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Friday 31 December 2021

A Door

Jonny & Richard replacing 49's smokebox door

Wednesday 29 December 2021

Chris Killip - Photographer

Chris Killip (1946-2020) was a commercial photographer who switched to documentary photography in the 1970s, just in time to record the demise of heavy industry in NE England, with its affects on people & the region.   He published several celebrated books of iconic photos, but his son was instrumental in getting him to publish early work recording the end of Tyneside shipbuilding.   There is a Laing Art Gallery exhibition of this work - two of my rough snaps of this are below:
Looking down a Wallsend back lane, over the NER riverside branch, into Swan Hunters yard

Tuesday 28 December 2021

Horden Bank Holiday Extra

The photos below were taken yesterday, & are courtesy of Neville Whaler:
Horden raising steam outside Marley Hill shed

Monday 27 December 2021

Bank Holiday Mince Pie Specials

Matthew drawing No.3 from MH carriage shed; Horden waiting for its train

Sunday 26 December 2021

Boxing Day Mince Pie Specials

The photos below are courtesy of Angela Pickering:
The frosty morning view from the signalbox

Tommy's Cuttings #6

The date of this article is uncertain.   However, from adverts on the reverse for a fair on Sunday 16 July & PYO strawberries, plus detail in the text, it seems to be from an Evening Chronicle of June 1978.
TR no longer runs England's most northerly steam train

Saturday 25 December 2021

Friday 24 December 2021

Thursday 23 December 2021

NPE Day #11

Horden fetching its train from the carriage shed
(photo courtesy of Angela Pickering)

Wednesday 22 December 2021

Tuesday 21 December 2021

NPE Day #9

Jonny shunting No.3 onto the other 4 carriages under Euan's direction

Sunday 19 December 2021

Saturday 18 December 2021

NPE Day #7

Horden blowing off outside Marley Hill shed, ready to go
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Friday 17 December 2021

Northumberland Line Wayleaves

The Duke of Northumberland has come under fire for demanding 'archaic' wayleave rents for the Northumberland Line (Chronicle report).  

Bedlington Station on the proposed Northumberland Line has seen freight since closure by Beeching
(P3 / J27 65834 on coal hoppers photographed by Ben Brooksbank in 1965)

Wayleaves were the norm in the Great North Coalfield right up until the demise of collieries.   For example, our Tanfield route always operated under wayleaves - it was never owned by railway companies or BR.

Thursday 16 December 2021

Wednesday 15 December 2021

Tuesday 14 December 2021

Monday 13 December 2021

A Quiet Day

Dennis trying his new tungsten-tipped rotary rubber disc
to remove rust from HC 38's bunker

Sunday 12 December 2021

Saturday 11 December 2021

NPE Day #5

The photos below are courtesy of Angela Pickering:
Alfie spreading salt to melt ice at the North Pole

Friday 10 December 2021

Redheugh Incline

From the booklet The Changing Face of Gateshead, Gateshead Libraries & Arts, Portcullis Press 1992:
The Redheugh Incline connected two arms of the Brandling Junction Railway c1840: the
Tanfield Branch & Gateshead to South Shields / Monkwearmouth (Sunderland North Dock)

Thursday 9 December 2021

Several Jobs

Malcolm, Dennis & Colin shovelling material for filling holes

Wednesday 8 December 2021

Tuesday 7 December 2021

Sunday 5 December 2021

Saturday 4 December 2021

Tanfield Tree

Angela installed a Christmas tree on behalf of Tanfield Railway in St Margaret's Church at Tanfield Village this afternoon:
Merry Christmas from Tanfield Railway
(photo courtesy of Angela Pickering)

Friday 3 December 2021

Tomorrow's Trains

The photos below are of last Sunday's North Pole Express.   Horden will again haul fully-booked trains this weekend.
Richard driving Horden south over Causey car park road bridge
(photo courtesy of Dave Hewitt)

Derwentcote Steelworks

Derwentcote Steel Furnace is a neighbour, interrelated industry & contemporary of the Tanfield Waggonway.
Derwentcote Steel Furnace

English Heritage, custodian of Derwentcote, have published a half hour podcast describing the history, processes, products & importance of the works.

Thursday 2 December 2021

A Cooler Day, Spent Inside

Colin assembling an elliptical top trim for a door
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Wednesday 1 December 2021

Dave's Views

Dennis fitting a window cill
(photo courtesy of Dave Dixon)