NYMR early pictures

[Mike Storey]

These photos are really clear and full of wonderful detail. I did not get to know the NYMR until the 1980's onwards so these are fascinating.

[Trev52A]

Four now, taken on 27th April 1974 when the P3 and No 5 were working. Looks like I didn't move far from Grosmont that day. Most of the locations will be familiar...

 

The P3 at Deviation Jn (the signal box is off to the right) passing the Burrows 0-4-0 well tank

 

..and returning past Black Five No 5428 beside the new shed building.

Interesting how this view changes over the years as construction work continues.

 

Lambton Tank no 5 blasts away from Grosmont near the start the 1 in 49 up to Goathland

 

And one colour shot of the P3 taken near Esk Valley Cottages

 

Next up will include the first run of the K1 on 8th June 1974

Trevor

 

 

Edited February 5, 2019 by Trev52A
To delete superfluous word in final sentence

[Boris]

And from a nerd perspective, I didn't know Grosmonts outer home had a call plunger on it at one point.

[russ p]

That signal was later moved to the armless one near the shed. It was number 8 in the old ground frame box but think it had a phone on it.

Goathlands down outer home had a call plunger was that 21 signal?

[Boris]

4 hours ago, russ p said:

That signal was later moved to the armless one near the shed. It was number 8 in the old ground frame box but think it had a phone on it.

Goathlands down outer home had a call plunger was that 21 signal?

Yes, the "new" bracket is still in the bushes down beside the shed line if memory serves.  The current inner home bracket (the one at the rakish angle) is about where the whistle board is in the third photo, and interestingly is STILL number 8 signal now for platform 2.  I don't recall 21 ever having a call plunger, but it might have been before I was aware enough to notice such things, it has a berthing circuit now and a phone - still number 21 though, and the lever is a slightly different shape as it was added by the NYMR from a box near Darlington.

[Trev52A]

The K1 2-6-0, BR No 62005, had been gifted to the NELPG in 1972. Overhaul and restoration work then took place at BR's Thornaby depot and at the end of May 1974 it ran under its own steam to the NYMR and underwent a successful trial run. It had been repainted in LNER green at the request of its former owners.

Its first official working was on 8th June 1974 when it headed the 10.50 Grosmont to Goathland passenger train which features in the following pictures taken that day.

 

With the first vehicle the GWR saloon belonging to one of the loco's former owners, the K1 sets off from Grosmont with its first official train on the NYMR.

 

On a different working that day the K1 climbs past Beck Hole on the way to Goathland

 

Lambton Tank No 5 is prominent in this view of the new shed building at Grosmont later that day

 

Super-power in action as No 5 and the K1 climb past Esk Valley at the start of the 1 in 49 gradient to Goathland

 

Here's a colour shot I missed off from the last batch:

Photographed from the footpath on the trackbed of the earlier route between Grosmont and Goathland, the DMU heads south at Esk Valley with a train for Pickering on 27th April 1974. (The train isn't sharp - I focussed on the signpost!)

 

Trevor

 

 

[Trev52A]

Some colour shots now from 10th August 1975, when 'Black Five' No 5428 (now without its Eric Treacy nameplates) and 0-6-0ST No 1247 were in action..

5428 hits the start of the 1 in 49 climb up from Grosmont

 

And here's a broadside of it climbing near Esk Valley cottages

 

Here are the two going well together at the same spot

 

As far as I am aware regular steam working to Pickering didn't start until 1976 but both the engines reached there that day. I'll upload those pics next.

 

Trevor

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 12, 2019 by Trev52A
Corrected caption error

[Worsdell forever]

I was showing these the other day to Ray Stewart and he pointed me towards these films on YouTube, the first two are his cine film and he features in the first around 3:40.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQQSw9VVqSk

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkgYcGEbH0w

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z76314nti1A

 

[russ p]

How many of the mk1s got green and cream?

I remember the DMUs having an overhaul about 81 and getting a slightly darker green and loosing their headcode panels which was a shame

[Dava]

Thanks Trevor for those atmospheric photos, especially the monochrome ones which are so sharp.

Happy memories!

 

Dava 

[papagolfjuliet]

8 hours ago, russ p said:

How many of the mk1s got green and cream?

 

 

Just the one: SO No.4481, which latterly carried Pullman livery as part of the diner set before being blown up on The Cook Report. 

