Raised On Steam

Ah that's a real shame. I've always thought that they should have continued with the artworks along the trackside, there was such scope for a big representation of 9F or a hopper wagon in wood or something like that. Real imposing.

Even the underframe has to be worth saving by someone surely?

No matter how many times I pass through or look at pictures of SW of Consett as it is now, I still find it absolutely astonishing how little trace there is that there was ever anything there! It's also a great shame none of the unique 56T hopper wagons were preserved.

And just across the tracks from Beamish Station is my personal favourite - Hellhole Woods.

Like this fella?

It's Stroudley Improved Engine Green.

I was down there the other day (when I took my pic of that building). The bypass chops right across the site of the road from the missing bridge and I had a poke round the 'no man's land' beyond the Stephenson track but didn't see any trace of it. I DID however find the stub of the old riverside branch just before the bypass crosses the metro line. It's well overgrown but the stonework's still there. I looked like I'd received the death of a thousand cuts when I came out of those brambles!

Grand I was hoping you'd know, Porcy. That yard is literally where the Stephenson platform is. Just look at that great thick wall at the front, it's built like a bomb shelter!

Saw this old boozer at the site of Percy Main engine shed. It's on St John's St adjacent to the Stephenson museum's station, and is where I guess the entrance to the works would have been. Any ideas if it was part of the shed?

About time these were digitised. The Railway To Riccarton is highly recommended, I still have it on vinyl!

Nice! I thought for a terrible moment you'd posed it in some snow though. Phew! Lol

If anyone in Newcastle is still looking for 62027 Fenwick's department store had two on their shelves today. Both have bent running plates alas.

you're not alone - I'd go for knocked down versions if they were available.

Among some allotments a few miles north of Sunderland on the coast is an upright concrete dish about the size of a transit van. It's the remains of a parabolic reflector for detecting airships crossing the north sea during ww1. There would have been a microphone suspended over it and a listening station shed next to it. All gone of course apart from the stoic concrete bowl still facing the sea. Last time I went to have a look at it it was shamefully overgrown and forgotten.

Track workings surviving among the jungle at Black Fell incline on the former Bowes Railway. This stretch was featured in the 'Bowes Line' documentary just before it was closed by the NCB in the 70's. Black Fell bridge where the Pelaw Main branch once passed under on it's way down to Birtley and Ouston. Right next to the Bowes cycle track. You can tell thanks to the bent bike wheel lying in the grass! Fortunately a few yards from here they're doing up Black Fell engine house and of course further up the hill are many more of the sterling achievements against adversity of the Bowes Railway centre as seen here.

Joem visiting the Tanfield Railway.

New arrivals - Dwight and Dominion in 2012.

Duchess of Hamilton before the streamlining went back on.

Another K1 one, from 2003.

We have the brick A4 near Darlo, the scaffolding 'Blucher' at Killingworth, the Saltburn half size J27 and even a wooden Spitfire at Thornaby. Imagine a life size mock up of a 9F or Q7 on the Consett trail……..

Funnily enough I've seen the odd 'placard' showing what wildlife to look out for but I don't recall seeing any outlining the railway history up that way. Is there one near 'King Coal'? I've seen them on other cycle routes such as the North Tyneside Wagonways and at the end of Hagg Bank bridge at Wylam.

Apart from the evidence of the bridges that are still on the route I'd say many cyclists could be forgiven for not knowing there was ever a railway there at all.

Legend to be.

S15 no 825 being put to bed at Grosmont.

Bittern (and Dominion of Canada).