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Border Counties Railway


'CHARD

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border_counties_boxboard.jpg

 

Matt, if you think your membership may object to my purloining the above from within the WRHA annals, slap my wrist, I'll take it down and go and publicly sit on the naughty step for the morning.... But let's hope not.

 

I never realised until eight minutes ago that such a signature place existed as Border Counties Jct. And what better way to launch its own subthread than with this suitably austere boxboard. For those intrigued to see it in its native surroundings (or once I've been asked to take it down), then I would direct you here, where the basics about the Border Counties line can be gleaned: http://www.wrha.org....er_counties.htm

 

As mentioned on the WR Group News page, I am starting this because the BCR has sufficient interest and modelling potential (Deadwater Burn anyone?) to merit exploration in its own right. So long as there's a drought or we've enough sub-aqua rubberwear to go round blink.gif

 

Anyway, how could this group, so passionate about the life and times of Riccarton Junction not peer left round the corner towards Saughtree and wonder what went on along there.....

 

Bye for now!

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No problem whatsoever .. that board (+ photo) is in fact my own, bought at one of the Sheffield Railwayana Auctions way back when (it was fun getting it in the car!)

 

I'm pretty sure in one of the books there's a photo of the junction box, with board quite visible, though for the life of me I cannae recall which book.

 

The interest in the whole line (& branches) by WRHA is the obvious way forward. Indeed, Geoff Mann of Saughtree Station has been on the WRHA Committee in recent years.

 

For anyone who fancies visiting the Border Counties Line, a couple of recent acquisitions (though not prototypical for the line) may be of interest at Bellingham Heritage Centre, which is well worth a visit : http://www.bellingha...hes-project.php

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Guest Max Stafford

Hmmm. Wee bits of railway springing up all over the border country, it seems! Must try and arrange a visit to Saughtree again in the not too distant future. :yes:

 

Dave.

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The Railbrit site doesn't seem to have much in the way of photos and although I've got a few in my collection and so does WRHA in it's Archives, even those in books are rather on the sparse side. Would be nice to see some more of the line, especially the section between Kielder and Riccarton.

 

As an aside, me & Mrs 37175 stopped down in Bellingham for a few days last year and I was surprised to find a set of crossing gates on one of the single track roads somewhere down there ... will have to get the maps out and find out which crossing it was .. the keeper's cottage was alongside and looked well cared for.

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Ian Futers' BCR layouts always captured my impagination as a lad, aspiring to something more than a train set that was achieveable. Saughtree was one of his first, there seemed to be a new one almost every year at York. Deadwater, Longwitton (ok, that was the Rothbury branch) and Scotsgap Junction also spring to mind. I'm sure I've got a BCR layout in me at some stage...

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Yes, Ian's layouts made something of an impression on me too at that age. Otterburn was the one that got my attention first. About the first layout that featured the type of motive power that interested me too!

 

Dave.

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It's critical to understand the role of J.F.Tone in various lines built by the NBR in the Borders. Friend of Hodgson he was also Chief Engineer of the Blythe and Tyne, the Wansbeck Railway, the Border Counties and reporting civil engineer on the construction of the Border Union. About 1860 he became the owner of Plashetts Colliery. Subsequently Hodgson altered the plans of the Border Counties to try to gain access to Newcastle via the Blythe and Tyne. However the NB gained running rights over the Newcastle and Carlisle so Reedsmouth Junction was remodelled to what we are familiar with and the Wansbeck was left to its fate.

 

roygraham

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Has any one got or seen a picture of Plashetts Signal Box?

 

roygraham

 

 

No.

I have not got a map but am I right in thinking that it was to the east of the station building towards the colliery sidings and would be hidden in a photo from the public area?

Bernard

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One of my current photographic projects is to photograph the remains of all the NBR lines in Northumberland, one day I'll complete it and put the photos on flickr. Most of it needs to be done in winter as there are so many trees about! At the moment I am slowly working west from Morpeth, though I do have scans slides I took some time ago of the lines.

 

David

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Having a browse today I came across one of the last train to Woodburn (there are about 4 in the set) and what is in my view one of the best shots of the box at Reedsmouth for making plans from (thanks Ernie). Even better is a signalling plan of the box. Another I think we may have seen before is another of Ernie's views taken from the box looking towards Riccarton.

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Some of the best Reedsmouth shots we've seen I reckon. The box does look impressive, its presence is reminiscent of Canal Jct, but its size more user-friendly in OO.

 

I'm extremely fond of Reedsmouth Jct, despite my penchant for the severely pruned WR circa '67 and its freight-only stubs: frequented only by 350hp shunters and their chasing Velocette riders :stinker:

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Various shots here http://www.disused-s...uth/index.shtml including the old box, a view of the box in the last days condition and in it's refurbished current state.

Bernard

 

 

Yes, a cousin of my wife's lived in/owned the signal box when refurbished and her uncle refurbed the station bldg. Another cousin had Redesmouth House and stables and owned the Engine Shed.

 

roygraham

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Yes, a cousin of my wife's lived in/owned the signal box when refurbished and her uncle refurbed the station bldg. Another cousin had Redesmouth House and stables and owned the Engine Shed.

 

roygraham

Funny you should say that Roy, as I've got photos somewhere of them being refurbished ... my Dad and a mate took them around 1978-9 when they were on a WR & BCR mission! I guess it may well have been some of your family they bumped into / asked permission?! What a small world!

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