Legends of Industry steam gala - Tanfield Railway 11-12 September 2010

In a word yes there is a picture of 68674 at the bottom of the incline at lobley hill in the book 'carrying coals to dunston' taken by one of our members.

 

Just as an aside, we're hoping that the gala will see another re-entry into service. The overhaul of Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire brake third No. 888 of 1888 should be complete in time for it to take its place with our other wooden bodied carriages.

The first coats of gloss have been going on in the last few days and with a bit of luck we should have ten carriages in use at the same time for the first time at Tanfield. The full carriage roster should be (TR Nos. except where NER No. carried)
1 and 2 - the open saloon carriages in the Rother Valley style
3 and 4 - The R and Y Pickering built brake saloons
5 - 1880s Great Northern Railway five compartment third (downgraded from composite)
6 - 1880s Great Northern Railway semi open, formerly a camping carriage
7 - 1890s North Eastern Railway directors saloon (NER No. 853 not carrried yet)
8 - The MSLR carriage mentioned above
256 - North Eastern Railway five compartment third of the 1870s
818 (actually 3071) the NER clerestory composite on loan from Beamish

Provisional groupings are:
5,6,8
818, 256, 7
1-4

At least the third of those trains will run mixed as well as the coal train. Waggon roster can follow too in due course if anyone is interested!

 

Thanks for all the updates P&JR

Is the final guest near to "press release" yet?

Cheers

 

The second guest is close to being at the stage when I can reveal all yes... couple of days at most I'd have thought. I think she'll be another crowd pleaser too!

 

Cheers P&JR

 

Just to notify everybody of the onsite attractions.

Marley Hill Carriage Shed will stage yet again a mixture of interesting displays. Currently we have 6 Model Railways attending with a few more in the pipe line. Eden Park (0 gauge), Malham (00), Dalefoot (00), Nutt & Bolton (N), Cripps Bottom Yard (00), Kepier Colliery (00). 4 Trade stands are booked in - Durham Trains of Stanley, R.C.T.S North East Branch, Pooley's Puffers, Finishing Touches. The North Eastern Meccano will have a huge display along the middle of the shed, alongside Sunniside Local history society.

Andrews House will have a trade stand and display by the Durham Mining Museum.

Marley Hill Display Field will hopefully have atleast 3 Road engines, a mix of minitures, music provided by Paul Raymonds "Houghton Organ", a beer tent by the Sunderland Classic Car Club and a hot food catering van.

Causey Arch will be taken over by Durham County Council Countryside Rangers - displays of the arch history and their current projects. It is hoped to have music present - TBC.

East Tanfield will yet again be a hive of activity with "umpteen" vintage vehicles and Saltwell Park Model Boat Club.

Check back for more details! I'll post them here as soon as I get clarification.

 

http://www.tanfieldrailway.co.uk/GalaDep.htm

Shows a timetable for all depatures for Andrews House, not 100% sure how it works, probably just being "thick".........

Plus other details added here;

http://www.tanfieldrailway.co.uk/gala.html

Such as;

"The most intensive timetable ever operated on the Tanfield Railway will be in operation. NEW FOR 2010, travel behind three different locomotives during your journey, as your departing engine from Andrews House will be changed at both Sunniside and East Tanfield"

Best Regards

 

1890 built, Manning Wardle design "Sir Berkeley" is the other guest loco (poster at Andrews House station today), from the VCT/Middleton Railway.

Great news!

 

Can anyone advise the start/finish times for the 'pay at the gate' photographic evening? Thanks.

 

6pm to 10pm per the website

 

J72 on the North Eastern Railway special, and test run as well.
http://owen-edwards.fotopic.net/c1890380_1.html
Other Photos, NER Special.
http://ksrailwaygallery.fotopic.net/c1890351.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/djhewitt/4939373208/

 

Hi P&JR

This would be useful - many thanks!!

Any more latest news?

Will a WTT or normal gala timetable with/without locos be downloadable prior to the event or will these be available on the Friday evening?

Cheers


Andrew

 

Second visitor Sir Berkeley, courtesy of the Vintage Carriages Trust, arrives today all being well. Due to be loading from the Middleton about now.

Should look very smart on a mixed train or a rake of vintage carriages!

Rumours that two class 66s would be visiting for the gala have been quashed... turned out it was the new ticket booths - currently half way through painting they carry Nos. 66801 and 66802.

Full working timetable and souvenir guide book are back from the printers and will be available at the photographic evening on Friday 6pm - 10pm - don't miss it. Highlights this year should include lots more cameo scenes plus a six engine line up in front of the large stone shed as well as all of the usual treats in and around Europe's oldest working engine shed. Just turn up and pay, no need to pre book what is arguably the best photographic evening in the country (better than Barrow Hill was the famous quote from last year!)

Departure times are on the railways website now. Plenty of highlights to look out for including some cracking pairings such as J72 and Twizell.

For anyone who can get in early then Sir Cecil A. Cochrane will be doing the vast majority of the shunt including all passenger stock and the mixed train stock. Some unusual photo opportunities in the shed area on duties normally done by the (admittedly 1933 vintage) Armstrong Whitworth diesel.

 

Great stuff, cheers P&JR

 

Sir Berkeley arrived safe and sound. Sir Cecil A. Cochrane has also returned back to Marley Hill ready for the weekend. Marley Hill shed looks really busy now.

The usual pre-gala insanity has also started... signed out at 2.30am after a mammoth carriage painting session today, one more tomorrow and No. 8 should be nye on ready to roll.

 

http://owen-edwards.fotopic.net/p67045799.html
Sir Berkeley looks the part in the engine shed along side Renishaw

 

Two more firsts for the gala. First chance for the public to see recently arrived Hawthorn Leslie battery electric locomotive Heysham Power Station No. 2 - quite literally a nuclear powered engine! And also first chance to see Lambton Hetton & Joicey Collieries Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST No. 14 which is due to arrive from Beamish tomorrow.

Looking forward to seeing plenty of people at the photographic evening tomorrow... back off to the carriage shed with the paint brush now.

 

2nd chance for me as I am old enough to remember it at Tanfield the first time round - Colliery still in use then...

Must go and get my Horlicks, bit late for a old bloke like me to still be up.

 

whey narrr man!!! you'd be in the pub other wise, get doon to Tanfield Matey lol

 

http://owen-edwards.fotopic.net/p66799289.html
HL, (was Overhead) Battery loco, Hawthorn Leslie of 1936 from Heysham Power Station, hard to Belive this has been working for 70 years! goto be one of the oldest working locos in the UK, not in prez, can anyone think of anything older and still going now, or this year.
the HL is in its self a Legend of Industry, 74 years of Service.