South Tynedale Railway - Green Dragon

South Tynedale Railway
Hunslet 0-4-2T NG Green Dragon

 Green Dragon is a 0-4-2T Narrow Gauge steam locomotive built by the Hunslet Engine Company of Leeds in 1937.  

It worked the Umtwalumi Valley Estate (U.V.E) sugar plantation, in Natal, South Africa, remaining in service until the early 1980’s. When the locomotive was taken out of service it was used as a stationary boiler. From 1991 it was displayed on a plinth at Mount Edgecombe, just north of Durban, Natal.

The locomotive was purchased for preservation and returned to the UK in 1997. It arrived in Alston in 1998. It would take 20 years to restore, being trialled in 2018 when it  hauled the Santa Specials. Green Dragon entered operational service in 2019. 

The locomotive uses wood briquettes made from waste virgin sawdust, rather than coal.

South Tynedale Railway
Hunslet 0-4-2T NG Green Dragon

South Tynedale Railway - Green Dragon Slaggyford

 

South Tynedale Railway
Green Dragon approaches Slaggyford

South Tynedale Railway
Green Dragon Slaggyford Level Crossing

South Tynedale Railway
Green Dragon Slaggyford

South Tynedale Railway
Green Dragon approaches Slaggyford running loop

South Tynedale Railway
Green Dragon Slaggyford Station Masters House

South Tynedale Railway
Green Dragon running back to Slaggyford

South Tynedale Railway
Green Dragon  Slaggyford running back to couple up

South Tynedale Railway
Green Dragon  Slaggyford coupling up

South Tynedale Railway - Slaggyford Station

 Slaggyford Station was opened in May 1852 on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway's branch from Haltwhistle to Alston. The branch was constructed for dual line running, though only a single line was actually laid. 

Slaggyford Station consisted of an 80 metre (90 yards) single platform, timber booking office and waiting rooms, a stone Tudoresque station masters house and a brick signal box. There were two goods sidings opposite the platform, including a cattle dock.

The station was closed in May 1976.

Disused Railways - Slaggyford

The South Tynedale Railway began operation in July 1983 running a narrow gauge line from Alston to Gilderdale. The line was extended to Kirkhaugh, opening in September 1999. The line was further extended to Slaggyford which received it's first passengers on 25th July 2017.

South Tynedale Railway Route

South Tynedale Railway
Slaggyford Station 2021

Alston Branch
Slaggyford Station early 20 C
Source: Disused Stations

South Tynedale Railway
Slaggyford Signal Box and Station 2021

Alston Branch
Slaggyford Signal Box and Station early 20 C
Source: Disused Stations

South Tynedale Railway
Slaggyford Station 2021

Alston Branch
Slaggyford Station 1960s

South Tynedale Railway
Slaggyford Signal Box

South Tynedale Railway
Slaggyford Signal Box Signal Frame

South Tynedale Railway
Slaggyford Signal Box Level Crossing gear

Wylam - Class 66 18-Nov-2021

 Wylam Freightliner Class 66

Wylam Freightliner Class 66

Wylam Freightliner Class 66

Wylam Freightliner Class 66

Network Rail Track Maintenance Train Hexham

 

Network Rail Track Maintenance Train
Hexham

Network Rail Track Maintenance Train
Hexham

Network Rail Track Maintenance Train
Hexham

East Coast Class 91 - Spirit of the Fallen

 

To commemorate the Centenary of the First World War in 2024, East Coast decided to name locomotive 91111 'For the Fallen'.

The train was unveiled at Newcastle Central Station 14th October 1914.

EAST COAST UNVEILS MOVING TRIBUTE ‘FOR THE FALLEN’

The locomotive bears a name plate which includes the cap badges of five Regiments. On one side the badges are those of the Regiments as they were in World War One - the opposite side shows the cap badges of todays successor Regiments.

The train livery had images relating to WW1 and the Regiments included on the name plate have links to the route East Coast Main Line:

London
1914  - Honourable Artillery Company / 2014 Honourable Artillery Company

Yorkshire 
1914 Royal Dragoon Guards / 2014 Royal Dragoon

 Guards 
1914 Green Howards / 2014 Yorkshire Regiment

Newcastle

1914 Tyneside Scottish (NF) / 2014 Tyneside Scottish (RA)

Edinburgh
1914 Royal Scots / 2014 Royal Regiment of Scotland

Killingworth Billy

Killingworth Billy

Killingworth Billy is the oldest surviving Stephenson locomotive in the world, and the third oldest in the world. 

It was built in 1816 at Stephenson's workshops at Killingworth and it was in use hauling coal waggons to the Tyne until 1879.

Killingworth Billy 1823

Killingworth Billy at work

It was presented to the City of Newcastle in 1881. It was placed on a pedestal on the north end of the High Level Bridge. 

Killingworth Billy High Level Bridge 1890s

Killingworth Billy High Level Bridge 1890s

Killingworth Billy High Level Bridge 1890s

It remained there atop of the High Level Bridge until  1896, when it was moved to Newcastle Central station. 

Killingworth Billy Newcastle Central Station

In 1945 it was transferred to the Science Museum in Newcastle Exhibition Park.

Killingworth Billy Science Museum

Killingworth Billy now resides at the Stephensons Railway Museum in North Shields. 

Killingworth Billy Science Museum

Stephenson Railway Museum

Killingworth Billy Science Museum

Stephenson Railway Museum

Germany - Dusseldorf to Cologne

 Dusseldorf to Cologne

Deutsche Bahn regional service from Dusseldorf to Cologne crossing Rhine over the Hohenzollern Bridge.

Germany
Dusseldorf Hauptbahnof

Germany
DB Regional train Cologne Hohenzollern Bridge

Germany
Cologne Hohenzollern Bridge

Germany
Cologne Station Hohenzollern Bridge

Germany
Cologne Hauptbahnof

Newcastle Central Station - Centurion Bar

The Centurion Bar in Newcastle Central Station was formerly the First Class lounge. 

Commissioned in 1839 by George Hudson it was designed by the John Dodson, the intent being to create the finest First Class lounge of any railway station in the world. The interior is decorated with tiles made by Purmantoffs of Leeds.  

Newcastle Central Station
First Class Lounge exterior

Newcastle Central Station
Station Concourse

Newcastle Central Station
Station Concourse 2021

Newcastle Central Station
First Class Lounge 1902

Newcastle Central Station
Centurion Bar 2021

Newcastle Central Station
Centurion Bar 2021

Newcastle Central Station
Centurion Bar 2021

Newcastle Central Station
Centurion Bar 2021