Trev52A

Now for a view of the route from the yard at Derwenthaugh to the Coke Works.. No 82 sets off on the run south A quick scramble up to the old embankment gives me this view of the train going away Still seen from the east of the line as it runs alongside the River Derwent, just north of the coke works as loco No 27 does a spot of 'push/pull' working, heading north Here's No 82 again, with the Coke Works on the left. That building on the right must be a signal cabin, with a riverside entrance, by the look of it! Here's the view from the west side of the line as No 27 approaches the Coke Works heading south, with the river to the right of the train The view from the same spot looking south on a different day, with my trusty bike on the left Next - some views of the Coke Works and further south Trevor

Thanks for that, russ. I don't know the answer but hopefully someone else can chip in. Cheers Trevor

Also at Plymouth, D1022 and D1010 waiting to head north on 29th May 1974 It's rugd1022's loco on the front! Trevor

About a twenty-minute cycle ride from home was the NCB system to the west of Blaydon. This went from its junction with BR at Derwenthaugh via Derwenthaugh Coke Works to Clockburn Drift Mine, a total of about two and a half miles, some of it through pleasant countryside alongside the River Derwent. I made several visits in 1968 and 1969. This is the loco shed area at the north end of the system. On the left is No 82, one of several 'Austerity' 0-6-0STs which were usually in operation. In the centre is No 5 'Major', an 0-6-0T built by Kitson & Co of Leeds in 1904, with No 41 on the right This was a venerable 0-6-0PT dating from 1883, also from Kitson's and now preserved at the North Tyneside Steam Railway in North Shields. No 42, also dating back to 1883 and a sister loco to No 41 was in the process of being dismantled Alongside the shed area was a large marshalling yard. These next two show 'Austerity' No 27 in action. Immediately south of the yard the line passed under the remains of the BR Consett to Blaydon railway. The metal bridge over the adjacent road and the NCB line had been removed by then, but the stonework and embankments at each end still remained and provided a good vantage point, as here looking north (with two photographers in action on the right!) That's No 27 again. This is the view looking south taken from just beyond the hedge in the previous picture. This is No 65 'Henry C. Embleton' an 0-6-0T built by Hawthorn, Leslie & Co in 1930 and the only 'non-Austerity' type I ever saw in steam at this location. Next up will be some views along the branch to the Coke Works and beyond. Trevor

Thank you once again for this. I will study Google Earth and get my bearings. Cheers Trevor

50018+50002 wait to leave Plymouth with the up 'Cornish Riviera Ltd' on 7th June 1977 Trevor

Loco change at Hartenbos with Class GMAM Garratt locos, during a journey from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth in August 1976 Trevor

That's very helpful, Stovepipe. I've been looking on Google Earth - so approx where Cookswell car dealership is now, for the first two in Ashington? I've found the A1068 and can trace the probable route of the line across it. Could make an interesting 'now&then' picture! Cheers Trevor

The Marley Hill system extended westwards to Burnopfield Colliery (the route further west having closed in 1940). These pics were taken in this area, the first three on 11th April 1968 The route from Burnopfield Colliery to Marley Hill involved the steep downhill section of Hobson Bank, which had a limit of 20 fulls. As a consequence trains had to be made up in stages. Here No 85 leading, with No 22 assisting in the rear, are shunting a full load of seven back up to the colliery to assemble the train. Here's the rear view, showing the colliery in the distance This is at the colliery with No 85 in action again (and No 22 visible in the background). Here's No 22 descending the bank with a full load on 17th April 1968 Trevor

Another quite extensive NCB system within cycling distance of my home in Gateshead was centred on the loco shed at Marley Hill, now the headquarters of the Tanfield Railway. This modern heritage line runs trains over a short section of the former BR Tanfield Branch running roughly north to south, but uses the shed on the NCB route which ran east to west and crossed the BR line on the level at Marley Hill. I managed two or three visits to the area in 1968. NCB No 83 near the shed at Marley Hill, crossing on the level the route of the former BR Tanfield Branch. Today the ex-BR line is now part of the Tanfield Railway and this part of the NCB route is just a head shunt. The TR Marley Hill signal box has been built here just beyond the loco. Locos 22 and 83 near the shed on 17th April 1968, with Marley Hill colliery in the background 22 and 85 at the same spot. The shed is off to the left NCB locos Nos 22 and 85 beside the shed at Marley Hill No 83 with empties just east of Marley Hill on 11th April 1968. The building in the background is Blackburn Fell drift mine and beyond that the self-acting incline down to the Team Valley. No 83 again on the same day, approaching Marley Hill from the west with loaded wagons from Burnopfield Colliery. Trevor

I'm not sure what this is, but it's in Northern Spirit livery and was photographed on 15th August 1998 passing Tyne Yard (and the Angel of the North) Trevor

I had a trip by car with friends to the NCB Ashington system in Northumberland on 24th August 1968. I did not know the area at all and did not make a note of the various locations. Can anyone help me with where these pictures were taken, please? They appear in the order I shot them. I am not sure if this was taken on this visit, or on the Backworth system we called in at on the way home. Anyone recognise this venue? Many thanks in advance Trevor

