Rising Sun Curve Vegetation Cut Back

 Last Sunday, Michael and Ben took the opportunity to clear some of the vegetation along both sides of the track around the curve leading to the Rising Sun overbridge.

Michael clears the low level vegetation from the cess.

And Ben clears higher and larger bits of vegetation.

Such operations didn't interrupt usual Sunday proceedings, in the above, No.08915 passes with the first passenger train of the day down to Percy Main.

Removal of NCB No.69's Cylinder Cover

After a previous unsuccessful removal attempt by Cameron, George has successfully freed the Fireman's side cylinder cover from its studs and the cylinder block of NCB No.69.

Having previously removed the valve cover using shims and low profile wedges.

Platform Fence Painting Nears Completion

 After a few weeks, the task of reviving life into the appearance of the platform fence at Middle Engine Lane nears completion.

In the above, Davey looks at the final section of platform fence requiring painting.

Platform Fence Painting

Last week, with the help of Ben, Aiden and William fixing the newly painted lats to the platform fence, Davey continues painting. This time the ones which weren't life expired with a new splash of top coat for a rejuvenated look.

NCB No.69 at the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Hunslet Gala

 This past weekend (Friday 27th to Sunday 29th of June) volunteers involved in the restoration of NCB No.69 were kindly invited to the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway for their Hunslet Gala, showcasing the evolution of 'Fitzwilliam' Class of Hunslet locomotives ranging from 14" to 18" piston diameters.

Within the engine shed, volunteers set up an advertisement stall with items from NCB No.69, informative reading and visual material, and merchandise.

A welcome site at Embsay Station on the Friday was Hunslet Austerity 'Cumbria' (W/No. 3793) - a sister engine to NCB No.69.

A massive thank you to all those at the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway for putting on a fantastic weekend and being very hospitable to our visiting volunteers!

Painting of the Conflat decking

Since being outshopped earlier this year, Callum and Davey have spent the afternoon adding an additional coat of bitumen paint to the decking to better resist the elements whilst being stored in the yard.

Work on the conflat is planned to begin again in the near future as construction work on the Lambton Platelayers Van is progressing at good pace.

Rear buffer beam angle fitted to NCB No.69

Volunteers have been fitting items back onto the frames of NCB No.69. This week it was the rear buffer beam angle which supports the back of the cab/bunker.

With Cameron (C) threading the bolts through, Alfie (L) and Robert (R) hold the angle level and flush with the top of the buffer beam. 

The running board support angle brackets were also fitted on the internal face having been primed and painted on the buffer beam interface.

More work is required to fit the cab floor support angle bracket, after fitting the cab floor support brace behind the drawhook hole.

Fire lighting Ashington No.5

 For the first time in 7 years since being removed from traffic for its overhaul.

Smoke rises from the chimney courtesy of Robert.

With the fire burning, Robert completes the balance pipe valve in order to fill up the saddle tank.

Along with the Peckett, 401 was lit with a warming fire in preparation for our Father's Day Special running event.

A vary rare occasion in recent years with two home locomotives raising steam!

Shunt of Ashington No.5 and Consett No.10 test running

Today, volunteers have taken the opportunity to shunt the Peckett over the two 'mini' pits in the running shed to enable completion of the brake rigging and fitting of the sand pipes.

Previously, Aaran and Robert have been completing work of putting ancillary items back in the cab and on the frames; namely the injector bodies and feed pipes, as well as backhead components such as the gauge glasses.

As well as the many shunting manoeuvres carried out, Consett No.10 was fired up to test the work which Alan and Steve have completed on the engine and loco batteries. In the above picture, No.10 is sat on the crossover having been driven up and down the yard.

Killingworth Road Bridge Construction

Down in the Woodland Walk, James and Michael have been lifting sections of the Killingworth Road Metro Bridge, progressing toward the completion of another section of the trail.

Using a telehandler, Michael carefully positions the first section of the bridge side onto the concrete blocks.

Once both sides of the bridge are securely installed, they will form part of the walking route through the Woodland Walk.

A Google Maps image showing the sections of the bridge prior to dismantling for upgrade works to the Metro system.

NCB No.69 cylinder and valve cover removal

 With the front buffer beam now removed, greater access has been achieved to remove the remaining Driver's side cylinder cover and central valve cover.

To aid in removal, Cameron has welded spare nuts to the remaining studs in order to turn them out of the cylinder block.

Cameron welds the remaining nuts to the rest of the studs.

Restoration of LMS Iron Ore Hopper Wagon begins

With the completion of painting the new lats for the platform fence, Davey has taken the task on of cosmetically restoring a privately owned modified LMS Iron Ore Hopper Wagon.

Before being moved out of the yard in place of the T.I.C Bolster wagon for the Association's Diesel Gala, he takes the opportunity to needle gun, wire brush then prime sections of the wagons frame.

Our NS800 Celebrations Begin

Guard Tristan shows 08915's driver a green flag to dispatch the 1130 train.

