Sunday 30 December 2018

Finishing off

Congratulations to Robin Johnson who successfully passed out as a diesel driver today!

Todays crew, from L to R, Michael Darling, Richard Russell, Robert Kitching, Adam Saunders, Tom Ashcroft. On the engine Stephen Thornton (L), Robin Johnson (Centre) and Joe Stuart (R)

Simmering away with the fire nearly burnt out

Rob raking out the ashpan

After hours big shunt

Photos of some after-hours shunting this afternoon using 08915 and Ashington No.5 to get the Brake Van in the Carriage & Wagon workshop to finish its overhaul

Ashington No.5 coupled onto the Gresley coach and crane

Buffering up to the parcel van and RSH No.1

Dragging the parcel van and RSH No.1 out of the museum

No.1 on the move

08915 coupling up to the dogfish, coal wagon, tool van and brake van

No.1 over the pit



Brake van heading into the workshop

08915 propelling



08915 then came back out and picked up the flat wagon of E4s road

Robin shunting the flat wagon onto the back of Ashington No.5

08915 stabling the tool van on E4s road, then the coal wagon and dogfish on the loading spur

Ashington No.5 dragging the Gresley, crane, parcel van back up the yard


On the move

No.1 at the rear, being dragged up the yard

With No.1 and Parcel van back in the museum and the Gresley & crane stabled outside the museum, Ashington No.5 shunts the flat wagon down into the South headshunt to join the lowmac and salmon wagons

Firemans view from the South headshunt


The brake van stabled in the carriage and wagon workshop, it was originally planned for the brake coach to be placed in the shop today however we will be finishing off the brake vans overhaul first

Last running day of 2018, 08915 & ACC5 in service

Photos of Ashington No.5 and No.08915 in service today on the second day of Winter Warmers, which is the last day of running trains for the year

Whilst 08915 was down the line with a passenger train, Ashington No.5 shunts the dogfish, coal wagon and tool van back onto the loading spur/coal road


Robin, under assessment, driving 08915

Ashington No.5 stabled in the South headshunt whilst 08915 rolls in with the first train

Passengers boarding the 12:30 train

Getting ready to head down to Percy Main

At Percy Main, just joining the loop, starting the run-round

Reversing onto the North end of the train

Punters admiring Ashington No.5 whilst the fireman couples up to the train

Fireman Joe building up his fire

Ready to go

With the train being made up of 3 carriages today, it must be pulled forward at Middle Engine Lane to allow enough room to run-round, Joe watches the Guards hand signals whilst Rob drives the train forward

Joe uncoupling


Fast forward to the end of the day, Joe closes the yard gates. Drawing the 2018 running season to a close...

Smiles all round

Happy Tearoom staff, Dave and Lesley

Morning shunting

Repeating yesterday's shunt, moving the dogfish, coal wagon and tool van to make room for Ashington No.5 to be coaled up

08915 at the South end of the yard

Heading onto the crossover line, into the North headshunt

Just lit

Rob getting the fire going

Steaming up

Saturday 29 December 2018

Ashington No.5 in service today

ACC5 coupled up to the coaching stock this morning, with crews about to carry out a full continuity test before going into service

After the first train, running round at Middle Engine Lane ready for the 1:30pm train

D2078 out today

With D2078 not being started for nearly 2 months, volunteers fired the loco up today and gave it a run in the yard for a few hours

Coupling up to D2078 to pull it under the extractor fan

Firing up

Over on the freight stock carrying out a vacuum test on the coal wagon

Coming back into the shed after running for a few hours