Marley Hill in NCB Days

The photos below are courtesy of Dick Gilhespy :

Marley Hill Colliery Offices in a 1960s winter - be prepared to dig out the car

More Odd Jobs

Peter repacking a gauge glass drain .....

Odd Jobs

Jim in the workshop

Today's Report

Steve & Cameron roughly packing hanging sleepers .....

Horden - further tests

Jonny beside Horden, which Peter, Ian & he worked on today
(photo courtesy of Ian Cowan)

Last Normal Operating Sunday of 2020

Ben cleaning No.2's water gauge glasses

Horden - some further reading

Horden simmering inside Marley Hill shed last Wednesday
(photo courtesy of Ian Cowan)

Tomorrow's Trains - Last of 2020

Tomorrow sees our last scheduled trains of 2020, prior to the North Pole Express.   Covid restrictions & precautions are in place.  Prebooked compartments are available on trains running from East Tanfield to Andrews House only - see  www.tanfield-railway.co.uk    

The line from Andrews House to Sunniside & Sunniside station are not in use.   Marley Hill site, car park, & access on foot to Andrews House are not available.

Trains don't stop at Causey Arch - but you can combine a journey with refreshments at East Tanfield & a wonderful walk to take in the impressive sight of Causey Arch of 1727, the world's oldest railway bridge.

Today's Work

Ian & Peter discussing work on Horden

Another Day in Two Parts

Jim turning a drive bolt for HC 38's brake gear

A Day in Two Places

At Sunniside, Ian & Colin felling a tree close to the line

Today's Stuff

Darren cleaning threads of boiler plugs

Sunday around Marley Hill

Alan watching the first arrival at Andrews House today

Funicular Railways

I came across an interesting article about Funicular Railways on the Free Dictionary.   'Funicular' means 'by rope', so would include local colliery balanced inclines & those with stationary engines.

Saltburn water-powered cliff lift

Tomorrow's Trains

Covid restrictions & precautions are in place.  Prebooked compartments are available on trains running from East Tanfield to Andrews House only - see  www.tanfield-railway.co.uk    

The line from Andrews House to Sunniside & Sunniside station are not in use.   Marley Hill site, car park, & access on foot to Andrews House are not available.

Trains don't stop at Causey Arch - but you can combine a journey with refreshments at East Tanfield & a wonderful walk to take in the impressive sight of Causey Arch of 1727, the world's oldest railway bridge.

Geograph - Ben Brooksbank

Geograph Britain & Ireland has the aim of photographically documenting the UK & Eire geographically & in time.   A couple of weeks ago some of Walter Dendy's photos were featured on this blog.   It seems that these were published on Geograph by Ben Brooksbank.

Westoe Lane Station on the SSM&WCR in 1953
(photo by Ben Brooksbank, from Geograph, reproduced under Creative Commons licence)

Jobs Continued

Angela cleaning Twizell's boiler barrel

More Jobs

Discussing work on HC 38's motion

A Few Jobs

Ian fitting one of Horden's boiler plugs

Loco Projects +

Mick fastening a collar in the miller .....

Today at TR

Mark & Jonny on HL No.2 heading for East Tanfield & their train

Tanfield Grant

Tanfield Railway has been awarded almost quarter of a million pounds from DCMS

Causey Work

Peter working on Horden's wooden cab floor

Today at Tanfield Railway

Mick cleaning HC 38's reverser quadrant

A Corner of Marley Hill Shed

The plan for Marley Hill shed includes presenting it as it was in the 1930s when the Pontop & Jarrow Railway became the Bowes Railway.   As part of this, the concrete floor is to be replaced, and the lineshaft driven machinery (which we installed in the early 1970s) is to be removed.

Ian removing the lineshaft bearings - note the poor condition of the render, also to be replaced

In the Workshop

Mick & Darren reaming on HC 38's frames

A Few Photos from Sunday

No.2 rounding the curve to Terrace Junction
(photo courtesy of Angela Pickering)

Geograph - Walter Dendy

Geograph Britain & Ireland has the aim of photographically documenting the UK & Eire geographically & in time.   I find this very useful & interesting, and I think we are indebted to photogaphers who submit their work to the cause.   One such is Walter Dendy (deceased), whose photos of historical railway scenes are wonderful & illuminating.

The Lady Armstrong approaching Chathill with a NSR fish & passenger train in 1939
(photo by Walter Dendy, from Geograph, reproduced under Creative Commons licence)

Horden Work

Peter grinding the edges of Horden's dome cover .....

Horden & Buffer Stop

Peter adjusting alignment of Horden's blastpipe .....