New Year's Eve Trains

 

08915 ready to haul the morning ECS to Middle Engine Lane platform.

401 steaming up on the pit road.

Waiting at the stop board in Middle Engine Lane loop for the fireman to set the points.

11:30 train ready for departure.

An audience gathers at the end of Percy Main platform to watch 401 run round the train.

401 ready for departure from Percy Main...

Stabled on the coal road for lunch...

...prepared by Fireman Cameron.

Trainee Guard Tristan gives Cameron the green flag on 401.

Cameron keeps an eye on the road ahead as trainee fireman Aaran adjusts the firehole doors.

Leaving the water tower to rejoin the train in Middle Engine Lane platform.

Aaran coupling up to the carriages at Percy Main under the watchful eye of today's guard, Matt.

Putting a 'back end' in 401's fire.

401 digs into the climb away from Wallsend Road curve on the last train of 2023.

401 hauling the last arrival of 2023 into Middle Engine Lane as 08915 waits to take over the evening shunt...

...allowing 401 to head straight over to the coal road for its bunker to be emptied.

Driver Nev on 08915 awaits shunting instructions from Matt.

Trainee DOM Katie keeps an eye on the movement as the carriages are stabled back in the north headshunt.

401's bunker swept out to allow for inspection and anti-corrosion work to be carried out.

Moving off the coal road...

...and back to the shed.

The fire is pushed forward from underneath the firehole door with a 'bent dart' fire iron before being raked through the bars with the pricker.

401 and 08915 back in the museum.

Winter Warmers

401 steaming up for the first of two days of 'Winter Warmer' trains.

03078 has also been out to allow for crew re-familiarisation after its holiday to the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway.

08915 propelling wagons out of Middle Engine Lane loop.

Second Man Dan walks ahead of the movement.

Nev on 08915 stabling the wagons in the north headshunt.

Driver Robin (L) and Trainee Fireman Tom (R) watch the shunt from the footplate of 401.

08915 propelling wagons onto the coal road...

....to allow Michael on 03078 to pick up the match wagon, Dogfish and flat wagon.

Heading for the loop.

The 03 joined the passenger train later in the day for further crew re-familiarisation, producing a bit of a rarity - a mixed steam and diesel double header!

Recent Work on 69

Cameron has been busy cleaning up various component from NCB No.69 over the Christmas period...

Sand trap cover before shot blasting...

...and after.

Injector body before shot blasting...

...and after.

Partially put back together injector housing after degreasing, inspection and wire wheeling to a shine.

Merry Christmas!

    From all at the North Tyneside Steam Railway, we wish you a very merry Christmas.

Santa and elves with just a small handful of the NTSRA volunteers who ran this month's 'Elf Express'.

For anybody wishing to take one last ride on the railway this year, 401 will be in steam hauling our 'Winter Warmer' trains on the 30th and 31st. 

Tickets available at: https://stephensonsteamrailway.org.uk/whats-on/winter-warmers

Elf Express Day #8

08915 hauling 401 out of the running shed this morning.

401 joins the train ready for the 10:20 departure.

Sat at Percy Main.

Elves entertaining passengers before the next departure.

Aaran (L) firing and Adam (R) driving 401 on the way back to Middle Engine Lane.

Aaran on the tank as 401 takes water before the third Elf Express of the day.

Sitting in the winter sun.

The last train of the day in the dusk at Percy Main...

401 being coaled in preparation for 'Winter Warmer' trains on the 30th and 31st.

Cooling down at the end of the final day of this year's Elf Express event.