram travelling west along Team Street passing the gasworks
I recall cycling between the gasworks walls on a very wet day to see ex-Leeds A1s
in Clayton & Davies scrapyard in Dunston, and glimpsing No.13 at Dunston power station

There are two excellent articles by Ken O'Heed on the Skyscraper City Website which give more historical & contemporary details of Redheugh Gasworks & its site - see:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=140467552&postcount=1789
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=140467574&postcount=1790