Bygone North Pole Express

The photos below are courtesy of Ian Cowan:

No.2 & Cochrane preparing to leave Marley Hill for Sunniside with a NPE

Passengers rush past the 6 wheeled waiting room to the grotto on the Poppleton saloon

Entertainment at Sunniside by Morris dancers, possibly with Peter & Eileen on fiddle

The clown checking tickets at the North Pole, with grotto & waiting room swapped

A later year has the North Pole with grotto & waiting room at the south end of Andrews House, two locos bringing the train from Marley Hill via Sunniside

The photos above are courtesy of Ian Cowan 

I'd be pleased to hear from anyone who can confirm the dates of the photos, or has other early NPE photos.

Cutting from Gateshead Post 8 Dec 1988 courtesy of Tommy Knox

Cutting from Journal 11 Dec 1989 courtesy of Tommy Knox