Tanfield Railway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Tanfield Railway is a tourist attraction in Gateshead and County Durham, England, operating preserved steam and diesel industrial locomotives. The Railway operates a passenger service on Sunday's all year round.
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[edit] History as a Colliery Railway
The Railway was originally built to transport coal from the collieries nearby, to the River Tyne.
The oldest existing part of the line (the section between the Sunniside and Causey Arch stations) dates from 1725 (it was a horse drawn railway at that time) and is claimed to be the World's Oldest Working Railway. The main engine shed at Marley Hill is the world's second oldest locomotive shed in the world, only just beaten by another in Egypt
It passes near to Causey Arch, the oldest surviving railway bridge in the world, which originally served the line.
[edit] History as a preserved line
The early years at Marley Hill were spent in preparing locos for steaming, working on the shed structure and acquiring basic needs such as water and electricity.
The public steamings of 1973 used No.21 and Malleable No.5.
A small carriage was acquired from British Steel on Teeside and was prepared for use as the railways first passenger carrier for a week of running in August 1975. No.21, No.32 and Sir Cecil A Cochrane were the 3 locos in use that week.
[edit] Extensions to the Line
Sunniside
Sunniside Station was the end of the railway's first extension. Passenger trains started using the extension on 2nd July 1981 and the official opening cermony took place the following year on 14th July 1982.
Andrews House
Andrews House station was completed between 1987 - 1989 with platforms, a water tower, a station building and a footbridge.
Causey Arch
The first train to Causey was on 27th July 1991, with the official opening cermony being held on August 15th 1991.
East Tanfield
The first train to East Tanfield was on 18th October 1992. It is the southern most station on the railway.The Station was opened in 1997
[edit] Locomotives
Operational Steam Locomotives:
- Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST, Renishaw Ironworks No.6. In service on passenger trains. Boiler Ticket Expires in 2014
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-6-0ST, No.49. In service on passenger trains. Boiler Ticket Expires in 2013
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-4-0ST, Sir Cecil A Cochrane. In service on passenger trains. Boiler Ticket Expires in 2018
Steam Locomotives under overhaul/being restored
- Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST, No.32. Undergoing restoration. Rods on as of November 11th and almost a complete rolling chassis
- Black, Hawthorn & Co 0-4-0ST, Wellington. Undergoing overhaul.
- Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0ST, Irwell. Undergoing restoration, will be moved inside soon. Wheels complete and turned and painted as of November 11th
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 'Twizell' 0-6-0T. Undergoing overhaul should be completed by the end of 2008
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns No.38 0-6-0ST. Undergoing overhaul, planned to be completed by 2008, however the loco is currently to heavy for the track and needs boiler work with the front tubeplate being a possible concern.
- Borrows of St Helens No.3 0-4-0WT. Undergoing overhaul. Cosmetic Only
- Hawthorn Leslie "Cyclops" 0-4-0ST. Stored. Halfway through a Cosmetic Overhaul that still needs finishing
Stored Steam Locomotives
- Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T, No.38. Stored.
- Hawthorn Leslie and Company 0-6-0ST, Stagshaw. Stored undercover.
- Hawthorn Leslie and Company 0-4-0ST, No.2 . Stored.
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-4-0ST, No.21. Stored.
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-6-0ST, Progress. Stored undercover, a strong candinate for overhaul.
- Sentinel 0-4-0T No.4. Stored.
- W.G. Bagnall 0-6-0ST, Gamma. Stored undercover.
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Hendon 0-4-0CT. Stored.
- Andrew Barclay No.17 0-6-0T. Stored.
- Hawthorn Leslie No.13 0-4-0ST. Stored.
- Andrew Barclay "Horden" 0-6-0ST. Stored.
- Andrew Barclay No.6 0-4-2ST. Stored.
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns No.62 0-6-0ST. Stored.
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns No.44 0-6-0ST. Stored.
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns No.47 0-6-0ST. Stored.
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns No.16 0-6-0ST. Stored.
- Hawthorn Leslie No.3 0-6-0ST. Stored.
- Hawthorn Leslie Huncoat No.3 0-6-0F. Stored.
