Last week we joined Alan in April of 1971 when he visited a number of NCB systems north of the Tyne, back when he was a student in the North East. Today we return for part 2, and a trip to Derwenthaugh...
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| The shed at Derwenthaugh, April 1971, Alan Sewell photo. |
National Coal Board
North Durham Div'n
Derwenthaugh Railway
Newcastle
Gauge: Standard
Date of Visit: 5 April 1971
Two locos were in steam of which 58 Austerity 0-6-0ST Vulcan Foundry 5299 was working from Clockburn drift to the Coke works and 59 0-6-0ST Vulcan Foundry 5300 working the coke works to the bottom yard by the River Tyne. Both these locos had the Lambton Railway style cut down cabs.
Also seen working was the coke works yard shunter 501 0-6-0DH Hunslet 6612 of 1965.
Other locos seen outside the loco shed 7 an a Austerity 0-6-0ST Hunslet dumped, 42 one of the last Consett Iron A-class 0-6-0 long boiler pannier tanks, Kitson 2509 of 1885, and 6 Austerity 0-6-0ST RSH 7603 1949, the latter for scrap
The system runs between the road and the River Derwent and in places is quite scenic. At the Derwenthaugh ( Tyne) end is a substantial and elaborate coaling stage with water tanks and at the coke works are two signal boxes one controlling the works bottom (fulls) yard and the other the top ( empties) yard which also open and close crossing gates.
The line is worked in sections using a staff and tablet kept in the signal boxes.
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| No. 58 working from Clockburn Drift to the coke works, April 1971, Alan Sewell photo. |
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| No. 58, April 1971, Alan Sewell photo. |
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| No. 59 was working the Coke Works to the bottom yard by the River Tyne, April 1971, Alan Sewell photo. |
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| Coke works yard shunter 50, 0-6-0DH Hunslet 6612, April 1971, Alan Sewell photo. |
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| Stored locomotives at Derwenthaugh shed, April 1971, Alan Sewell photo. |
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| Derwenthaugh system map, April 1971, Alan Sewell sketch. |
Thank you Alan, once again, for trusting me to share these treasured photographs and reports with the world here on my blog. Alan's material is a constant source of inspiration, if you have enjoyed this post you can take a look at his varied material, gathered here together under the '
Alan Sewell' label. Until next time though, more soon...
Hi James
ReplyDeleteGlad you think another trip into industrial history is worthwhile. As I said before it is an excuse for me to revisit those days when industry moved by rail or so it seemed at the time.
However to correct one thing. Although I and David were students it was not in the North East but still in the soft south. I was planning a European tip for the summer vacation I thought it would be a good idea to have a trip north. In those days pre-most motorways and dualing of A-roads, about 200mles was the most you could do in a day and my elderly Austin needed that sort of run. So an Easter trip was planned to test both the car and the tent, although icicles inside that and pushing the car out of campsite mud, did not really test everything or be prepared for the heat of Austria in the summer. The photos and others are the result of that trial run so at least that was successful.
Best regards
Alan