Monday, 17 March 2025
More Miniature Railway Construction
Saturday, 15 March 2025
A Busy Day at the Railway
Further developments with the Miniature Railway
More sections of 7 1/4" track have been laid within the last week between Engine House Halt and the level crossing - marking the completion of track laying of this section of the Miniature Railway.
The final track panels down on the initial ballast layer ready for joining together.
Looking back towards the level crossing, things have now been levelled and packed.
Friday, 14 March 2025
LNER Wagon Plates donation
Last year at The North Tyneside Railway Association's Model Railway Weekend a member of the public donated a handful of wagon plates for the NTSRA to sell to raise funds for their numerous projects which are currently ongoing.
With a few already being sold in the Guard's Van Shop during the 2024 and 2025 running seasons, the final pair of LNER wagon plates have recently been restored. The pair joins current stock of Great Western Railway (GWR) and LMS wagon plates in both unrestored and restored condition.
Thursday, 13 March 2025
Brake hanger fitting to NCB No.69
George has completed the arduous task of rebushing the brake hanger for NCB No.69.
Here he is seen testing the 'swing' of the right leading 'RL' brake hanger to identify any areas that require precise filing to eliminate rocking.
George then sets up the brake hanger in the Bridgeport milling machine to bore out the out bush that holds the brake block pin.
Completing this, he machines a new bush with an interference fit of 0.001" and a 3/16" lead in that is 0.004" undersize to aid in alignment. (old bush shown for severe oval of pin hole)
Wednesday, 12 March 2025
New shelving in the Guard's Van Shop
With the 2025 running season now in full swing, and with Christmas behind us, the Guard's Van Shop has received a new addition. To give extra storage space, a shelving unit has been constructed to advertise our expanding stock of NTSRA, 401 (Vulcan) and NCB No.69 branded merchandise.
Previously being freestanding, Cameron has fixed the unit to the walls of the Guard's compartment to prevent the likelihood of the unit falling over whilst the train is in transit.
Tuesday, 11 March 2025
Repair work begins to Consett No.10's starter motor
A few weeks back, Nev and Paul removed the starter motor from the engine compartment of Consett No.10.
Placed on the work bench, Bob is seen beginning to strip the main housing to enable his inspection of the internal components and give them a deep clean.
Sunday, 9 March 2025
ACC5's Valve Gear
Miniature Railway Arrivals
Planting of the NTSRA Christmas tree
Aaran and Robert have spent the morning relocating the Christmas tree of the NTSRA to the entrance of the site.
Having previously being located in the picnic area, the tree is required to be moved due to the construction of the Miniature Railway.
Having dug a hole and removed the tree from its pot, it is now in the ground at its new location.
With shovels already in hand, they reduced the pile of donated wood chippings by scattering them in the garden area to aid in the growth of plants and seasonal foliage.
Saturday, 8 March 2025
Repair work to Sentinel 9559's regulator valve housing
Steve has began the task of repairing the housing which accommodates the regulator valve for Sentinel 9559.
with the casting being cracked prior to removal and dismantling, above, Steve is seen filing back the cast iron to create a surface to rebuild with weld.
He plans on forming a welded surface to then drill a new hole into the casting across where the crack formed so that the housing can be reassembled to form the regulator body.
Friday, 7 March 2025
401 Washout
Lambton Van Painting
NCB No.69 features in Steam Railway Magazine
One of the volunteers, and member of The North Tyneside Steam Railway Association, discovered NCB No.69 featuring on the back cover of Issue 115 of Steam Railway Magazine from November 1989!
The front cover features 'Jubilee' 4-6-0 No.45596 Bahamas.
The inside cover reveals more details about the picture on the back cover: 'The incongruity of a modern road system and a steam worked industrial line seems somehow strange viewed from a 1989 standpoint. Hunslet 0-6-0ST No.3785 of 1953 crosses the A19 with a coal train on the South Hetton Colliery system in Durham on July 17, 1972. credit - Andrew Smith'.