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Thanks for all the kind comments about my pics! I can almost hear the sound of barrels being scraped now as I go through my archives, so I'll end my contribution to the Ravensworth section with four showing No 81. The first one looks like it was taken just after the loco arrived here (in March 1968) before Jimmy had a chance to spruce it up with an oily rag and a pot of paint! Next up will be some from the Ashington system Cheers Trevor

I have queried this with a member of Gateshead Local History Society and will let you know their reply Cheers Trevor

@ montyburns56 Thanks for showing those pics of 66 and 81 in your last post. I don't recognise any of the train crew. I think you might be correct in your guess of 60s for the dates. According to the comprehensive 'Industrial Railways and Locos of County Durham - part 2 NCB' by Mountford and Holroyde, No 66 was based at the Shop Pit shed (which served the Ravensworth Park line) from April 1967 until January 1971, then again from 30th September 1972 until 12th April 1973. It was eventually scrapped in July 1973. No 81, which also appears in those shots you uploaded, arrived at Shop Pit in March 1968 and left in July 1972. It was scrapped in October 1972. Loco No 32, which appears in several pictures in the 70s thread, arrived in January 1971 and left in July 1973, eventually for preservation. So it's hard to say whether your examples are late 60s or early 70s. Trevor

@ montyburns56 Here are a couple of my early colour pics showing NCB 32 on the Ravensworth system from 1st June 1972 Trevor

Here's a general view of the shed area from 1968 No 81 has just propelled a loaded train up past the loco shed (off-centre, right) to the point where cable traction takes over for the pull up the valley side. The small white building to the right of the shed is the crew's hut. The viaduct can (possibly) be made out above the loco No 81 is glimpsed between wagons on the storage siding (mentioned earlier) at it sets off with empties No 81 is about to cross the viaduct heading for the mine - a view into the low afternoon sun Trevor

A nice portrait of No 66 near the shed area. Passing In the background on the left hand side can be seen a train of coal hopper wagons and an empty bogie bolster wagon on the East Coast main line Considering its proximity to the Team Valley Trading Estate the drift mine was in quite a rural setting, as seen in this view of No 66 setting off with a loaded train Here is No 66 again, on the embankment approaching the viaduct Trevor

Three more from 1968 which include Jimmy McIvor. Looking back it's amazing how these working men tolerated enthusiasts just turning up and (in some cases) wandering around their place of work! Thank you Jimmy and others. No 81 gets another shovelful of coal as it waits near the shed Taking a breather on top of No 81 A general view of Ravensworth Park Drift Mine (from the cab of No 81) as Jimmy heads towards another rake of wagons to deal with Trevor

I've sorted some pics which might show what you are after, Russ (but not answer 'when') Here's No 66 setting off for the mine in 1968. The wagons on the right are on the line which used to connect with BR just south of Low Fell station, but which by this time was just used for storage. Here's No 81 propelling fulls from the mine across the viaduct showing that it was double track. The left hand line leads to where the wagons were standing in the previous picture. I think this was in 1969. This view back the other way to the mine shows the abandoned track on the right in 1968. No 81 sets off for the viaduct with fulls in 1969 (probably). The far track has been lifted by now, At one time this would have lead north through the TVTE eventually to Norwood Coke Works. I'll try and find out when it closed. Cheers Trevor

Thanks you for the kind comments, Dave (DLT) (and David Long). The 1968 shots were taken on a second-hand Kodak Retinette 35mm camera which I had been using to catch the end of BR steam in 1967/68. Since this had been bashed by taking a tumble onto the concrete floor of Lostock Hall shed in August 1968 (but still worked, amazingly!) I bought a new Zorki 4 35mm rangefinder camera in 1969. I was developing and printing my own pictures by then. I find It is now far easier to produce a good picture digitally once the negs have been scanned than by the darkroom process alone. It's like magic in comparison! Cheers Trevor

Hi Russ Yes, the Bowes Railway line passed under Tyne Yard (is that what you mean?). My pics are of what was latterly the 'Pelaw Main Railway' (A separate line for most of its life). In the 1950s a link had been built connecting the two and stock could move freely between the two systems (hence the 'Bowes Railway' wagons in some of these views.) The link meant that the lower end of the Pelaw Main (down to the Tyne) could then be closed, and traffic could use the Bowes outlet, (That is a simplified explanation!) Trevor

No 81 prepares to buffer up to another rake of empties bound for the mine on 29th July 1969 Inside the loco shed with No 66 (closest) and No 81 in residence in 1968 Whoops! A rake of empties has just run away down the incline and derailed shortly after crossing the bridge over the ECML. The chap on the phone in the doorway is no doubt trying to explain to his boss what has just happened! Taken on an unrecorded date in 1968, probably. Trevor

That's a great picture, thanks for finding it. That's the loco shed on the right - I have a (dark) interior view on the new thread for '60s Industrial Steam' Yes, those are my pics in the Chronicle website - my secret is out! Cheers Trevor