27th August 2011

This bank holiday sees the Stainmore Railway Company mark the 150th anniversary of the Stainmore line with a series of events at their Kirby Stephen East Station base. Several attractions were brought together, including Beamish’s NER clerestory coach No.3071 (which currently carries the number 818). This is due to return to Beamish next Wednesday.

The event appears to have been a great success on day one, with three to go, and reflects a great deal of hard work by all those involved.

Below: An overall view looking west and showing the NER snowplough No.18 of British Transport Film ‘Snowdrift at Bleathgill’ fame and visiting from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Below: A close up view of our 3071 inside the trainshed at Kirby Stephen East.

Below: 3071 was paired with the NRM’s Fletcher ‘901’ class No.910 (built by the NER at Gateshead in 1875) which has moved on loan to the Stainmore project to recall the class serving out its working life on this route.

Below: Another exhibit with a Beamish connection – the J21, reassembled and painted in order to appear on display at this event, a class synonymous with the route.

Below: Providing one half of the motive power on the passenger shuttle runs was BR Standard Class 2 No.78019 from the Great Central Railway. Two Mark 1 coaches were used for passengers.

Below: Looking west and towards the ultimate destination of Appleby some 12 miles distant…

Below: Another view of 910 and 3071.

Below: At the other end of the train was Peckett 0-4-0ST ‘F C Tingey’. This view also shows the platform, complete with period lamps.