Great North Steam Fair horse bus demonstrations!

21st August 2009

The London Bus Preservation Trust's horse bus (ex Andrew's Star Omnibus Co. Ltd.) is being inspected with a view to operating it at the GNSF this September. A comprehensive check list was supplied by the LBPT when bus passed into their ownership from its late owner, John Andrews. He had collected it (along with two others) and restored the bus to working order to create a unique fleet of vehicles from one operator (and a large family operator at that). The other two buses were kept in Cardiff, this bus coming to Beamish on long term loan. The three were offered to Beamish but we could not at that time accept them. An even better home for them was found in the LBPT collection at Cobham Bus Museum - much more in keeping with their London origins. It was agreed that this vehicle would remain at Beamish on loan however and we are glad to have it on display here.
We are working through the check list and hope that this wonderful omnibus will be seen circumnavigating the museum site over the event, possibly with a trace horse being attached for the ascent of Pockerley bank. This is a rare and fragile vehicle and one which we are delighted to have at Beamish and one I am sure that the museum's visitors will be delighted to see outside of the carriage house where it normally resides. To the right is the 'Blaydon Races' charabanc in remarkably similar livery! The 'Happy Days' charabanc is currently with the Friends for painting and when complete will form part of an impressive line up of public vehicles on display and in use at Beamish.

Latest Trackwork Progress

21st August 2009

Here are another series of photographs showing the remarkable rate of progress the track team are making in renewing the NER demonstration line. Now benefiting from drainage, ballast and near-new sleepers, as well as a major programme of vegetation clearance, this line is taking on a very different appearance...
I have included some 'before' shots just to highlight the change in scene here.

Below: Summer 2007 and Bowes' Barlcay WST explores the undergrowth behind the town. We were making full use of a new water supply to the adjacent sewage plant, offering much higher pressure than available elsewhere on the route.

Below: Taken further back but showing the same area.

Below: A lonely signal (Rowley outer home signal) in a wilderness of green...

Below: The same signal today.

Below: The two RNAD vans are sat on the present loading/unloading point. More thought is being given to retaining this siding and locating the platform to the left, enabling the shed to be located in the centre of this area.

Below: September 2008 and Bellerophon and Mary Margaret dominate the scene.

Below: Today. To the left is an alternative site for the engine shed.

Below: The same pairing, same location.

Below: A similar view today with just the headshunt left to resleeper and ballast. A new and substantial buffer stop will also be required. The museum's accessible bus passes on the right.

Below: Bellerophon again - was it really a year ago?!

Below: The same piece of track. The platform would enable visitors to board and de-train here.

A new way to bare metal?

21st August 2009

The Tanfield have tried a new method for removing paint, rust and loose debris. Using their ex Harton AEG electric locomotive, No.9, the process uses water at relatively low pressure (4 bar) and a small quantity of abrasive (powdered volcanic matter). The effect is as good as sandblasting but without the mess, the need to use vast quantities of sand and can be carried out without enclosing the work. The railway followed the process up by spray painting No.9 in readiness for display.

Before...

After...

A close up of the effectiveness...

The kit - a compressor and blast pot...

Two days at Tanfield

21st August 2009

I had a couple of days off this week to fire at the nearby (about 1 mile!) Tanfield Railway. The line, like so many others, is experiencing an upturn in passenger numbers and on Wednesday an additional coach was marshaled to cope with demand, giving Sir Cecil Cochrane (seen below) five coaches to pull over the sharply graded line. Thursday was quieter and four coaches sufficed. It is on days like this that one realises how lucky we are to have so much steam around us and to be given the opportunity to fire and drive it in this day and age!

Below: At the start of the day. Cochrane is prepared for pulling out of the shed and lighting up - the Armstrong diesel can be seen outside in readiness.

Below: The Tanfield are putting the finishing touches to the superb restoration of Beamish's R. Stephenson 0-6-0T 'Twizell' which is on long term loan to the railway. This is a big loco and one which many are waiting with baited breath to see in action once again. It has seen use at Beamish in the early years of the railway here (mid 1970s) and also saw some action as a stationary boiler for the museum's colliery winding engine.

Below: An overall view of the shed with Twizell dominating the scene on the right. To the left is 'Stanley' a locally used Barclay 0-4-0ST which is in the final throes of restoration.

Below: Cochrane at Andrews House Station, where journeys start and finish despite its location in the middle of the line. The uniform livery of the stock adds the feeling of a light railway operation or colliery train. Despite its small size this engine is a willing performer and is a pleasure to work on.

Below: A slightly arty shot at Andrews House Station. The famous flat crossing and signal box is beyond the bridge in the distance.

