If sweat is any indication of hard work, we have had a very hard week this week!  I’ve reported elsewhere on No.18’s trials, so here is an overview of some other ‘highlights’ from the week…

A tricky extraction

A number of years ago we transferred a derelict NER stores van to the LCLT (Locomotive Conservation & learning Trust) along with the J21 No.65033.  The van became marooned during various site works, but has now been moved to a new home at Kirby Stephen where its restoration will be carried out.  See:

http://www.lclt.org.uk/index.html

NER’s Diagram ‘H2’ bogie stores van No.5523 was built at York in 1902 for carrying stores and locomotive spares from works to depots. Later renumbered by BR Gateshead Depot as DE 903004 (a departmental number) the vehicle was acquired by Beamish from Winston Station in December 1973. In 1986 the van was damaged in an arson attack, though has remained in secure undercover storage for the last six years. A notable feature is the ‘birdcage’ observation ducket mounted centrally on the roof, enabling the guard to view the train along its length from a safely enclosed position. This feature remains and will be restored.

LCLT’s intention is to restore No. 5523 to running order and to an externally authentic condition. However, as the interior has been gutted, this will be used to provide a venue for an exhibition, and educational facilities. The van will be made available to travel with No. 65033.

Below: In order to reach the marooned van, Darren and Mark created and rolled an access road, seen here leading from the end of the existing loading pad towards the van.  The track 5523 has been stood on will be re-used to extend our loading siding enabling us to load and unload in both directions, greatly adding to our flexibility in handling locos and stock arriving/departing.  The area in the foreground was originally earmarked for a long running shed and service pit, but the pit will now be at the Rowley end of the line and the shed idea has been dropped.  This area will now be landscaped to screen the rear of the Town in this area from passengers on the railway, with enhanced low-loader parking for use during events.

Below: Tony and his apprentice Matt (too many people with the same name in the team!) are seen unloading spare NER coach doors from the van for removal into storage.  These are part of a collection of doors originating from 118 (the unrestored elliptical roof compartment coach in store) and the dismantled NER clerestory coach that was the fifth vehicle that came to Beamish second hand from Ashington where a large number had been used by the NCB on the miners trains there.  We still have two (118 and 3071) and two were transferred some years ago to the Tanfield Railway.  One, 3071 (but incorrectly numbered 818) was restored in the 1980s and awaits overhaul at Beamish, the rest remain in store.  At some point we really should feature these in an article on here…

Below: Two of the spare NER doors – a guard’s compartment door (with steel instead of glass in the droplight!) and a luggage compartment door.  Note the ex NCB Ashington paintwork.

Below: Loading the van was always going to be awkward, being on a raised embankment, on a curve and with an awkward angle to line the trailer up to.  Darren and Mark were called on to assist, using the 360 excavator to gently ease the van onto the ramp – which then turned into easing and taking the weight on the bogie, to enable it to be encouraged sideways onto the ramp.

Below: The second bogie proved trickier – Darren (left) and Mark consider the options…

Below: In the end the bogie was allowed to miss the ramp, which in fact aligned it with the next panel of track. The tapered rails were removed and the second bogie obediently followed the first on to the trailer.

Below: This shows the tapers pulled clear and the bogie aligning itself with the next section of ramp track.  Unorthodox, but controlled and effective.  We now have only one item of awkward access rolling stock on site, this being E2 at Foulbridge, but that should one day be extractable by crane.

Below: With some relief, the van is finally entirely on the trailer and the process of chaining it down begins…

Below: Safely aboard and fastened down ready for departure.

Below: Also a part of the moves is the Y7, which departed for the North Norfolk Railway on Wednesday night as a return load south (ish!) for the lorry and its crew.

Below: 5523 is seen arriving at Kirby Stephen and parked in the bay platform at its new home, where restoration is expected to start shortly… Thanks to Mike Thompson for these two photographs.  See http://www.kirkbystepheneast.co.uk/

Locomotion No.1’s travels

Locomotion No.1 is a well travelled engine, having visited the USA, Japan (twice) and numerous heritage railways in the UK.  It has now visited the Netherlands, travelling to Utrecht for a two month static appearance as part of their 175 anniversary of railway celebrations.  See more on this at: http://www.spoorwegmuseum.nl/#!/home (google will translate it for you).

Here Locomotion is seen in the streets of Utrecht and then installed inside the museum as part of the array of visiting locomotives. Photos c/o Peter Paul de Winter.