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!
Locos
Cochrane’s
ten year overhaul and repaint in original livery was completed in May. 38 is also back in regular use with cold
axleboxes after adjustments to the weight distribution over the three axles. 21 failed a steam test at Easter with a burst
tube. All the top tubes were replaced
and it was back in use for the end of May.
No.2's winter overhaul has not yet been completed although it is
progressing smoothly. The axle journals
have been machined in the wheel lathe and reassembling of the wheelsets has
started. All the crown stays requiring
replacement are out of the firebox and the holes are almost prepared for the new
crown stays which are already made. The
wheels of the Black Hawthorn loco Wellington are the latest ones receiving the
treatment in the wheel lathe. The
Barclay diesel is off the list of available engines at the moment due to
excessive water in the oil sump, probably due to cooling water leakage.
Buildings.
The small
sheds at the back of the Marley Hill site are starting to take shape. The walls are up to 6ft. high.
New development.
Discussions
are taking place with the Manpower Services Commission and Tyne and Wear
Community Programme Agency about setting up a scheme for developing the
railway. This will involve both the shed site and the
mainline to Causey and East Tanfield, over forty people would be employed on
weekdays laying track, building sheds, stations and bridges and doing
environmental improvement work. In
connection with this scheme, a large amount of clearance wars was done earlier
in the year on the area behind the shed.
In April, a self-drive bulldozer was hired and this area was levelled to
the required plan. Improvements were
also made at the same time to the surface water drainage system to prevent the
shed flooding which occurs during continual rain.
Planning permission has been received for the building of a second engine shed capable of housing fifteen locos and for a side room extension to the main shed which would be used for housing the welder and compressor on rails and for the electricity generating equipment. Unfortunately it is not possible to proceed immediately with these buildings due to uncertainty regarding the National Coal Board Opencast Executive and its plans for the area which could include moving the whole Marley Hill site.
However there is good news concerning the other part of the new development, the Causey extension. Permission to enter the land between Andrewshouse and Causey should be obtained from Durham County Council in August. There is also the possibility of Durham aiding the construction of the two stations and the line financially, providing that the work that the Council will aid can be completed by March 1987. The concrete-sleepered track that came from British Gypsum at Cocklakes near Carlisle, will also be laid in between Andrewshouse and the small bridges at the same time. The earth mound at Gibraltar Bridge which prevents the extension of the rails at the moment, is also due to be moved north a few feet to assist with designing the new bridge whilst retaining shed access. Plans of the new stations are enclosed.
Forthcoming events.
July 19th. sees the railway having its first filming crew. Tyne Tees Television are hiring the railway for a day to film a railway story for its Super Gran series. July 12th. will be the first day of work for a team from the Territorial Army. They will be finishing off the drainage and levelling work at the shed initially. Continuing site appearance improvement work already started, Friday night weed-outs are continuing during the light nights.
Membership
renewals will be gratefully received.
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| Andrews House Station |
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| Causey Arch Station |
Footnote
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| Mentioned in this TR News - Super Gran tied to TR rails near Bowes Bridge For the full exciting effect, see Supergran and the School of Scoundrels (s2ep8) on YouTube (info courtesy of the episode's TTTV cameraman Dave Dixon) |
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