
Two days at Tanfield
I had a couple of days off this week to fire at the nearby (about 1 mile!) Tanfield Railway. The line, like so many others, is experiencing an upturn in passenger numbers and on Wednesday an additional coach was marshaled to cope with demand, giving Sir Cecil Cochrane (seen below) five coaches to pull over the sharply graded line. Thursday was quieter and four coaches sufficed. It is on days like this that one realises how lucky we are to have so much steam around us and to be given the opportunity to fire and drive it in this day and age!
Below: At the start of the day. Cochrane is prepared for pulling out of the shed and lighting up – the Armstrong diesel can be seen outside in readiness.


Below: A slightly arty shot at Andrews House Station. The famous flat crossing and signal box is beyond the bridge in the distance.
Below: Back on shed at the end of the day. The Tanfield have an exciting gala planned for the 12th and 13th September this year, with a photographic evening on the 11th. Guest engines this year are the Par Harbour pair of Bagnall 0-4-0STs ‘Alfred’ and ‘Judy’ – notable for their cut down squat appearance and as the inspiration for the Rev. W. Awdry’s famous ‘Bill’ and ‘Ben’ engines in the Thomas the Tank Engine books! See www.trgala.co.uk for more information.
Recent Comments