[russ p]

Blown up what was that for ?

[Boris]

4 hours ago, russ p said:

Blown up what was that for ?

A program called the Cook report, they took it to NewtonDale Halt and placed some semtex in it to demonstrate what an IRA bomb would do if planted on a commuter train.  For years afterwards you could see where the fence on the platform changed when the bomb went off and it demolished the coach, the fence and part of the platforn.  It would be the early 90s if I remember correctly.

[south_tyne]

Fantastic selection of photographs there. As someone who is a regular visitor to the NYMR - but wasn't around in the 1970s(!!) - those images of the early years of preservation are particularly fascinating. Such atmospheric shots.

 

Thanks for sharing! 

David 

 

[Trev52A]

Also on 10th August 1975 both 5428 and 1247 were in action south of Goathland. I assumed they had reached Pickering at the end of the line, but now I'm not so sure. 

SEE UPDATE at the end of this post - it seems the trains only ran as far as Levisham

 

5428 heads south at Moorgates, shortly after leaving Goathland. I see another coach has been added to the front of the train. As far as I am aware, regular steam working to Pickering started the following year. Was this some sort of 'special'?

 

This is at Levisham, with the 'Black Five' returning north. Going by the numbers stamped on the slide mounts, the shot immediately preceding this one (not uploaded) was of the train entering the station from the Goathland direction, so it seems it only ran as far south as here.

 

Here is 1247 shunting at Goathland

 

The slide mount merely says 'near Levisham', but I can't tell whether it is north of south of that point. If south, then the train must be going all the way to Pickering. Anyone got any record of the actual workings that day (10th August 1975?)

 

This is 1247 returning north, probably at the same spot. Is the superelevation on the curve really that pronounced, or is a wonky signal post giving a false impression?

 

Back at Grosmont the same day, the Q6 has been transformed into NER Class T2 No 2238 and is being prepared for exhibition at 'Rail 150' at Shildon later that month. More of that in the next posting.

 

Cheers

Trevor

 

UPDATE

Apparently the last two pics of 1247 were taken at Yorfalls crossing, about half a mile north of Levisham. It therefore seems probable that the train only got as far as there before returning north, and did not reach Pickering.

Thanks to Boris for identifying the location and his for his comments on the superelevation of the track (see his post of 12th February)

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 13, 2019 by Trev52A
To include details of location I was not aware of

[Worsdell forever]

3 hours ago, Trev52A said:

 

 

Back at Grosmont the same day, the Q6 has been transformed into NER Class T2 No 2238 and is being prepared for exhibition at 'Rail 150' at Shildon later that month. More of that in the next posting.

 

Cheers

Trevor

 

That is bright, but nice to see.

 

Would that be 80135 in front of it? in black...?

[pete55]

3 minutes ago, Worsdell forever said:

 

Would that be 80135 in front of it? in black...?

 

Yes, it would be, having recently arrived from Woodhams yard in Barry.

[Boris]

Your two photographs from "near Levisham" are at Yorfalls crossing about 1/2 a mile north of the station following the road through the forest towards Stape.  At the time, that curve really was that superelevated as the signal post is a preservation era thing and is definitely straight, there were 2 curves north of Levisham that did have some very pronounced elevation on them.  Having being relayed they still have a small amount of superelevation, but not as pronounced as they were.

[Trev52A]

19 hours ago, Boris said:

Your two photographs from "near Levisham" are at Yorfalls crossing about 1/2 a mile north of the station following the road through the forest towards Stape.  At the time, that curve really was that superelevated as the signal post is a preservation era thing and is definitely straight, there were 2 curves north of Levisham that did have some very pronounced elevation on them.  Having being relayed they still have a small amount of superelevation, but not as pronounced as they were.

 

Thanks for clearing that up, Boris. I have amended my earlier post to suit.

Cheers

Trevor

[Trev52A]

The three NELPG locos on the NYMR in 1975, P3 0-6-0 No 2392, T2 0-8-0 No 2238 and K1 2-6-0 No 2005, were involved in the 'Rail 150' Exhibition and Cavalcade at Shildon at the end of August, to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Here are some of my shots covering this event..

 

Due to mechanical problems the T2 and P3 joined the party a few days late. Here they are reversing in to the Wagon Works at Shildon on 27th August. The exhibition finish of the two locos is a tribute to all concerned.

