Trestrol

The LNER had 65'. Was it just problems on the Western region carriages not having gangway adaptors fitted.

Yes it had to slum it at the end of its life on inferior bogies.

These are heavyweight bogies. You can tell by the two rows of rivets above the axlebox. Lightweight ones only have one row. You are also looking at the wrong thing on the axlebox cover. LNE-N refers to which LNER works cast the axleboxs. N refers to Doncaster. Underneath this is another code, probably JJ, this refers to the journal size.

I don't think the connection at the Pelaw end would be a problem. Building a new chord would be in order and as much of the land needed is scrub/farmland so no buildings in the way. A new chord would need to be construed anyway at South Hylton for the Metro to access Victoria viaduct. The line really doesn't work for Metro around Washington as it goes in the wrong place. It needs to go through the Galleries really to be of use.

The now defunct North Eastern Coach Group did the bulk of the restoration. LNERCA are just finishing off. Still quite a bit to do on it. The electrics need finishing and steam heat needs refitting. A set of overhauled bogies are ready for it. The gangways need quite a bit of work as they are quite wasted. Of course this is actually the wrong livery for it. It was built in 1924 for the Newcastle to Liverpool service. It was "Gresleyfied" with Pullman gangways, buckeyes and Gresley bogies. The end windows were left off and it was finished in varnished teak. Unfortunately the centre panel is very big and getting a teak panel that size would be nigh impossible these days. But never say never, glue technology moves on and we may be able to make up large panels

South Shields second platform. Being a terminus station most passenger trains used platform 1. Platform 2 could be used for either with a loading dock at the back for transhipment to road vehicles. If you search Tony North Eastern on YouTube he has built a 4mm model of South Shields.

During the electrification of the ECML S&T cable and concrete troughing trains were loaded and unloaded there. The cable carriers were ex lowfits and conflats. Troughing was carried in pipe and tube wagons but also lowmacs and Weltrols. The latter were also used for scrap recovery as well. Scrap skips were kept there for the scrap. There was a road crane based there that did the loading. Wagons with new signal posts as well. Don't forget the two exGWR full Brakes that were internal users at TCFD. They were painted BR Blue.

Two other departmental workings for you. S&T stores vans and opens once a week from York Central S&T stores for Newcastle S&T stores. This was transhipted to lorry's for delivery to the stores. Also TCFD was a central collection point for all rubbish and waste in the Newcastle area. This was worked to Etherley tip Durham for disposal. I assume this was an old ballast quarry. Not sure what wagons were used for this.

Thompson CK 18477 preserved by LNERCA on the NYMR worked out of Kings Cross in 1968. When removing the first class Seats for asbestos removal we found a guards hand written ticket. That was one of many items of drinks cans and food wrappers from the same era. The wierdest was a family planning leaflet and an empty condom box. The things that went on in trains in the sixties.

Apart from the first few in LNER Blue /grey. Unit 11 had accident damage and under the BR paint was this livery.

This was one. http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=948

Do you mean the Cafeteria cars converted from Third class Sleepers? These went to France during the Second World War as part of ambulance trains. They did not return until long after the war had ended.

We're they actually a RCH specified design which railway companies could add their own name on? This would mean they were easily recognised by all staff no matter which railway company the worked for.

I believe one of the support brake carriages has provision to carry a coffin.

Book 3 is actually the better book as long as you don't need Gresleys later designs and Thompsons. The format is better and every diagram has a drawing. It's just a pity Michael Harris died before he did the second part.

It will most likely be the North Eastern section so all carriage numbers will start with 2. Which Harris book have you found? Gresleys Coaches, LNER Carriages or LNER Standard Gresley Carriages? All basically the same just a progression as new information came to light. The last book does not contain any new designs introduced after 1931.

Dia 56 9' width or Dia 57 9'3" width? And which Section of the LNER?

Thing is they would still be teak under the black paint. Although I think the North Norfolk Railway left the Quadart varnished teak. Fitting ashtrays is a bit of a problem as it's more of a case of having enough examples to fit. The slim up and over design were common to the LNER, LMS and GWR. Probably a standard design of N.F Ramsey of Newcastle. They supplied lots of brass fittings to railway companies. Probably not fitted in non smoking compartment stock as it was specified on the GA drawings what compartment was what. LNERCA had to temporarily fit some in one of its TTOs when it came to filming the recent Dads Army film. These were borrowed from BTK 3669.

Not aware of different moquette between smoking and non smoking. First class used blue moquette normally. Non smoking transfers were a "SMOKING PROHIBITED" doughnut on the windows. You can see them in the pictures above.

The First picture of LNERCA's TTO on the NYMR is Orange and Brown Moquette used in the 1930's. It is correct for a new build TTO as it was specified on the drawings at Metro - Cammell. There is also Jazz moquette It was used in the 1938 Flying Scotsman set as well as the Elizabethan. In fact it appears in the BTF film. This is fitted to LNERCA s Thompson TK. The LNER Coach funds TTO on the SVR is Fawn Rep from the 1920's. This mostly replaced Red and Black. Both are Third class designs, there are latter designs, Tollerton and Purple Cabbages. Most designs got used in various carriages in later years as and when works were using up old stock.