TANFIELD RAILWAY

Went to Asda this morning with my friend Jan. Got back home around 12 noon and quickly unpacked and scanned the shopping. Then it was 2 bus rides to The Tanfield Railway. Its only about 2½ miles away but there isn't a direct bus. And I had to time my arrival to coincide with the train times. When the children were little we used to go quite often to visit this railway but it must be about 20 years since I was last there.

The place was really busy - lots of parents with children and grandparents too. For most of the year the trains only run on Sundays but during the school hols they have extra days on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I made 3 journeys on the STEAM TRAIN. Part of the line was closed for renovation which was a bit disappointing but I still enjoyed my visit. The railway is run solely by volunteers and they are a friendly bunch. As soon as the guard saw my camera he pointed out where I should stand to get the best shots.

At one stage the train was hauled by a DIESEL while it went over some points to turn around. This is the YOUNG MAN who was the driver and did the coupling and uncoupling.

The platform at Andrews House Station was well kept and had THIS as decoration as well as this cute BEAR. Here is the train waiting at the platform with all the carriage doors OPEN. The inside of the carriages is pretty BASIC.

Here is the TRAIN at the end of the line at Sunniside.


The World's Oldest Railway

When the Tanfield Railway - or waggonway as it was known at the time - was built in 1725 it was a revelation. Its massive engineering was unlike anything else in its era. It was a triumph of engineering over nature, a clear signal that a new industrial age was upon the world, and that railways would play a massive part. Is is now the North East's biggest and most popular steam railway.


THE ENGINE

SIR CECIL A COCHRANE is an 0-4-0ST with 12 x 20″ outside cylinders, 3ft 1in diameter driving wheels and weighs 21 Tons. She was built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Newcastle Works in 1948. She was used by the Newcastle upon Tyne & Gateshead Gas Co. The works owners were the Northern Gas Board from 1949 and in 1953 she was registered by the Railway Executive to operate over British Railways track.

In 1971 she was bought by the Stephenson & Hawthorns Locomotive Trust and stored at the National Coal Board shed at Backworth, Northumberland. She moved to The Tanfield Railway at Marley Hill in 1975 and has been in regular use ever since.