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)

Wednesday at Andrews House

The photos below are courtesy of Geoff Lowe:

Barry dismantling grotto scenery .....

Tuesday

The photos below are courtesy of Dave Dixon:

The rig for cutting double-angle mortices for the chaldron .....

Monday

Tom creating a weekly work schedule for HC 38

Sunday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Alex and Oliver working on Twizell

Saturday - HRA Awards

David with Elise, who .....
(photo courtesy of Euan Sharp)

Saturday - HRA Visit

Andy preparing Twizell for the day's outing

Thursday

Geoff assisting Colin in cutting tenons for the chaldron waggon

Wednesday

The photos below are courtesy of Geoff Lowe:

Richard & Dennis replacing pit coverings .....

Tuesday

Richard & Dave taking delivery of tannins boiler water treatment

Monday (starring Peter)

Peter & Eric discussing the gap between Twizell's new door & smokebox ring,
which is reducing the vacuum & hence the blast & efficiency of the loco

Sunday

Andy cleaning around the miller where he is machining a crosshead slipper for Stanley

Thursday

Jim milling a crosshead slipper for Stanley

Wednesday

The new signalbox podium being carried across the slimy yard .....
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Tuesday

Dave removing a worn brake block from AW No.2

Monday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Eric fitting split pins on 38.

Sunday

Mick generally cleaning a crosshead from Stanley before .....

Thursday

Colin preparing to cut a slot in a piece of oak for the chaldron waggon .....
(photo courtesy og Geoff Lowe)

Wednesday

Colin working on the crossing cabin windows
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Tuesday

Ian & Richard refitting 49's LH eccentrics

Monday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Jim machining part of an eccentric key for 49

Sunday

Richard milling a new cotter for 49's eccentric

Thursday

Mick checking a micrometer

Wednesday

Richard cleaning & checking 49's LH eccentrics

Tuesday Removals

Ian & Ian moving the new signal post to a waggon

Monday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Eric repairing an eccentric strap bolt from 49

Sunday

Andy checking a head from a Henry ......

Thursday

Mick adjusting carriage door hinges for 456

Wednesday, with M2 Moving More

Martin ready with sand as Ian shunts a Kearsley electric loco

Shunting

Richard shunting locos around for better access during forthcoming maintenance

Snowy Sunday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Marley Hill shed with a light covering of snow

Bowes & Coals to Windsor

The plaque below led me to look at the Bowes family tree, which I found to be very large with many branches;  I've picked a chain to link the Royal Family to Durham coal, based on details in geni.com

By convention the first-born male took the forename of his father.   If that son died before another was born, the new son also would be named after the father.   Because of repetition of names I've appended dates to differentiate.   Note that the first legitimate male heir would inherit titles, estates, etc, from his father.   Daughters, wives & widows could still be powerful & influential beyond bearing many children.

Sir William Bowes 1656-1707 of Gibside  &  Streatlam Castle  married Elizabeth Bowes 1651-1736.

Plaque commemorating Dame Elizabeth Bowes, John Bowes’ great-great grandmother,
"a pickaxe-wielding firebrand who fought to build the family’s fortune in coal".
She's interred in the chapel of St Mary the Less, on the opposite side of' South Bailey, Durham.
In the family tree, you could start with Dame Elizabeth .....