For years, the NTSR and Stephenson Steam Railway have suffered from a severe lack of public visibility with many visitors often remarking that they never knew there was a steam railway and museum here. This is largely due to the fact that the museum is set back from the road in a building that blends in with the other industrial units and factories nearby. To remedy this, NTSRA members devised a plan to install a railway themed artefact as a 'Gate Guardian' outside the museum's car park.
Lambton coal hopper 2374, which has recently been purchased by an NTSRA member from the Darlington Railway Preservation Society, made a good candidate. Whilst it appears to be in reasonable condition, 2374 is far from being a 'runner' and will eventually require a full restoration. It was decided that the youth group would preserve it to prevent further deterioration and allow it to be stored outside for a number of years until the resources for a more complete restoration are available. Photo: Eric Richardson
2374 was built in the wagon shops at Philadelphia to the standard Lambton design. These wagons replaced the old Chaldrons on the system in 1914 when the North Eastern Railway banned them from running on their metals to the staithes in Sunderland. It features the rounded top end boards, characteristic of vehicles on the Lambton system, which allowed it to pass through the narrow bore tunnel down to the Lambton Staithes.
The wagon spent its working life on the Lambton system, its last role being as a permanent way hopper within Lambton Coke Works. Upon closure of the works in 1986, it was bought by the Darlington Railway Preservation Group from whom it was purchased in 2023. Photo: Douglas Johnson.
Work commenced in February, with project leader Rob Clark first briefing youth group members on the work to be carried out.
Tracings being taken of the original parts of the livery.
Sanding down the metal work.
Most of the hopper's interior components were rotten and had to be removed. Panels were later inserted to the top of the wagon and underneath to prevent members of the public from climbing underneath/inside it.
The distinctive curved top end boards were damaged beyond repair and were replaced by Rob.
All of the metal work was wire brushed prior to being treated with Jenolite, which converts the rust to a paintable surface...
...which was then finished with black bitumen paint.
After the flaking paint had been removed from all wooden surfaces, a boron based wood preserver was applied inside and out to prevent further rot. This was followed by a red paint job which is similar to the livery the hopper would have carried when built.
In March, volunteers from Nexus carried out a ground survey to establish the location of buried electrical cables. This then allowed the youth group (plus a few helpers!) to begin constructing a short length of track in front of the car park for the wagon to sit on...
By early June, the hopper had been installed on its plinth.
The team stand in front of their completed project. From left to right: Alison, Max, Charlie, Jean, Barbara, William, Maxwell, Aadil, Callum and Davey.
The finished gate guardian.
