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Saturday 23 March 2024

Springwell Bank Foot Shed

Springwell Bank Foot locomotive shed was built in 1829 as part of the iron railway by George Stephenson from Jarrow to Springwell Colliery.   This colliery (now the base of the preserved Bowes Railway) was at the top of a mile long balanced incline, with descending full waggons hauling empties back to the colliery.   Locos from the shed hauled coal from Springwell Bank Foot to staiths at Jarrow on the Tyne.   The shed & route became part of the Pontop & Jarrow Railway in 1854, with the westward extension through Marley Hill - note similarities to our shed.   Marley Hill shed is the oldest in the world still in steam loco use, whereas Springwell Bank Foot Shed is no longer rail connected, and surrounded by housing development.
Looking north east towards Jarrow; on the right is the 1829 shed,
on the left is the 1960s extension for diesel locos.
(photo courtesy of Alex Tyson)

Thursday 21 March 2024

Thursday

Setting out rails on which to stand the 3'6" gauge bogie tender chassis,
to clear the way to remove the crane chassis behind

Wednesday 20 March 2024

Tuesday 19 March 2024

Tuesday Steam Tests

Cochrane raising steam in Marley Hill shed this morning
(photo courtesy of Alex Tyson)

Monday 18 March 2024

Monday

The photos below are courtesy of Peter Weightman:
Dennis repairing & altering Horden's firehole mouthpiece

Sunday 17 March 2024