More on Newcastle…
Here are some further views of Newcastle, from the collections of Gordon Wells and Roger Darsley. Roger wrote the definitive book on the Wissington Railway System, titled ‘The Wissington Railway’ and published in 1984 (and available online via the likes of Amazon). Roger kindly supplied some images from his collection, to compliment those from Gordon Wells, and these are reproduced below…
Below: Its 1901 (or thereabouts) and a proud crew pose on a brand new ‘Newcastle’ at Apedale Ironworks. Note the livery (black with red, blue and cream lining). A handsome locomotive!
Below: Jump forward now to 1964, and this photo from Roger’s collection taken by Dr Ian C Allen and showing Newcastle drawing empty wagons away from the Wissington Sugar Factory.
Below: Back to 1957, another Dr Allen image and a photo showing the Wissington works as well as another Manning Wardle, 2006/1921 (to the left). Newcastle draws a train in from the right.
Below: It is thought this was the last time Newcastle steamed, taken by Gordon Wells and showing the loco in 1981. Photo by Gordon Wells, from the R. R. Darsley collection.
My grateful thanks to Roger and Gordon for providing these images and enabling us to compile a more complete set of views of Newcastle than would have otherwise been possible. I shall now trawl the usual sources (ILS, IRS etc.) looking for any other views of 1532/1901 ‘Newcastle’ and I would be very glad to hear from anyone who has located or knows of other views of this engine.
NEWCASTLE could prove a major asset to the locomotive fleet at Beamish. Not only is the design very representative of steam locomotive practice in North Eastern collieries and other industrial concerns (its resemblence to ‘older sister SCOTBY later SILKSTONE, Manning Wardle 341 of 1871, scrapped 1959, in particular will be noted), but Manning Wardle locomotives from the 0-4-0ST ‘F’ to the 0-6-0ST ‘M’ class also have an unforgettable link with our light railways. The possibilities for NEWCASTLE to make visits when running again to other preserved lines (and hence facilitate relevant reciprocal visits of locomotives from those lines) are virtually endless, but particular examples include the Middleton Railway (which has SIR BERKELEY, MATTHEW MURRAY and NER’Y7′ class No.1310); the North Norfolk Railway (which has former stablemate Hudswell 0-6-0ST WISSINGTON now in working order); Ruddington Railway Museum, Notts. (which has ex-M.S.&L.R. ‘Easingwold Railway’ pattern six wheeled carriages, more modern ‘M’ class Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST 2015 of 1921 and WISSINGTON’S slightly older sister JULIA); the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway (which prides itself on its ‘light railway’ image and possesses an outside cylinder Hudswell 0-6-0ST which is a slightly updated version of the E.K.L.R.’S WALTON PARK); obviously the Kent & East Sussex and East Kent Railways (owing to their Colonel Stephens Heritage), and not forgetting the Isle of Wight Havenstreet-Smallbrook Junction system (an older sister, BEMBRIDGE ran on the Island, whilst a larger Manning Wardle ‘Q’ class was Freshwater, Yarmouth & Newport Railway No.1).
During restoration, NEWCASTLE will need a new chimney and smokebox door amongst other components, and its weatherboard will need a slight amount of remodelling (it appears to be a little too high at the moment). However, this locomotive could be a useful ambassador for Beamish Museum in the years to come and may prove to be one of its wisest acquisitions
Hi Mark – I hope it does prove to be a very valuable (operational) asset, that’s why we bought it! The brief (to enable reliable future daily railway operation at Rowley) was an inside cylinder Victorian saddle tank, 0-6-0 and of typical light railway appearance (to fit in with the location, operation and Dunrobin). A Manning Wardle was therefore an obvious choice and three featured on a ‘hit list’ of five locomotives. The next Steam Railway (issue 401) will contain more about how Newcaslte came to be selected, but basically I remembered it from Steam Railway issue 6, and the name couldn’t be more perfect (accepting that it is the ‘other’ place!). I’d very much like to see Newcastle visit other railways in due course (like all of our locos) and there are in hand plans over the next few years that should see some MW action at Beamish before Newcastle is ready.
A pattern for a new chimney pretty much exists, doors are pretty straightforward and I agree re the cab – it may be that we fit the classic type M wrap over cab (which sweeps over to include the bunker) from a practical point of view (a bolt on extra however). There are some other details to attend to, but the most difficult to correct to regain a truly original appearance would be the driving wheels, which are not MW type (with the cast-in balance opposite the crankpins) and appear to be Hunslet type (entirely likely given the lineage of the designs via Kitson). I have yet to tie down a date for them being fitted.
A reunion with Wissington is a must, and we have a good relationship with our colleagues in Norfolk. That will be a classic line up!
You’re examples certainly prove that the ‘feel’ of Newcastle is just right for what we wanted and I think, once overhauled, that it will be a superb locomotive for us. Work won’t commence until Dunrobin is finished, but that is targetted for 2014, so not that far away now!
Cheers
Paul
Hi Paul,
There may be a dividend in producing a new pattern for casting a standard Manning Wardle 3ft. diameter ‘double boss’ driving wheel, namely that given the fact that the standard ‘L’ class boiler (recently reproduced on both of the Middleton Railway’s MW locos) could easily be adapted for an ‘H’ class 0-4-0ST, the prospect of a replica 19th century classic standard gauge four coupled Manning Wardle (thereby atoning for the scrapping in January 1964 of 1871 vintage ‘H’ class PITSFORD NO.2)could be brought a step closer. It would be even more feasible if the Coalbrookdale Museum could be persuaded to give up the 1873 vintage mainframes from its Sentinel MW conversion, but that would be unlikely. Nonetheless, possibilities here for a joint venture with the Middleton people?