Trev52A

Aboard No 81 with Jimmy McIvor approaching the mine in 1968 Aboard No 66 at the mine, with Jimmy probably applying the brakes on a rake of empties we have just delivered in 1968 Jimmy in action again with No 81 near the shed area on 29th July 1969 Happy days! Trevor

@jbqfc Cracking shots, Grommet! (As Wallace would probably say) Trevor

No 66 alongside the crew's cabin (on the opposite side of the valley to the mine) with the loco shed (officially called Shop Pit Loco Shed) in the distance on the left of the train. Just beyond here was the changeover point to cable haulage up the valley side. Looking south to a loaded train starting the climb off to the left (by cable haulage) over the ECML, with Tyne Yard in the background. About half way up the climb from the Team valley on the Allerdene Incline (as it was known) All from 1968 Trevor

The NCB line was still physically connected (I think) but the connection had not been used for several years by the time I started taking pictures. I'll check with various book I have to confirm this. I do have a shot from 1965-ish of a loco on the TVTE system which I'll dig out in due course. Trevor

I've read somewhere that the line closed in April 1973 but I don't know when the viaduct disappeared. Trevor

More from the Ravensworth Park mine line: Loco No 81 was another 0-4-0ST, this time from Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns (No 7604 of 1949) The regular driver was a lovely chap called Jimmy McIvor, and many an enthusiast has had an unofficial cab ride over the viaduct and been welcomed in the crew's cabin when the kettle was on! This was taken on 29th July 1969. No 81 starts the run back to the viaduct with a loaded train from the mine. I think the chap hanging on the front is his regular mate Alan - I stand to be corrected by anyone else familiar with this line. Both the undated ones were probably taken towards the end of 1968. Trevor

After BR steam finished on Tyneside in September 1967 I began to explore my local area for something else to observe and photograph. The NCB line to Ravensworth Park Drift Mine, near the Team Valley Trading Estate, was a short cycle ride from my home at the time in Gateshead. When I first arrived on the scene the usual working loco was a cute little 0-4-0ST (Peckett no 1748 of 1928), in a clean light green livery with the NCB number 66 and named 'Charles Nelson'. The following three pics were taken in 1968: No 66 propels its train of loaded coal wagons towards the viaduct over the Trading Estate. This area is now covered by the car park for 'Retail World'. No 66 starts the run over the viaduct. The loco propelled the wagons whichever direction it was travelling. The viaduct crossed the main dual carriageway of Kingsway. There is now no trace of it, although remains of the approach embankments can still be found. More to come, including the next loco to arrive on the system and some views of the regular crew. But feel free to add any pictures which fit the brief! Trevor

I don't wish to hijack this thread so I'll start a different one entitled '60s Industrial Steam' and upload them to that instead. How's that? Cheers Trevor

Two views of NCB No 32 (Andrew Barclay 1659 of 1920) (now preserved) on the line which crossed over the Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, via a concrete viaduct to Ravensworth Park Drift Mine. Propelling empties up to the mine on 20th July 1972 Pushing a full load towards the changeover point where wagons were hauled up an incline to join the rest of the NCB system, on 9th July 1971 I have several views of the viaduct but outside the timescale of this thread (taken in 1968/69) Trevor

It's hard to say how 'accurate' a colour picture is, compared to the real thing, as the film can pick up colour casts due to lighting (morning/evening compared to midday sunshine, for example) that the eye may not perceive at the time. However, in this case I think you might be right about the film - so here's a 'better' tweaked version which is probably more in keeping with the subject - although it still doesn't quite match the colour of the examples three posts above it. Swalwell Disposal Point 1971 Trevor

I've just searched through this thread and now realise I had missed your original post of 17th November, otherwise I might have posted mine earlier as a contrast. I lived near the Norwood site until 1979 and I didn't even know there was an Open Day, sadly. This must be the most immaculate working steam loco picture I have ever seen! Cheers Trevor

A couple of my efforts from today at Newcastle Arriving past a fraction of the scores (hundreds?) of enthusiasts waiting at the station. W43006 at the head. Drawing to a stand with E43112 trailing, passing 'Azuma' 800112 (a coincidence with the numbers!) Cheers Trevor

Looks like it went out straight ahead over the King Edward Bridge, rather than reverse and go via the High Level as intended. It certainly caught me out! Cheers Trevor

Yes, of course. I was meaning nothing to see on this RMweb website. Sorry for not making this clear. Cheers Trevor

I'm a bit surprised no pics have appeared yet of the train running - we've had two days of it so far! I hope to get some on Tyneside tomorrow but I think the weather might be against me! Cheers Trevor

This was the last occasion I photographed a working non-preserved steam loco in this country: standby 0-6-0ST No 77 'Norwood' (you can just make out the name on the front of the tank above the smokebox) in action at Norwood Coke Works, Gateshead on 23rd May 1979. It was built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Ltd in Newcastle in 1948 (works No 7412), and eventually left the site in 1983 for preservation, initially at the Bowes Railway. A housing estate now covers much of this site. Trevor

This date must be a typo. The loco was removed from the site in 1973 for preservation, initially to the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore. Operations continued at Swalwell until 1989, latterly using ex-BR Class 11 0-6-0 diesel shunters nos. 12074 and 12088 Here are some of mine from two dates in 1971, using probably my first roll of colour slide film (Boots, if I remember rightly!) I did not discover Kodachrome until a few years later, sadly. The chimneys behind 71515 in the long distance view are at the now-demolished Dunston power Station The firm 'Mechanical Navvies Ltd' had changed its name to 'Johnsons (Chopwell) Ltd in 1968 The western edge of the MetroCentre now covers this site. Trevor

Further to my last post about 35 mins ago, my only other sighting of a 50 at Newcastle was in 1981.. On the right, 50010 'Monarch' waits to return south, fresh from overhaul with the Doncaster test train on 26th May 1981. That's 55019 on the left. A nice change at Newcastle in between capturing the last few months of the 'Deltics'! Trevor

Three from last year when still in Virgin branding: 91126 'Darlington Hippodrome' crosses the King Edward bridge onto Newcastle on 7th June 2018 91101 'Flying Scotsman' enters Newcastle past standby loco 67014 on the same day 91103 after arrival at Newcastle at the rear of a southbound train on 15th September Trevor

Nobody seems to have uploaded any pics yet of the recent Pathfinder Tours trip from Bristol which brought two 50s to Newcastle, so here we go: 50049 'Defiance' + 50014 'Warspite' after arrival at Newcastle on 30th November A nice change at Newcastle in between capturing the last few weeks of the LNER HSTs Trevor

"The train now arriving at York..." is Azuma 800 104 Trevor

Some might disagree...(!) Seen at York on 10th December. That's 801 207 on the left working a York-KX train Question. Which design do you think will have the longest life-span? Answer in about 30 years time, perhaps? Cheers Trevor

@jessy1692 Congratulations and thanks for the live updates! Is that you in the pic with 43238? A real 'I was there' moment. The place looks deserted, though. Where was everybody? (Presumably that's at Harrogate after the trip.) Cheers Trevor

Early morning shots at Newcastle on 6th July 2013 with East Coast and CrossCountry HSTs in action 43320 arrives from the south past 43301 waiting to leave 43384 was at the rear of the CrossCountry set - with 43320 waiting to head north (43308 was on the rear) Trevor

I read somewhere last week that the final LNER HST runs in normal service would be today (Sunday 15th December). Anyone got any info or pictures, please? Thanks in advance, Trevor (I nearly said 'Cheers', but it's nothing to cheer about, is it?)