Springwell Bank Foot Shed Today

Springwell Bank Foot locomotive shed was built in 1829 as part of the iron railway by George Stephenson from Jarrow to Springwell Colliery.   This colliery (now the base of the preserved Bowes Railway) was at the top of a mile long balanced incline, with descending full waggons hauling empties back to the colliery.   Locos from the shed hauled coal from Springwell Bank Foot to staiths at Jarrow on the Tyne.   The shed & route became part of the Pontop & Jarrow Railway in 1854, with the westward extension through Marley Hill - note similarities to our shed.   Marley Hill shed is the oldest in the world still in steam loco use, whereas Springwell Bank Foot Shed is no longer rail connected, and surrounded by housing development.

Looking north east towards Jarrow; on the right is the 1829 shed,
on the left is the 1960s extension for diesel locos.
(photo courtesy of Alex Tyson)

The sheds are now occupied by the North East Bus Preservation Trust (NEBPT)
(photo courtesy of Alex Tyson)

The two road shed has similarities to Marley Hill shed -
note the buttresses indicating a problem with the gable
(photo courtesy of Oliver Humphries)

Looking SW out of the shed - the shed tracks joined
the main line on the right a hundred or so yards ahead.
The shed is now disconnected & surrounded by housing
(photo courtesy of Oliver Humphries)

Stepping back, the gable is also buttressed inside, and the lintel has
the same dual I beams infilled with block and mortar as MH shed
(photo courtesy of Alex Tyson)

Marley Hill shed roof may have had similar wooden trusses
(photo courtesy of Alex Tyson)

More buses & trusses, but no rail further into the shed
(photo courtesy of Alex Tyson)

Again, like MH, the shed seems to have been built with doorways at the back
(photo courtesy of Alex Tyson)

More detail inside the SW end of the shed .....
(photo courtesy of Oliver Humphries)

..... and more detail of the roof structure & modern covering
(photo courtesy of Oliver Humphries)

Inside the adjoining diesel shed .....
(photo courtesy of Oliver Humphries)

..... with workbenches now in use for bus tools & parts
(photo courtesy of Oliver Humphries)

I think xBR indicates a Sunderland Corporation Transport bus
(photo courtesy of Oliver Humphries)

This is a 1966 LT Routemaster (Tommy will keep us right) - note the pit & .....
(photo courtesy of Oliver Humphries)

.....& overhead crane, hence the height of this building
(photo courtesy of Alex Tyson)