Sentinel 9559 Engine Re-build

Steve, Alan, Gordon, Robert and Aaran have been spending the past few months stripping, inspecting and re-building components of the steam engine of Sentinel 9559.

These works have included a full strip and inspection of all moving components of the pistons, cylinders, crosshead guides and piston rods, all completed by a small group of volunteers over the past few months.

Steve, Robert and Aaran discussing the stripping of the engine piston cylinders that are located on the top of the engine assembly.

Alan, Gordan and Steve inspecting the new brass screws for the new cylinder covers.

New cylinder covers and cylinders back in place prior to painting.

Winter Warmers Day #1

With the running of Elf Express now behind us, the railway was open for the first day of Winter Warmers.

Diesel 08915 was the locomotive on duty for hauling passengers.

As well as the Miniature Railway welcoming passengers for both steam and petrol locomotive passenger train rides.

Merry Christmas!

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our viewers from the North Tyneside Steam Railway Association!

Carriage Window Repair

 During the final passenger trip of the Elf Express one of the window mechanisms within one of our coaches malfunctioned resulting in the window pane shattering. Luckily no passengers were harmed.

Cameron and Richard sprung into action to take apart the door and remove all of the glass shards. With the help of David a replacement pane was found and replaced.

Cameron removing the wooden panels to gain access to the spring mechanism behind.

With all the glass removed from the door cavity. The process of fitting the new window pane can begin.

With the new window pane in, Richard begins screwing all the wooden panels and fixtures back onto the door.

Painting NCB No.69's Reverser Quadrant

 This afternoon, Cameron painted the reverser quadrant of NCB No.69 in top coat red.

With suggestion from Michael to paint below the running board black, the line was marked and below that was painted black along with the remainder of the primed frame.

Looking rather smart!

Christmas Jumper Day on 03078

 The crew of 03078 helped spread a little Christmas cheer for the passengers of the Elf Express by all wearing Christmas jumpers.

Cameron, Joe and Aaran show off their Christmas jumpers.

03 078 Diesel Maintenance

Before Elf Express running today, Dan and Kev found a fault with the belts that run the air compressor on the 03.

Having identified the problem, Aaran offered to go within the frames of the Diesel to tighten them in readiness for the full days top and tailing with Ashington No.5.

A happy Kev, Dan and Aaran (within 03).

Lineside Fence Repair and Maintenance

Over the past calendar year, sections of the lineside fence have been identified in need of repair.

David spent the day leading the Youth Group in completing the task of repairing and completing some maintenance tasks before Elf Express running.

One area which was identified early on in the year was near the Coast Road Bridge. Here Youth Group members are repairing the hole with new sections of timber wire fence.

Slightly further down the line, another gap had appeared. This was tended to as well.

Coal Delivery

With Elf Express just around the corner, a fresh batch of coal was delivered today for Ashington No.5 which will be hauling steam this year.

Sentinel 9559 New Bunker Assembly

Michael and Robert have begun the assembly of the new bunker for Sentinel 9559.

This included drilling and welding metal angles and sheets in place to the existing rear buffer beam and frame.

Robert using the Bridgeport milling machine to drill bolt holes for the angle supports before...

Welding washers in place to hold the sheet metal for the bottom half of the bunker to enable welding of multiple metal sheets to complete the bunker construction.

Miniature Railway Training

A training day for the Miniature Railway was led by Adam, training Youth Group members on skills of operational running, this included preparing steam, battery and diesel locomotives, passenger safety, and maintenance.

With supervision from Matt, some members light and prepare one of the steam locomotives for running.

Each member took a turn in driving a battery, diesel and steam locomotives with their fellow members acting as passengers to and from Engine House Halt.

The Miniature Railway serves as a great tool for training younger volunteers and equipping them with skills that are required to progress them onto the operational aspects of the railway.

NCB No.69 Reverser Block Fitting

 George has successfully bolted the reverser block to the reverser on NCB No.69.

Although the block fitting was faultless, the central hole has to be reamed to a larger size to enable the new pivot pin to fit.

After this, Cameron applied a coat of primer shortly before painting top coat red.

NCB No.69 Reverser Block

 With the assembly of the reverser quadrant picking up speed, George has completed some minor work to the reverser block which provides the pivot point for the reverser.

Having previously machined a new pin that goes through the reverser block, he has drilled and reamed a taper hole to fit a taper pin for security

George drilling the new hole.

Hand reaming the drilled hole for taper pin.

BESTT Riveting Course

Four volunteers completed a BESTT riveting course this week, having all undertaken a theoretical and practical assessment. All passing with flying colours!

With more and more volunteers becoming competent with practical skills such as riveting places the association in good stead for completing more complex maintenance and restoration work in-house.

Ben and Michael complete one of many test pieces.

Aaran heats up one of the many rivets used over the week using the Oxy-Propane.

Michael and Aaran rivet, with Ben and Robert looking on.

NCB No.69 Brake Rigging Process

 Things are moving really well with George and the brake rigging.

Having cut the existing ends of the brake stringers off, and machining off the old worn pins. George has turned 6 new pins that are to be inserted into the holes of the once worn existing pins.

Heating the cut end of the brake rigging enables the fitting of the new pin ends ensuring a shrink fit between the two separate components.

NCB No.69 Brake Rigging

 In the workshop, George has been continuing machining the ends of the brake rigging stringers for NCB No.69. He has tested the fit if one of the six components using dummy plugs to assist with alignment. A 1/8" gap remains, which will be closed during welding, along with the chamfered edge.

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.

Ale by Rail - Sunday

Volunteers were in early in the morning to clean up the museum ready for the second day of the beer festival.

401 in steam today for our regular Sunday train rides.

Live music from Bob's Ices.

401 parked by the beer garden over lunch.

More live music from 'Brindle's Manse'.

A last chance to 'tick off' some of the 12 craft ales on offer this year.

Ale by Rail returns for 2026 on August 15th!

Ale by Rail - Saturday

The museum ready for doors to open at 2PM for our first beer festival since 2018!

Pete Bell is first up on the stage.

People starting to fill the beer garden...

...and indoor seating areas.

Lesley, Aaran, Bob and Omar behind the bar.

Pete starts his second set.

By 4pm its getting busy at the bar!

People making the most of the good weather in the beer garden...

Alice, Aaran and Michael behind the bar.

Tonight's second act are 'Elemental Acoustic'.

Street food from Leo's Pizza & Panini...

...and Geordie Banger Co.

The Pete & Lou Ross Band take to the stage at 7PM.

Nev pouring a half.

Festival-goers enjoying Pete and Lou's second set.

It's still busy behind the bar for Cameron, Fiona and Michael at 9PM.