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Saturday 31 July 2021

Today at Marley Hill & East Tanfield

Antony, happy in his work .....
(photo courtesy of Angela Pickering)

Friday 30 July 2021

Heritage Open Days September 2021

Tanfield Railway will be taking part in Heritage Open Days on Sundays 12 & 19 September 2021 by providing guided walks from ET to Causey, during which we'll describe the coal industry & railways of the area.   It will be an opportunity to promote TR, our history, our tercentenary plans, & volunteer opportunities.   Train journeys & refreshments will be available, but are not part of the free offer.

Thursday 29 July 2021

Thursday Tasks

The photos below are courtesy of Geoff Lowe (except as shown):
Bill painting a lamp post .....

Wednesday 28 July 2021

Another View

The photos below are courtesy of Dave Dixon:
Steve continuing work on the brick arch over a window .....

Assorted Work

The photos below are courtesy of Geoff Lowe:
Steve mixing mortar for window work

Tuesday 27 July 2021

Windows

The photos below are courtesy of Dave Dixon (except as stated):
Steve sawing a support ......

Monday 26 July 2021

Live Stream Events from the Common Room

In addition to Les Turnbull's Tanfield Waggonway talk this Thursday evening, the Common Room is advertising on line events about modern engineering, including job adverts & careers.   Note that these live events from around the world are in many different time zones!

From Our Correspondent

The photos below are courtesy of Angela Pickering:
Ian working on his mower's starter motor pinion

Sunday 25 July 2021

Saturday 24 July 2021

A Guard's View of TR

The photos below are courtesy of Geoff Lowe:
Guy's in charge at East Tanfield as the train arrives

Friday 23 July 2021

William Lane's Foundry

Angela took patterns to William Lane's Foundry at Middlesbrough, from which firebars for our locos will be cast.
It's great to see casting continuing in Ironopolis
(photo courtesy of Angela Pickering)

Thursday 22 July 2021

Wednesday 21 July 2021

More MH Shed

Cameron plasma cutting a template, under instruction from Ian

Tuesday 20 July 2021

Shed Work

Cameron chamfering box section ends .....

Live Stream Book Launch

Les Turnbull is a local historian with a particular interest in the waggonway era.   He will talk about his most recent book The First Tanfield Railway at the Mining Institute at 6 - 7.15 pm on Thursday 29 July 2021.   This free talk is being live streamed.  Book at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-first-tanfield-railway-live-streamed-public-talk-by-les-turnbull-tickets-163029596913 

Monday 19 July 2021

Friday 16 July 2021

49 Last Friday at North Tyneside Gala

49 using the run round loop at Percy Main
(photo courtesy of Bob Payne)

Thursday 15 July 2021

Tuesday 13 July 2021

Monday 12 July 2021

Sunday 11 July 2021

Saturday 10 July 2021

A Tanfield Waggonway History

Because the Tanfield Railway runs on part of the route of the Tanfield Waggonway, we state that we are the oldest railway in the world.   This is true because we are the oldest still working, & our route has significant civil engineering which has been used since 1725.   Competitors for the 'oldest' title, including Middleton and Stockton & Darlington, lay claim to much later & different stories which follow on from developments at Tanfield.

We are going to celebrate our tercentenary in 2025, but parts of the Tanfield route are older than 1725, and to understand our history we need to look at why waggonways were used & developed.

Friday 9 July 2021

49 at North Tyneside Gala

The photos below are courtesy of Alfie Gascoigne:
Raising steam

Wednesday 7 July 2021

49 Goes on Holiday

No.49 being winched up the ramp at East Tanfield in the wet .....
(photo courtesy of Oliver Humphries)

Some Wednesday Work

Temporary fill from the shed floor which we dumped earlier being dug out by Ian ....
(photo courtesy of Dave Dixon)

Tuesday 6 July 2021

Monday 5 July 2021

Saturday 3 July 2021

Tomorrow's Trains

Tomorrow, passenger trains hauled by the recently overhauled 1904-built loco Horden are running from East Tanfield to Andrews House, with compartments bookable on the main TR website.
Steve, Horden's driver, waits for departure from ET last Sunday
(photo courtesy of Jack Hannah)

Friday 2 July 2021

Thursday 1 July 2021

More Concrete

Mick sawing a groove in the head of a screw made by Jim for HC38