 |
| Malcolm looking at HC 38's valve gear, for which he'll be making parts |
Monday, 28 February 2022
Sunday, 27 February 2022
Saturday, 26 February 2022
Darlington Talk
There was an interesting talk by Richard Barber today at NRM Shildon, about locomotive builders & suppliers in Darlington.
 |
| S&D No.25 Derwent was built by W&A Kitching, the earliest loco builders in Darlington |
Thursday, 24 February 2022
Wednesday, 23 February 2022
Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Monday, 21 February 2022
Sunday, 20 February 2022
Saturday, 19 February 2022
Waldridge Incline Again
 |
| Waldridge Incline from a 1939 OS map courtesy & copyright of the National Library of Scotland |
Comments on the Can you help? post of 4 February include those from Chris Allen & Peter Weightman, who identify the 2nd photo as taken looking west-east down the Waldridge Incline, which was at Newfield on the Pontop & South Shields branch (originally the Stanhope & Tyne Railroad). Comparing the photo with the map segment above, the J25 loco is at the top of the 3 rail section next to the houses on Front Street, west of the urinal. (I passed these houses on Wednesday, but the urinal has gone.)
See also the Both Waldridge Inclines post of 6 August 2021.
Thursday, 17 February 2022
Wednesday, 16 February 2022
Today's Progress
 |
| George & Ian pressing mast main pivot bearings into the housing (photo courtesy of Dave Dixon) |
Tuesday, 15 February 2022
Monday, 14 February 2022
A Few from Today
 |
| Mick & Jim removing one of HC 38's brake pull rods, having had the threads extended ..... |
Sunday, 13 February 2022
Saturday, 12 February 2022
Why the Name?
I was asked the origin of the name Gibraltar Bridge, but could only suggest an answer. Would anyone like to say or conjecture why the bridge crossing the Tanfield Way at Marley Hill is called Gibraltar Bridge?
 |
| Looking north under Gibraltar Bridge after closure of the Tanfield Branch (note the netty). The span of the arch would accommodate both wooden main & bye ways of 3'10" gauge. |
Thursday, 10 February 2022
Wednesday, 9 February 2022
Tuesday, 8 February 2022
Monday, 7 February 2022
Sunday, 6 February 2022
Saturday, 5 February 2022
Western Way II extant through Gibside
The photos & info below are courtesy of Luke Griffiths, who recently visited Gibside:
 |
| This is a man-made bankside ..... |
Friday, 4 February 2022
Can You Help?
I don't know the answer to any of the questions below. The first two are from Don Asher of the Midland Railway, the third is from Ian Cowan. If you have an idea for an answer, please add it in a comment.
 |
| Do you know where this was taken, or anything about the locos? |
Thursday, 3 February 2022
Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Tuesday, 1 February 2022
Monday, 31 January 2022
Sunday, 30 January 2022
Thursday, 27 January 2022
Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Tuesday, 25 January 2022
Monday, 24 January 2022
Saturday, 22 January 2022
Thursday, 20 January 2022
Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Tuesday, 18 January 2022
Monday, 17 January 2022
Monday
The photos below are courtesy of Angela Pickering:
 |
| Mick setting up to pressure test the new safety valve stand for Renishaw No.6 |
Sunday, 16 January 2022
Thursday, 13 January 2022
TR Today
The photos below are courtesy of Geoff Lowe:
 |
| Martin & Steve checking the door frame at AH water tower |
Wednesday, 12 January 2022
Tranent - Cockenzie Waggonway
BBC iPlayer has a recent archaeology programme with a section on Scotland's first railway, a 1722 waggonway which carried coal from Tranent to salt pans at Cockenzie. View Digging for Britain series 9 episode 3, from about 28 mins in. (Stills below are from this episode.)
 |
| On the route of the waggonway |
Tuesday, 11 January 2022
UK City of Culture 2025
County Durham is one of 8 areas / cities shortlisted for the accolade of UK City of Culture in 2025 - the same year in which TR celebrates its 300th birthday (& S&DR its 200th). Everything that we do for our tercentenary can go forward to support the Durham bid, to mutual benefit. The "City of Culture" can call on its history, environment, attractions, people & potential to show how deserving it is.
 |
| A turbine blade being erected in the commercial / maritime centre of Hull. Hull's fortunes surged following it being the 2017 UK City of Culture. Coventry has benefitted from being the 2021 UK City of Culture Can we help make County Durham the 2025 UK City of Culture? |
Monday, 10 January 2022
Science Museum Group Journal
The Science Museum Group publishes an online biannual journal. The articles are lengthy, but quite interesting. Click View more for 3 articles in the most recent Autumn 2021 journal which have some relevance to TR. You may find other articles of personal interest.
 |
| The Weaver - art at the Whitworth |
Sunday, 9 January 2022
Some Sunday Shots
The photos below are courtesy of Angela Pickering:
 |
| Kyle watching Richard breaking brickwork from No.2's smokebox |
Friday, 7 January 2022
Railways are much older than trains
An interesting YouTube video focussing on Tanfield, link submitted by Luke Griffiths.
 |
| Still from the YouTube video "Railways are much older than trains" by Lindybeige |
Thursday, 6 January 2022
Wednesday, 5 January 2022
Tuesday, 4 January 2022
Monday, 3 January 2022
HCC Tickets
Viewing the tickets below is courtesy of George Nairn & Colin Fish:
The Harton Coal Company (HCC) ran a public passenger service on the South Shields, Marsden & Whitburn Colliery Railway as part of miners' trains, alongside coal trains to HCC drops on the Tyne & to NER exchange sidings .
