Common Room Talks

There were a couple of interesting talks in the lecture theatre at the Common Room (Mining Institute, Westgate Road) yesterday:

Simple signalling to avoid collisions between trains on the Stanhope & Tyne
and the Brandling Junction at Pontop Crossing (Brockley Whins,
South Shields, where iron ore trains later crossed the coastal route)

Rob Langham giving a talk on the S&T

Hugh Fenwick on the life & career of Robert Stephenson

A task for 25 year old John Dixon and 18 year old Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson became a renowned civil engineer as well as accomplished mechanical engineer

The talks are among several about local railways, industry & engineers being held at the Common Room, with particular reference to the Stephensons in this bicentennial year of their lcomotive factory.