New Book & Talk

Coxlodge Waggonway viaduct over the Ouse at Gosforth (by TH Hair)

His latest book  Doon the Waggonway  will be the subject of a free talk by Tyneside historian Les Turnbull at the Mining Institute on Thursday 23 April.

This early 19th century waggonway traversed the whole of Newcastle from Coxlodge across Gosforth, past the RVI,, through Heaton to the Tyne at Wallsend.   It is also linked to people behind much of the mining & railway development on Tyneside - Blenkinsop, Brandling, Brunton, Buddle, Stephenson, etc.

Thursday 26/3

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman except as shown:

Mick setting up new machine guards for welding

Wednesday 25/3

Dismantling a bullhead section of MH 'loop' for plant access to sheet the new shed

Tuesday 24/3

Lewis continuing to repair the drive cover for No.13 point

Monday 23/3

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weughtman:

Eric fixing a loose brake shaft collar on No.2

Sunday 22/3

Me with Logan & Andrew, whose company has taken on the austerity loco Gamma
(photo courtesy of Mike Hartley)

Thursday 19/3

Elaine cleaning Andrews House tearoom

Wednesday 18/3

Roger & Martin refitting the platform railings in ET carriage shed
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Tuesday 17/3

Dave re-establishing the fence around the gulley after drainage installation

Monday 16/3

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Eric making components for HC 38's lubrication system

Sunday 15/3

Geoff lighting the stove in East Tanfield tearoom
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Thursday 12/3

Peter & Richard testing a pressure gauge against a known accurate one

Wednesday 11/3

Richard & Dave aligning & bedding in an inspection chamber
in the drain for the new storage shed

Tuesday 10/3

Barry erecting the access tower in MH carriage shed
(photo courtesy of Dave Dixon)

Monday 9/3

Eric marking out metal and studying the relevant drawing of 38's lubrication system
(photo courtesy of Peter Weightman)

Sunday 8/3

A frosty (Saturday) morning at Marley Hill
(photo courtesy of Steve Easton)

Wednesday 4/3

Dave removing AD fittings ready to lift out the rail

Tuesday 3/3

Colin making a frame for a firedoor

Monday 2/3

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Paul drilling packing for track points at Marley Hill

Sunday 1/3

Preparing No.2 inside Marley Hill shed

Thursday 26/2

Terry lettering one side of the Causey waggon
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Wednesday 25/2

Terry preparing to letter the replica Causey waggon

Tuesday 24/2

Dave clearing a pipe through which rodding runs to No.13 point

Monday 23/2

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Eric studying the Hudswell Clarke drawing of 38's lubrication pipe brackets

Sunday 22/2

In Marley Hill shed, Callum oils between 49's frames

Thursday 19/2

Richard fetching dry sand for locos
(photo courtesy of Angela Pickering)

Wednesday 18/2

Angela filling Cochrane's tank

Tuesday 17/2

Dave tidying part of the site

Monday 16/2

Eric making lubrication system brackets for 38
(photo courtesy of Peter Weightman)

Sunday 15/2 at East Tanfield

The photos below are courtesy of Geoff Lowe:

Ben loading coal on Stanley's fire, watched by Luke

Sunday 15/2

Stanley heading onto the branch from Marley Hill .....

Thursday 12/2

Geoff setting up his lathe

Wednesday 11/2

Terry flattening a guard for the vertical borer

Tuesday 10/2

Richard breaking up dry firewood, in dry surroundings

Monday 9/2

Eric studying the drawing and.marking out material for 38's lubrication system's brackets

Causey Crossing Cabin

Following on from the blog post of 19 Jan 2025, the photos below, courtesy of Neil Morgan, show the new crossing cabin around the time it was placed in position:

The former van body, only the steel frame of which remains,
being checked at East Tanfield by Steve before transport .....

Sunday 8/2

Dennis filing

Friday 06/02

Earlier this week, Luke checking test prints for the forthcoming display in MH carriage shed
(photo courtesy of David Watchman)

Thursday 5/2

John painting the floor of Andrews House shop

Wednesday 4/2

Julian working on the toilet at Causey Crossing
(photo courtesy of Roger Smith)

John Oliver & Carriage 456

John sanding a frame section of 456

Coal Staiths of the River Tyne - Side

Another excellent film telling a story of working-class industrial Tyneside of the recent past has been released by Side.

A worker on Derwent Staiths in 1973, from the film
(photo copyright Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen, Side)

Read about & watch  Coal Staiths of the River Tyne 

Monday 2/2

Eric cutting tubes to length .....

Sunday 1/2

Neil repairing the feed to the lathe which Jim commonly uses

Saturday 31/1

These photos were taken during the TR strategy day at Hopetown today:

Tom remarking on the height of his table's spaghetti tower
compared with that of Peter & Richard
(photo courtesy of Angela Pickering)

Thursday 29/1

Steve taking newly-delivered Matterson jacks .....

Wednesday 18/1

Martin & Alex working on a base for cranks to connect the ground frame to No,13 point at MH,
under Brian's guidance
(photo courtesy of Dave Dixon)

Tuesday 27/1 - a very rainy day

Richard working on both of 49's safety valves

Monday 26/1

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:

Richard and Jim discussing repairs to safety valve faces

Sunday 25/1

Andy using a dial gauge to check the run out of steel bar from which to turn a smaller pin