 

With its NELPG sign prominent, the P3 stands in the sun as the Group's Sales Team engages with some of the thousands of visitors to the week-long event. On the left 'Evening Star' just makes it into the picture.

 

The K1 was safely under cover alongside LNWR 2-4-0 No 790  'Hardwicke'

 

This is the morning of the 'Grand Cavalcade' on 31st August 1975, before the weather changed for the better. The K1 is in steam and being prepared for its turn in the queue. On the left, Longmoor Military Railway 2-10-0 No 600 'Gordon' is already coupled to London Transport electric loco No 12 'Sarah Siddons' in readiness for the cavalcade.

 

 

This is a view from inside the cab of the T2 alongside 'Black Five' No 4767 which had been named 'George Stephenson' at the start of the Exhibition, and which would soon find a home on the NYMR. Another picture taken on the morning of the 'Grand Cavalcade'. 

 

A few hours later the sun came out - here the T2 is still alongside 4767, getting ready for the 'off'.

 

Here is the P3 in front of an admiring crowd in the grandstand for the 'Grand Cavalcade' - sadly for them, on the shadow side of all the exhibits!

Sorry about the colours in this picture - it's from a duplicate slide that was made for NELPG's record of the event. My original slide has gone missing over the years.

 

The T2 at the same spot finishes this slightly off-topic slant on the NYMR!

 

Cheers

Trevor

 

 

 

Edited February 14, 2019 by Trev52A
To clarify the date

[Trev52A]

The first official public steam-hauled service to run the full length of the NYMR took place on Easter Sunday, 18th April 1976, when 'Black Five' 4767 'George Stephenson' was in charge of 'The Moorlander' five coach train from Grosmont to Pickering. The weather wasn't of the best for photography, but here are some pics I captured the event with.

 

Here is the train heading south at Moorgates

 

The colour 'going-away shot' shows the Great Western saloon next to the engine

 

Somewhere south of Levisham (I think!) on the last stretch to Pickering

 

Entering Pickering station

 

Here is the loco running round, prior to returning north

 

Leaving Levisham on the way back

 

The train dwarfed in Newtondale

 

The K1 was also in action (between Grosmont and Goathland?) - here starting the 1 in 49 out of Grosmont

 

Returning near Esk Valley - a panning shot makes the train look faster than it really was!

 

Trevor

 

 

 

[Mike Storey]

That fifth picture (loco running round) just reminds me how much has changed at Pickering, and would make part of a great then and now comparison. I had the great fortune of living just up the hill from the station in the 1990's (Burgate) and had a panoramic view, from the back of our house, of the site for several years. I just wish I had taken (and kept) many more photos.

 

 

[Trev52A]

12 hours ago, Mike Storey said:

That fifth picture (loco running round) just reminds me how much has changed at Pickering, and would make part of a great then and now comparison. I had the great fortune of living just up the hill from the station in the 1990's (Burgate) and had a panoramic view, from the back of our house, of the site for several years. I just wish I had taken (and kept) many more photos.

 

 

That's a great idea for 'then & now' views, Mike. I don't have any modern shots myself but let's invite suitable pics from RMweb readers.

 

Trevor

[Trev52A]

Here's a set of pics all taken on 9th May 1976 when No 29 was in action.

A general view at Grosmont featuring the K1, T2 and 4767 'George Stephenson'

 

This is Andrew Scott, later to become head of the NRM at York, giving some attention to 4767. I knew Andy from early NELPG days. A good view of the outside Stephenson link motion fitted uniquely to this loco.

 

Taking a break - Andy and John Hunt

 

With the adjacent DMU bearing a hopeful headcode (Dundee!), No 29 waits to set off for Goathland

 

No 29 near Deviation Junction...

 

...and forging up the bank near Esk Valley

 

No 29 taking water at Goathland with a return working

 

The T2 was also in steam and is here backing into the shed

 

Trevor

 

 

 

[LNER4479]

24 minutes ago, Trev52A said:

That's a great idea for 'then & now' views, Mike. I don't have any modern shots myself but let's invite suitable pics from RMweb readers.

 

Well I'm up for that...

 

 

Below is a 2015 Pickering shot I seem to have taken from a remarkably similar viewpoint to your 1975 picture ...