Last Trains of 2024

Jonny oiling Cochrane at the start of the day
(photo courtesy of Angela Pickering)

M2 Moves!

M2 is one of ten 3'6" (cape or colonial) gauge M class 4-6-2 steam locos built by RSH in Darlington in 1951 for export to Tasmania, where they were used on various routes of the Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR).   The entire class was shipped as a batch from Middlesbrough in 1952.   M2 was delivered as number M10, works no.7430.   Unusually, all ten of the class are preserved, some in operation.   M2 was plinthed on the coast at Stanley before being reimported from Tasmania to Tanfield in summer 1992.

Richard hammering off the last brake block preventing M2 from moving on its wheels
(photo courtesy of Ian Cowan)

Sunday (with brake blocks)

Antony taking Cochrane & its train to Sunniside ......
(photo courtesy of Michael Young)

Industrial Tyneside

I discovered this wall map (taken as 2 photos) in South Shields museum.   Since it's by Port of Tyne, it's post 1968, but not by much judging by the level of industry shown.   (In 1968 Port of Tyne took over from the Tyne Improvement Commission, which had significantly altered, developed, commercialised & industrialised the river after it took over from the Newcastle Corporation hostmen in 1850.)

Newburn to Newcastle
(click map to enlarge)

Boxing Day

Stanley raising steam in MH shed
(photo courtesy of Peter Weightman)

STC Library Photos

South Tyneside Council publish historical photos & documents online.   Two photos are captioned as the Pontop Railway near Jarrow in the 1960s, but I'm unsure about whereabouts these were taken.   Does anyone have more info?

A loco approaches .....

NPE Day#11

In MH carriage shed, David sweeps rubbish .....
(photo courtesy of Peter Weightman)

NPE Day#10 - Sunday at MH

Mick milling a new hinge for 456

NPE Day#9 - Saturday at ET

The photos below are courtesy of Geoff Lowe:

Logan & Tom crewing 49, with David, all enjoying themselves today

NPE Day#8 - Thursday

Mick making door hinges for 456

NPE Day#7 - Wednesday

Checking tickets at East Tanfield
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Tuesday Lines Up

Smoke chutes in use 
(photo courtesy of Dave Dixon)

Modernisation at South Shields

A new metro on test on Claypath Lane flyover seen via the soon-to-disappear view through
the hacky front window of an old metro, travelling in the section from South Shields station .....

Monday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Mick examining style & operation of carriage door hinges ......

NPE Day#6

Jean, Anne, Tommy & Margaret preparing to receive Santa's visitors

NPE Day#5

Helen & Michael ready to receive passengers at East Tanfield
(photo courtesy of Martin O'Neill)

Thursday

Barry striping more canes .....

Wednesday

Colin cutting angle with which to secure the new steps for the signalbox
(using this mechanical hacksaw repaired recently by Neil Morgan)

Tuesday

Dave taking new firebars to storage

Local Photographers' Visit

Tynemouth Photographic Society visited TR on Wednesday 12 June 2024.

The group from Tynemouth Photographic Society
See some of their photos at Club Galleries 

Monday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Richard reassembling a clack valve on Twizell.

NPE Day#4

David on 49, running round the train at East Tanfield

Christmas Tree

Angela dressing the Tanfield Railway Christmas tree in St Margaret's Church, Tanfield Village
(photo courtesy of Ian Cowan)

Thursday

Dennis completing his work on the forklift

Wednesday with Twizell

Peter & Angela lowering Twizell's dome cover into place

Tuesday ft Richard

On wet rails during NPE it's especially important that Santa's reindeer keep on their hooves on both our 1 in 40 banks.

Richard filling Horden's front sandboxes .....

Monday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Richard soldering a damaged gauge glass lamp for 49

NPE Day#2

Nigel's ready at East Tanfield
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)