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.

Looking back towards Engine House Halt. The cleared area behind the sleeper wall of the coal pile was the disposal area for ash, it has been decided to make this space into a small garden area.

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.

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)

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.

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.

ACC5's Valve Gear

This week Joe has been busy completing the assembly of ACC5's valve gear. The valve gear has been re-pinned with pins fabricated by stalwart machinist, George.

Once finished, attention will turn to re-fitting the cylinder drain linkage.

Miniature Railway Arrivals

Tom and Adam have been representing the miniature railway and N.C.B. No.69 at Narrow Gauge North in Pudsey today. Following the show, they travelled to Barnsley to collect the two carriages to be used on our miniature railway.

On Sunday, they visited Foxfield Miniature Railway in Staffordshire to collect a petrol electric locomotive for use on our miniature railway. The locomotive, inspired by a Hibberd Planet and named "Kibworth Castle", was then tested along with the coaches on their line.

A taste of what is to come!

The current miniature fleet of steam, battery and petrol electric.

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.

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.

401 Washout

Steve in the smokebox pressure washing scale and sediment towards the foundation ring...

...where it is removed.

Lambton Van Painting

Work on the Lambton van, No.21, has continued this week with Cameron busy applying more of the Lambton red top coat.

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'.

Lodge Painting

Today, James, Michael, Michael and Tom have been painting the education lodge down the Woodland Walk.

Container Removal

The recently emptied container has been removed to make way for the next phase of miniature railway work...

Within the coming weeks this area will be cleared to make way for the trackbed.

Work can now start on linking the two sides together.

Some track panels were laid out to get a good idea of where things will be and we are not far off!

New temporary boiler studs for NCB No.69's boiler

Cameron has been in the workshop today machining some new studs for NCB No.69's boiler.

Although only a temporary measure, lathered generously with COPASLIP, the studs prevent any rust damage to the threads in the boiler backhead whilst the boiler sits outside at Middle Engine Lane.

In the above, Cameron is seen fitting the new studs to the backhead of NCB No.69's boiler.

Final cosmetic work to the Association's tank wagon

Michael has been in the running shed using the electric polisher on the lettering of the 'SHELL' and 'BP to remove slight marks left from signwriting.

The wagon will be pulled out of the workshop in the near future to take its place in our tank wagon set and our demonstration freight trains.

NCB No.69 rear buffer beam angles painting

Previously painted red, it was noticed by one of the volunteers that the rear buffer beam bunker support angles were painted black whilst NCB No.69 was at South Hetton Colliery with the NCB.

 

As seen above on the morning of Friday 13th April 1973 outside the repair shop near South Hetton Colliery. Source, Sassaby, Flickr.

Therefore, Cameron has rectified this by painting the support angles (previously red) black. 

Having already applied one coat of black over the previous red, he etches the surface to provide a key for the second coat.

Final completion work to NCB No.69's boiler studs

Over the past week, Bob has been completing the final drilling of the remaining boiler backhead studs to NCB No.69's boiler.

Setting up the mag drill on a fabricated plate, he is able to drill out the stubborn stud perfectly perpendicular to the backhead plate.

New colour for NCB No.69's rear bufferbeam

Last weekend, Cameron applied the first coat of 'Tomato Red' - RAL 3013 to the rear buffer beam of NCB No.69.

Before...

...During...

And after - with the buffer housings left on the old red to be repainted at a later date.

Although the colour difference is subtle, it was concluded that Tomato Red is a closer match to the assumed original swatch left on the front buffer beam.

More Half Term Running

Robert building up his fire in the morning.

401 receiving attention to one of its spring hangar pins before heading out into service.

Today's Guard, Tristan, and trainee, Chad.

Chad guiding 401 onto the carriages.

Boxford lathe electrical inspection

Since last weeks delivery of the new Boxford Model A lathe, Alan has been completing a bit of electrical work to ensure that the lathe can work efficiently and safely.

Having inspected the motor, switches and other electrical components, a bit of attention is required to the earthing cable. In the coming weeks, it will be fully operational.

Watch this space for new items fabricated using this machine!