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Tuesday, 20 October 2026

Tuesday 20/10

Ian retrieving a two-lever ground frame from stock
(photo courtesy of Dave Dixon)

Monday, 19 October 2026

Monday 19/10 featuring Andy

Alex helping Richard remove plugs from 49's smokebox, ready for annual inspection
(photo courtesy of Peter Weightman)

Saturday, 17 October 2026

Saturday 17/10 Gala

49 & Horden making smoke at the back of Marley Hill shed
(photo courtesy of Dave Hewitt)

Saturday 17/10 - Ken Hemmings

Around 1960 Ken Hemmings, a school leaver from Dunston who was keen on railways, started as a post boy for BR in Gateshead.   His bicycle round was the Tanfield Branch, daily delivering mail & notices to every signalbox, crossing cabin & yard bothy on the line.   Seeking a railway career, his next job was as a cleaner at Greenesfield shed, where he soon progressed to passed cleaner, firing as required on yard shunting, main line trips, at Dunston staiths, and the Tanfield Branch.
Ken on a J72 in the yard for Dunston staiths
(photo courtesy of Ken Hemmings)

Friday, 16 October 2026

Friday 16/10

Callum setting back during shunting at East Tanfield
(photo courtesy of Dave Hewitt)

Thursday, 15 October 2026

Thursday 15/10

Peter working on cleaning up and checking fuel pipework on 
(photo courtesy of Peter Weightman)

Wednesday, 14 October 2026

Wednesday 14/10

Martin planting a hlder for a removable fence post
(photo courtesy of Dave Dixon)

Tuesday, 13 October 2026

Tuesday 13/10

Andy preparing locos for the gala this weekend
(photo courtesy of Dave Dixon)

Monday, 12 October 2026

Monday 12/10 featuring Eric again

Eric working on altering the Armstrong's radiator filler
(photo courtesy of Peter Weightman)

Thursday, 8 October 2026

Wednesday, 7 October 2026

Wednesday 7/10

Barry setting up the scaffold tower in ET carriage shed
(photo courtesy of Dave Dixon)

Tuesday, 6 October 2026

Tuesday 6/10

Ian threading an exhaust pipe for 49's vacuum ejector

Sunday, 4 October 2026

Sunday 4/10

Guy & Steve watching Cochrane backing into Marley Hill station,
before fetching its carriages from the shed
(photo courtesy of James Gray)

Thursday, 1 October 2026

Thursday 1/10

Neil chasing threads of bespoke nuts for buffer guide blocks of the engineer's saloon

Wednesday, 30 September 2026

Wednesday 30/9

Alan fitting hand rails in MH carriage shed toilets
(photo courtesy of Geoff Lowe)

Tuesday, 29 September 2026

Monday, 28 September 2026

Monday 28/9

Richard adding tannins to 49's water tank
Fancy helping with loco maintenance on Mondays?

Sunday, 27 September 2026

Sunday 27/9

Oliver shunting carriages with No.2 & Euan as 49 backs onto the extra bogie carriage

A Day at Bobgins Crossing Sunday 27th Sept

Logan, Oliver and Ben heading south towards Causey woods

Thursday, 24 September 2026