The Armstrong's Sunday

Antony using our 1933-built Armstrong diesel-electric loco to haul 49 out of the shed .....
(photo courtesy of Angela Pickering)

The hot dry weather has left a significant lineside fire risk, for which today we replaced the rostered steam loco (Cochrane) with the oldest working diesel-electric loco in the world, Reyrolles No.2 (AW D22 of 1933).   This 100hp loco is one of a batch of six built somewhat speculatively by Armstrong Whitworth in 1933, as part of their diversification after the depression.   At the time, Tyneside led the world in electrical design, development, production, use, generation & distribution.   For example, read about Charles Merz as one of the leading electrical engineers; or look up Charles Parsons, Alphonse Reyrolle, etc.

..... & heading for East Tanfield .....
(photo courtesy of Angela Pickering)

..... via Causey level crossing

George, Antony & Jonny discussing AW No.2, on arrival at AH with the passenger train 

Leaving Andrews House ,,,,,

.....passing MH signal box on the way to Sunniside .....
(photo courtesy of Angela Pickering)

..... where George & Angela exchange tokens again on the return

The two carriage train about to pass under Gibraltar Bridge
(photo courtesy of Neville Whaler)

Angela resetting the roads .....

..... to enable the Fowler to shunt the carriage shed

Passengers milling around the train on arrival at East Tanfield

Having herded his passengers & with an extra carriage, Guy flags his train away from ET

George at the controls passing over the Causey car park bridges

Arriving at .....

..... & leaving Andrews House .....

..... revealing Sophie showing people around Cochrane on AH East platform

Alex sawing in the workshop

John painting a floorboard on carriage 456

Susan setting tables in the director's saloon
(photo courtesy of Angela Pickering)

Rod & Susan setting out cakes

Susan taking cakes through following the sandwich course

George & Antony checking AW 2 again .....

..... before Guy signals departure

George is now fireman ......

..... as Peter takes his classic shot

Antony bringing the train back from Sunniside .....

..... & relaxing in the sun at Causey .....

..... before Guy wants to leave for ET

The last train of the day passing MH box

Read also about AW2's electrical designer's harpist son Richard Watkins on this blog, as well as D22's sister loco D21 (on loan to TR from the NRM) arriving at Tanfield & working at Dunston power station.