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.

Model Railway Weekend Sunday

08915 getting the demonstration coal train ready for departure.

Today we have been joined by an impressive display of classic cars in the back car park...

Visitors enjoying the layouts in the museum.

The miniature railway has been busy throughout the day.

401 arrives into Middle Engine Lane north headshunt...

...with a rake of coal hoppers.

It's been a very busy day in the tea room, with all food sold out by 2PM!

More photos of the layouts in this year's exhibition...

We were joined by visiting locomotive 'Hope' on the miniature railway today.

'Hope' and 'Loki' side by side.

The last train of the day was a double header of 401 and 08915.

Dylan enjoying himself on 401.

Model Railway Weekend Saturday

 

This weekend we are hosting our second annual model railway exhibition...

This year we had O, OO, N and 009 gauge layouts.

TRS Trains selling their models of our locomotives; 401, Consett 10, A.No.5 and ACC5.

'Loki' in steam and hauling passengers (and a couple of volunteers!) on the miniature railway.

Visitors and members enjoying the exhibition.

We were also joined by Chris Eden Green of 'Steam Locomotives in Profile'.

03078 has been hauling brake van rides to Percy Main throughout the day.

'Loki' departs 'Engine House Halt'.

Some more photos of this year's layouts...

Trade stalls from Durham Trains of Stanley.

03078 ready to depart Percy Main with the last brake van ride of the day.

Souvenir plaques for exhibitors - in the style of a locomotive's builders plate - already looking at home on some layouts!

They were designed and 3D printed by volunteer Paul Rowland.

ACC5 on Test

ACC5 has been in steam and on test around Middle Engine Lane yard today.

Aaran and Robert have put in many hours recently to get the locomotive running again.

Aaran running an injector, testing the newly fabricated overflow pipes.

Diesel Gala Sunday

The first train of the day is a brake van ride hauled by T.I.C. No.35.

At Percy Main, the brake van ride ran straight through the platform and continued to the buffer stop at the bottom of the headshunt. Not only was this the first timetabled passenger train to ever traverse this section of the railway, but also provided an opportunity to ride behind No.35 a stone's throw away from its former stomping ground. The T.I.C. system began just on the other side of the road bridge beyond the buffer stop.

Ran round and ready to return to Middle Engine Lane.

The view from the balcony.

The next train was a rake of tankers hauled by 08915.

The brake van ready to be gravitated into Percy Main platform.

Marshalling the train in Percy Main loop.

At Middle Engine Lane, Nev and Paul completed the shunt release with 03078.

Passengers waiting for the first passenger train of the day, hauled by No.35...

...and 08915.

Unfortunately, No.10 failed on the Saturday afternoon and was relegated to footplate access in Middle Engine Lane yard...

No.35 and 03078 arrive into Middle Engine Lane with a double header.

The two demonstration freight trains in Middle Engine Lane yard.

03078 shunting coal hoppers...

...ready for an afternoon demonstration coal train.

03078 and No.35 running round at Percy Main...

...and hauling the train through Wallsend Road bridges.

Passengers gathering for the next departure...

...hauled by 03078 and 08915.

Passengers waiting on Middle Engine Lane platform for the last train of the day...

...another brake van ride to the buffer stops at Percy Main with No.35.