BH Monday Extra

The photos below are courtesy of Angela Pickering:

Oliver & Jonny cleaning No.49 .....

BH Monday

Ben removing the displacement lubricator from Cochrane's tank, which is to be renewed
(photo courtesy of Oliver Humphries)

BH Sunday

Dan overseeing shunting to get carriage No.7 out of the shed

Ballasting

Bob & Elise forming a ballast shoulder
(photo courtesy of Kyle Allsopp)

Today's Nos.2 & 49

The photos below are courtesy of Angela Pickering:

Antony between HL No.2's frames at Marley Hill platform

Featuring Tanfield Locos

Fixed by Google - I can load photos to Blogger again!

Renishaw No.6 on a postage stamp of 2016 from Guine-Bissau, which has no railways
(photo courtesy of Tommy Knox, who bought the stamp on eBay)

More Work

Worldwide tonight, Google Blogger has stopped allowing photos to be uploaded.   I've posted today's photos using other methods - if you can't see them, contact me.

Jim working on carriage door locks

Continued Work

Colin continuing with the wainscot in the welcome building .....
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Loco Inspections, Shed Floor, etc

Steve & Dave picking concrete from the side of a rail

Today's Photos

Fork lift tyre being changed while .....

Today's Photos

Susan gardening at Andrews House .....
(photo courtesy of David Watchman)

TR Guide 1977 Part 1 - The Waggonway & Two Railways

Part 1 - The Tanfield Waggonway and Two Railways
(booklet courtesy of Tommy Knox)

Tanfield Railway News July 1986

The copy of TR Association News from July 1986 reproduced below is courtesy of Tommy Knox:

Gala Weekend
Over 1300 visitors travelled on the railway at this new Spring Bank Holiday Event.   A variety of stationary engines, tractors and elderly road vehicles were on show and five locos were working the train service.   Cochrane looked well in its new coat of paint and along with Irwell, 38, 21 and the Armstrong, provided watchers and photographers with a feast of opportunities for new visions.   Each train had a different loco or combination from the previous one with only 38 missing out on the double heading.   There was even talk of an Ais Gill type of photograghers’ semicircle at Bowes Bridge waiting to get their shots in!

Problem & Solution

In addition to the worn & uneven floor in Marley Hill engine shed, on the north road the longitudinal concrete beams between rails & the pit walls have failed, in one area complete with the wall itself.   We aim to remove & replace the concrete, disturbing neither rail nor wall (where good), & effectively reattach floor, wall & rail.  

The photos below are courtesy of Angela Pickering:

I'm guiding Ian pecking at remaining concrete while avoiding rail & wall top
However, this method is slow in order to reduce risk & later additional work - 
it also prevents the pecker doing work on large areas, increasing hire cost.

Work Continues

Jim checking that his job is running true

Shots of Some of Today's Work

Dennis working on the collapsing section of pit wall .....

Marley Hill Shed Floor

Colin painting noticeboards which he has made

A Few from Today

Dennis cutting plate for Cochrane's ashpan

Sunday Stuff

Ben cleaning No.2

Today at TR

The photos below are courtesy of Angela Pickering, except where shown:

Antony & Matthew arriving at ET on HL No.2 ......

Tanfield Waggonway with Horses

1983 recreation of a waggonway at Causey Arch,
to be recreated again for our 2025 tercentenary
(from Pit Ponies by John Bright, Batsford 1986)

There was always horse work above ground, but it gravitated underground as pits developed .....

Thursday at TR

Jim making new handrail knobs for Cochrane's tank

Wellington Returns

Stewart forming a ramp in front of Wellington at Leeming Bar
(photo courtesy of David Watchman)

Today at Marley Hill

Dave, Steve, Dennis & Cameron at work on MH shed floor

Some of Today's Work

Dave, Terry & Steve clearing MH shed floor under the rail

Marley Hill on Monday

Ian loading the broken up floor of MH shed

Around Marley Hill Today

George & David cleaning No.2 ready for the day

Today's Trains

The photos below are courtesy of Angela Pickering:

Geoff getting ready to sanitize his train

Train Service

The photos below are courtesy of Steve Harris:

Last Sunday. Cochrane approaching its train at Andrews House

A Vision of Britain

Luke mentioned some interesting reading on the Vision of Britain web, which yields census data, travel logs, & more about Britain from about 1801 to more recent times.   From the Home page you can search for information around a town, eg

Tanfield UD Employment in 1921, which compares well with .....

Some of Today's Work

Geoff priming a new door

Another Few Photos

Dave & Steve moving one of several boxes from MH shed

Project Preparation

Moving firebars as part of clearing the floor of Marley Hill engine shed

A Few from Today

Ian oiling Cochrane

Observations of the Rev John Skinner in 1801

Yesterday, I came across a book of diary entries by the Rev Skinner describing his walk along Hadrian's Wall in 1801.    I found the precursor to his walk very interesting. 

Preparation

Dennis arranging track materials .....
(photo courtesy of Alex Tyson)

Old Cable

The photos below were sent on 6 April by Dave Dixon, but have just surfaced.

Ian splicing two ropes together