08915 deputised for 401 on the first train due to some steaming issues.

401 waiting in the south headshunt for 08915 to return.

Chad getting his train ready for departure.

03078 on the move in the yard at Middle Engine Lane.

401 ready to depart Percy Main.

In addition to the exhibition in the museum, we are celebrating NS800 by hosting a series of talks in the John Storey room on Sundays in June. Today's talk was delivered by long-serving volunteer Bob Stapley, the secretary of the North Tyneside Steam Railway Association. Bob's talk, on the history of passenger trains in North Shields, provided an insightful survey of the development of passenger railways and stations in the area, from the embryonic Newcastle and North Shields Railway right up to the roll-out of the Tyne and Wear Metro.

The upcoming NS800 talks in the John Storey room are taking place as follows:

Sunday 8th June at 1400

Ed Orwin: 'Rails to Tyne Commission Quay'

Sunday 22nd June at 1400

David Fraser: 'N.E.R. Tyneside Electrics - A Pictorial Survey'

'North Shields by Rail' Exhibition

Volunteers have been busy setting up the NS800 exhibition inside the museum this morning.

An original headboard from 'The Norseman' boat trains (on loan to the NTSRA from a private collection) accompanied by a BR uniform and a selection of various BR-era items.

A Norseman carriage board (on loan from the same private collection) has also been displayed above the Norseman-themed corner of the exhibition...

...with an accompanying interpretation board.

A display board detailing the Blyth and Tyne railway positioned alongside Clio's cab, the only surviving component of an original B&T-built locomotive.

An interpretation board explaining the Tyneside Electrics aptly positioned in front of the sole-surviving vehicle from the Tyneside Electric system, the N.E.R. parcels van on loan to the museum from the NRM.

Interpretation boards explaining the history of the Tyne Improvement Commission (T.I.C.) displayed in front of the two T.I.C. vehicles.

The exhibition opens tomorrow and runs until June 29th. Come and see the exhibition for yourself to learn more about the history of railways in North Shields, from wooden Waggonways right up to the metro of today!

Front buffer beam removal from NCB No.69

Cameron has been busy over the past few weeks removing numerous countersunk bolts from the front buffer beam of NCB No.69 with the eventual plan to straighten the front buffer beam whilst the pistons and valves are removed for inspection.

Bolts numbered to associated holes.

The mag drill set up to drill out the countersunk bolts, there are 6 in total that require drilling and punching out.

After successfully drilling and punching, the first bolt is removed.

With more hands to help and the use of the forklift, the front buffer beam was manoeuvred from the frames to the ground.

Looking towards the rear of the locomotive, the frame faces and pistons can be seen after the removal of the front buffer beam.

Tank Wagon Priming

After several days of needle gunning and sanding, Norman has begun priming the barrel of tank 9836.

Delivery of T.I.C. No.35

We’re excited to announce that 1958-built T.I.C. No.35 has returned to North Shields for the first time in over three decades today, thanks to our friends at Tanfield Railway. No.35 will be the star exhibit of our ‘North Shields by Rail’ Exhibition (1st-29th June) before appearing in our Photographic Evening (4th July) and Diesel Gala (5th & 6th July). 

The Tyne Improvement Commission (T.I.C.) owned a sprawling network of tracks covering Whitehill Point and the docks, fanning out across the land almost immediately south of our current Percy Main terminus. No.35 was one of five diesel electric locomotives purchased by the T.I.C. to replace the steam engines at Albert Edward Dock in North Shields (the area now covered by Royal Quays Marina).

No.35 being carefully driven onto the low loader at East Tanfield station.

Robert and Aaran helping to dissasemble the ramp.

Ready to depart for North Tyneside. This is No.35's first trip away from Tanfield in preservation!

Joe, Robert and Aaron headed back to NTSR to shunt the yard ready to unload No.35.

No.35 arrives at Middle Engine Lane.

Back in North Shields for the first time in over three decades!

After assembling the ramp, the loco is carefully driven off the lorry.

Tanfield's diesel locomotive foreman, Ben, driving No.35 down to Percy Main on a proving run.

Loco and van at Percy Main.

No.35 sat at the bottom of Percy Main headshunt, only yards away from the once-boundary with the T.I.C. owned tracks that led down to Whitehill Point and the docks. 

Driver's eye view.

Joe driving No.35 away from Percy Main.

Back at Middle Engine Lane after a successful proving run.

03078 fired up to move the various wagons stabled on the flat road over to the crossover...

...so that the parcel van can be extracted from the museum.

Local railway history recreated: two ex-North Shields T.I.C. railway vehicles reunited at NTSR.

No.35 then shunted T.I.C. bolster wagon No.21 into the museum, where the two will be on display throughout June in our 'North Shields by Rail' exhibition - our contribution to the 'North Shields 800' celebrations.

03078 at rest after shunting the stock back onto the flat road.