Morning steam up

Ashington No.5 steaming up and being prepared by its crew for the day's duties

401 Progress

Manifold ready for fitting

LHS injector overflow pipe fitted

Main progress currently on the footplate is the fitment of the locos backhead injectors

RHS injector fitted

LHS injector

LHS tank support bracket fitted

RHS injector overflow pipe

Steam Sunday

Ashington No.5 returned safe and sound earlier this week from Shildon museum and is back in service this Sunday! First train departs Middle Engine Lane at 11:30

Ashington No.5 at Shildon

 Photos from this weekend at Shildon Locomotion's Autumn gala with our own Ashington No.5 in action alongside BR Standard 7MT No.70013 Oliver Cromwell

Pictures courtesy of Joseph Stuart and Richard Russell

08915 in service

08915 on the morning line inspection

Trains this Sunday

With Ashington No.5 away on holiday this weekend, No.08915 is out running trains! Departing Middle Engine Lane at 11:30, 12:30, 14:00 and 15:00

Ashington No.5 off on holiday

Ashington No.5 was successfully loaded onto the low-loader this morning and sent off to Locomotion Shildon for their Autumn gala

Shildon Gala

Ashington No.5 will be off the Shildon Locomotion this weekend for their Autumn Steam Gala, running alongside No.70013 Oliver Cromwell! Doors open 10am-5pm. Find out more here.

401 Overhaul Progress

401s overhaul is progressing well, photos with captions below. The next 'big job' is the tank lift which is booked in for next month.

LHS cabside on with firemans seat and sanding gear

RHS cabside, drivers seat, brake pipes, reverser and drain cocks handle fitted

Reverser rod fitted

Another shot of the reverser rod showing it connected to the wayshaft and RHS balancer

Side shot showing the fitted cabside and all of the boiler cladding now fitted

Youngest crew at NTSR

Driver Steve Thornton (L) aged 20 and Fireman Joe Stuart (R) aged 16 make the youngest crew we've ever had at NTSR with a combined age of 36, and possibly the youngest in the world?

Ashington No.5 in service today

Getting ready for the climb out of Percy Main

Birthday special

Running round at Middle Engine Lane

Percy Main again, with the last train of the day

Morning prep and line inspection

Shunted onto the coal road, fire lit

Later on in the morning, heading down the line on the line inspection

Testing and inspecting Percy Main groundframe

And testing South points

Sat in Percy Main platform

Steam this Sunday

Ashington No.5 is out again this Sunday, trains departing Middle Engine Lane at 11:30, 12:30, 14:00 and 15:00!

Coal Delivery

Truck backing up

Should keep us going a while!

Rocking Grate

Video showing 401s now working rocking fire grate after Richard and Michaels afternoon work

Firebar Alteration

With 401 having a brand new inner firebox, measurements have ever so slightly changed which means some modifications have had to be made. Here Richard can be seen slightly grinding down one of 401s firebars to allow it to fit on the carrier

Heritage Open Day, Ashington No.5 in service

Morning light up

Steaming up and being prepared for today's services

Ready and waiting to depart with the first train of the day

Passengers loading in

Teamwork on the footplate!

Free trains this Sunday

As part of the Heritage Open Days, trains this Sunday (9th Sept) are FREE! Ashington No.5 will be departing Middle Engine Lane at 11:30, 12:30, 14:00 and 15:00

That's a wrap, Ale by Rail 2018

After months of planning and hours setting up, it's all been worth it! A truly terrific weekend and we can't wait to put on Ale by Rail again in the future! It's a shame as to how quick the stage had to come down, but the gear is required elsewhere so once again our amazing volunteers stayed till silly hours last night dismantling the stage and shunting the yard and museum back together.

John and Tom set to work shunting the yard back together

Just some of the team that made Ale by Rail happen!

Stage dismantling

Truss coming down