Captain Baxter visit to Tanfield Railway

The Tanfield Railway is proud to announce that unique 135 year old Fletcher Jennings 0-4-0ST Captain Baxter will be visiting this month.

Captain Baxter has only recently been fitted with vacuum brakes so this will be one of the first chances for passengers to ride behind the locomotive.

Captain Baxter will be in action during our Light Railway Weekend on April 21-22 along with locomotives from our home fleet.

Lots of mixed trains will be running, an ideal weekend for photography and a great opportunity to ride a famous locomotive well away from its normal habitat.

We’re planning on lots of other Light Railway themed goings on too. More information and a timetable will be available shortly.

 

http://railways.national-preservati...anfield-railway-events-2012-a.html#post471813

Delete the above link to the "Tanfield Railway Events 2012" thread as appropriate please.

Not being used / updated etc.

 

Our 1933 built Armstrong Whitworth diesel electric is also going to be in action on some trains with two of our North Eastern Railway carriages over the weekend. Lots of echoes of the famous North Sunderland Railway that operated a virtually identical locomotive and very similar carriages.

Out of interest, can anyone think of an earlier regular diesel locomotive worked passenger service in Britain than the North Sunderland? I'd love to be able to claim we were recreating Britain's first regular diesel worked passenger service!

Also whilst I'm here, has anyone who's coming along got any preferences on whether we put the 'Farne Islander' headboard on the Armstrong or leave it off?

 

I'd vote for putting it on, bit of extra weight! :lol:

 

Headboard would be fine by me, are Cochrane & Renishaw likely to be the other locos in service?

Presume Twizell / 49 out of service?

Will recent trackworks allow 49 on the full line again?

Thanks in advance

 

Hi Andrew

Sir Cecil A. Cochrane and Renishaw Ironworks No. 6 are the other engines rostered at the moment.

Twizell is currently in the final stages of having a new ashpan and firebars fitted.

49 is out of service now and wont be back until a full ten year overhaul has taken place.

Thanks

 

Thanks for the update P&J1854

 

Apologies for posting the same message in two places...

Is a working timetable (i.e. including rostered locos) going to be available on the web for the weekend if 21/22 April? I have the weekend free and may visit SSS3 and/or Tanfield Gala for Captain Baxter, but as neither railway has brilliant public transport links, particularly on Sunday, I would like to know what I would be getting before I set off.

 

Hi Malc

I'm finalising the timetable at the moment. Just the awkward final details to sort I guess! Even if I can't get it on the website, as we have a couple of little technical problems with that at the moment, I'll make sure I pass on whatever relevant information you require via this forum.

Is there anything specifically that you want to know? I'm assuming perhaps Captain Baxter's runs, first train, last train etc?

 

Can we have an engine turned to face East Tanfield that would be nice. I realise this is from a photographic point of view,but send someone round with a hat(aka ELR) Im sure you get a few pounds at certain locations
Henry

 

Would rather take photos of locos working boiler first up the banks personally! I can always host the timetable on the web if someone sends me the file

 

Thanks, that pretty much sums up the info I'm looking for.

 

The 'which way' debate is interesting... We have had engines facing 'the other way' in the recent past, 49 did for quite a while and Bellerophon was facing East Tanfield when she came in for a gala. We've actually turned three engines that have come in for events facing East Tanfield in recent years - Colin McAndrew, Agecroft No. 1 and Birkenhead.

I have to admit I've always heard that photographers have preferred engines facing smokebox up the grade but if the general consensus is that some variety is wanted then that's something we might be able to consider, if not for this event, then certainly when organising future ones.

Is there a need for a vote?

 

Yes lets have a vote ,then we see what photters want we only talking bout 1 engine by the way
H

 

All locos boiler first from East Tanfield please - as it normally is.

Best Regards

 

nice to catch up with a couple of you chaps at beamish yesterday, when ypu say mixed trains assuming it will be vans/passenger mixed rake.

 

Right, with all the usual caveats about last minute changes, operational changes etc

Departures for Captain Baxter on the Saturday from Andrews House should be:
10.15am (this is the first departure), 11.50am, 1.15pm, 2.45pm and a double headed run with Sir Cecil A. Cochrane at 4.15pm

Departures for Captain Baxter on the Sunday from Andrews House should be:
11.50am, 1.20pm, 2.40pm and a double header with Sir Cecil A. Cochrane at 4.00pm (first departure on Sunday at 10.30am to East Tanfield and 11am to Sunniside)

Rolling stock to be vintage carriages on Saturday with a van, flat, open, mineral making up the goods stock Locos on Saturday Captain Baxter, Sir Cecil A. Cochrane and Armstrong Whitworth diesel electric. Sunday to be all carriages out including vintage and replica light railway stock plus the same waggons as Saturday. Locos as Saturday with the addition of Renishaw Ironworks No. 6.

 

Looks good
H

 

A good start - but any chance of a full timetable please P&J1854?

Many thanks in advance

 

Thanks for the info on Cattain Baxter's workings. One more request - what times do passenger trains depart from Sunniside between about 11.00 and 12.30 on Sunday? Looks like I'll probably be on the 44 bus from Newcastle which is due at Sunniide at 11.57 (or 10.57 if I can face a rail replacement bus service from Manchester to Leeds).