Wednesday

Julian & Roger continuing construction .....

Tuesday

NG rail loaded for reuse at Ayle Colliery 

Ayle is a hamlet in the SW corner of Northumberland, 6 miles north of Alston in the NE corner of Cumbria.   Ayle has a drift mine producing anthracite, so is the last working colliery in northern England.

Monday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman (except where stated):

Richard preparing to finish the detachable portion for 49's ashpan

Sunday

Cochrane coming out of Marley Hill with empty stock for the first train
(photo courtesy of John Turnock)

Thursday

Dennis cutting more wheel bosses for the chaldron waggon

Wednesday

Roger & Julian assembling track panels

Tuesday

Colin cutting a tenon on an oak rib for the chaldron waggon
(photo courtesy of Dave Dixon)

Monday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Jim machining a flange for HC 38's balance pipe

Sunday

No.2 aboutto depart for East Tanfield with the first train of the day
(photo courtesy of John Turnock)

Whistle Up Animation

Following Whistle Up at Tanfield Railway (see post for 1 January), Sarah Hodgson had the thought of showing how the the idea of a loco whistle came about after an early railway accident which killed a horse & forced a railway company to pay damages.

Animation of the invention of the loco whistle following an 1833 accident
(video courtesy of Sarah Hodgson)

Thursday

Barry repairing fencing in Marley Hill car park .....
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Wednesday with Waggonway Work

Barry continuing manhole construction

Tuesday

The photos below are courtesy of Dave Dixon:

Colin & Brian discussing work on the chaldron waggon

Monday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Jim machining a plug boss for one of HC 38's side tanks

Today at Marley Hill

Phil checking coal as Elise & Logan shovel onto Cochrane; Chris getting ready to drive

People at ET

The photos below are courtesy of Geoff Lowe:

Irene preparing the tea carriage ......

New Storage Shed

Sarah Hodgson's artist's impression showing position relative to MH station of the new storage shed

NE England Tourism Awards

Nicola, Chris & David have received a 'Highly Commended' award on behalf of TR
See Tanfield Facebook for more
(photo courtesy of Euan Sharp)

Thursday

Jim sawing bar for bolts

Wednesday

Richard & Ian moving another track panel away from the site of the new shed

Tuesday

Colin checking how the bearing, axles & wheels will fit the chaldron frame

Monday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Jim machining a new spindle for Cochrane's smokebox door dart and handles

Sunday

Angela & Tom discussing training

Thursday

Rob drilling a repaired gusset plate for HC 38

Wednesday

Steve taking delivery of new chairs for afternoon teas
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Tuesday

Brian, Colin & Dave discussing details of the chaldron waggon

Monday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Jim machining slots in a new valve for Stanley on the small Miller

Sunday

49 raising steam in Marley Hill shed
(photo courtesy of Angela Pickering)

Early Days at Backworth

Backworth A Pit with a PW gang & set rider on a rope hauled incline
(artist unknown, TWAM collection)

The rope incline may connect to West Allotment or Shiremoor - if you know more, please comment.

The painting is currently displayed in the Romance to Realities exhibition at the Laing.

Thursday

Jim has finished threading ......

Wednesday

Martin & Colin installing a sink in Pontop Canteen
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Tuesday

Ian moving track on which M2 was standing out of the way of the new build

Monday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Paul drilling drain cock link pins on No.2 to take split pins

Sunday

Logan shunting carriages with 35
(photo courtesy of John Turnock)

A Marley Hill Loco

There are two austerity locos at Marley Hill.   There were two austerity locos at Marley Hill during most of its NCB days, Bowes Railway nos. 17 & 20.   On paper, these were renumbered 28 & 83 in the early 1950s, but were known as & carried their original numbers until the late 1960s, with the 'new' number below, smaller & in brackets - see the photo of Vic & an austerity on Hobson Bank Loco Crew.

Austerity No.83 with empties heading towards MH screens to be loaded, probably late 1960s.
The steep winding bank behind the loco goes to MH colliery, near the pony stables.

More of Monday's M2 Move

The photos below are courtesy of Angela Pickering

The sun's out as M2 on Rail Support Service's low loader .....

Thursday

Rob machining a flange
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Wednesday

Bob cleaning in AH shop .....
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Tuesday

Dave & Colin trying a top rail on the chaldron frame

M2 Moves Again

Stewart helping to set up the ramp from the trailer .....

Sunday

Richard passing 49's whistle control through 49's cab front .....

Sunday by Susan & Geoff

The photos below are courtesy of Susan & Geoff Lowe:

Volunteers waiting to welcome passengers arriving at East Tanfield
- the first in our 300th year

Andrews House Colliery Remains

Andrews House Colliery, as re-established alongside Marley Hill Colliery by Bowes & Partners in 1840, was 200 yards south west of MH shed & would be connected to the Pontop & Jarrow Railway.   However, like Marley Hill, it originally spanned several pits in the same area, with coal being taken down the Tanfield Waggonway (read Sunniside History Group web).   AH Colliery closed in 1920.   Remains of the colliery have recently become more evident - photos below.

Stonework from AH Colliery winding house revealed

Thursday

Andrew & Walter sorting out letter stamps in the workshop

Wednesday

Martin, Julian, Roger & Brian discussing wood for Causey waggonway
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Monday

Richard fitting new gauge glasses on Cochrane
(photo courtesy of Peter Weightman)

Sunday

Ian sealing a droplight for 456

The Common Room - Marley Hill Colliery

The records previously held by NEIMME (North of England Institute of Mining & Mechanical Engineers) together with the grade 2* listed Neville Hall at the bottom of Westgate Road, Newcastle, were transferred to the Common Room of the Great North (charity no.1179546) in 2017.   With HLF funding, the Common Room secured the future of Neville Hall & started an online catalogue of NEIMME's records dating back to the 1500s, & digitising these.

Searching the Collections for Marley Hill currently gives 38 results, including:

A document from 1778 looking at the future viability of
Marley Hill Colliery - which was closed in 1815.
In 1700s MH was known as North Banks & worked via several pits.

Thursday

The photos below are courtesy of Geoff Lowe:

Sharon, Jean & Irene unpacking & setting up AH .....

Wednesday at Marley Hill

The photos below are courtesy of Dave Dixon:

Dave cutting the next double angle mortice
(There'll be at least one at each end & side of the chaldron)