Below: Back on shed at the end of the day. The Tanfield have an exciting gala planned for the 12th and 13th September this year, with a photographic evening on the 11th. Guest engines this year are the Par Harbour pair of Bagnall 0-4-0STs 'Alfred' and 'Judy' - notable for their cut down squat appearance and as the inspiration for the Rev. W. Awdry's famous 'Bill' and 'Ben' engines in the Thomas the Tank Engine books! See www.trgala.co.uk for more information.

Bowes Railway Toy & Train Fair 2009

17th August 2009

Over the weekend the Bowes Railway held another successful Toy & Train Fair at its Springwell site. In steam were Barclays WST and No.22 (fresh from its stint at Beamish and a pleasure to drive 'in anger' again on the railway's steep gradients). WST will shortly be coming to Beamish to take part in numerous events here. Also in steam were the Beamish based steam roller 'Fiddler' and Alan Borthwick's steam roller 'Ayesha' - an interesting opportunity to compare Fowler and Aveling products.
In all there were some 1200 visitors and the railway turned a pleasing profit from the event. Next up will be the October 'Coal Train' event, hopefully featuring Beamish's replica 'Locomotion No.1' in the line up...

Below: No.22 and WST raise steam on the Sunday morning.

Below: On display was newly rebuild coal hopper No.406. This wagon has been extensively rebuilt and has received much preparation in order to ensure it lasts a very long time.

Below: There were some commercial vehicles on display, including this AEC Mercury dray with Ergomatic cab.

Below: Mike and Michael helped out with Fiddler, seen here in the courtyard at Springwell.

Below: Fiddler manoeuvres across the line after watering.

Below: Ayesha sits alongside the blacksmith shop.

Isle of Man wanderings

17th August 2009

Last week I spent three days on the Isle of Man looking at museums, heritage transport and collecting a donation to Beamish.

The island needs no introduction in terms of its varied and fascinating Victorian transport system so I will confine these notes to what I saw...

Below: Douglas Station on the steam railway, with Hutchinson preparing for departure. In recent years the railway has standardised its livery for engines and rolling stock, with this very attractive 50s/60s appearance being favoured.

Below: Another view of this fine little 2-4-0 Beyer Peacock. The 15 mile route has been entirely relaid in recent years and running is spirited. Mile posts enable some timing to take place - with speeds in the high 30s being quite normal!

Below: At Port Erin there is a small museum about the island's railway system, housed int eh former goods shed.

Below: Another view of the museum, with the larger 2-4-0 'Mannin' to the right. There seem to be some rumours circulating that this engine may be restored to traffic. It was built specifically for the steeply graded route from Douglas to Port Erin.

Below: Mannin, through Peverill's cab.

Below: Engines are shedded at both ends of the line and once Hutchinson had shunted the stock into the carriage shed, it came in for disposal. The building extends to form the museum.

Below: In the Manx Museum in Douglas is this former Douglas horse tramway car, No.14. Interestingly, this tram originally worked in South Shields, before being sold to the IoM.

Below: In the Douglas horse tramway depot were a variety of toastrack and winter saloons, as well as the restored cable tram from the long closed Douglas system.

Below: A general view inside the horse tram depot.

Below: No.18, like No.14 is another ex South Shields vehicle.

Below: Where the horse tramway ends, the Manx Electric Railway begins, with car 19 plus trailer waiting to depart for Ramsey.

Below: Even in August, business seems to be quiet. In the distance the letters on the hillside above Derby Castle depot (on the MER) can be seen.

Below: Inside the new shed at Derby Road depot.

Below: No.1 on the MER sits inside the old depot at Derby Castle. There have very recently been special events on the island - these are chronicled in Trams Magazine - see www.tramsmagazine.co.uk

Below: The Laxey Wheel is one of the most famous attractions on the island and today forms part of a heritage trail around the former mine workings. It was used to pump the extensive mine tunnel network and today is kept working as a popular tourist attraction.

Below: At Laxey the Snaefell Mountain Railway joins the MER (though the former is 3 ft 6 in gauge to accommodate the central fell rail for braking - the MER and steam railway are 3 ft gauge). No.2 awaits to ascend the mountain.

Below: In the south of the island is the Manx Folk Museum, situated in the hamlet of Craigneash.

Below: An overall view of the village.

Below: Whilst some of the village is museum, other parts are still working or occupied buildings.

Below: This horse sledge was moving hay to the stack throughout the day.

Below: Back in Douglas but now in heavy rain! Car 21 and trailer wait to depart for Ramsey.

Below: As the rain increased, the horse tramway swapped toastrack trams for winter saloons - including No.29 here.

Below: Horse tram shunting at Derby Castle in order to move No.29 into position for a run along the promenade. The depot is to the right.