Institution of Mining Engineers - North East Area - 2nd April 1989

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Page 1 of the original tour maps drawn by our member Rodger Wilkinson. These were printed on A3 paper. There is overlap between the first (top) and second (bottom) and also between the third (top) and fourth (bottom) maps. Thanks to Ian Mortimer for scanning and supplying them.<br>[© Rodger Wilkins 1989]	Page 2 of the original tour maps.<br>[&copy; Rodger Wilkins 1989]	Page 3 of the original tour maps.<br>[&copy; Rodger Wilkins 1989]	Page 4 of the original tour maps<br>[&copy; Rodger Wilkins 1989]	The impressive Butterwell Disposal Point coal loading bunker from the rear of the 2 Apr 1989 tour looking forward on the way to Ashington. The 6-car DMU is on the Run Round Line. The middle 'Large Coal Line' was subsequently taken out of use (compare TRACKmaps 2 p22B Sep 2006 with the same page in the Oct 2016 Edition). The Bunker Line is right and the (very short) Cripple Side far right.<br>[&copy; Ian Mortimer 1989]	A private tour that Chris Boyle arranged with an Eastern Region inspection DMU, at Thurcroft Colliery, a branch off the South Yorkshire Joint line, on 21 Apr 1987. The main section of the left hand coach had a large dining table and chairs, where lunch was served!<br>[© Ian Mortimer 1987]	The same train at Markham Main Colliery at the northern end of the South Yorkshire Joint Line, the only one on 21 Apr 1987 tour not visited by the subsequent 1989/90 tours.(Like all the pictures in this report taken by Ian Mortimer, who just happened to be there at the time, of course...)<br>[© Ian Mortimer 1987]
On a rather different scale and without lunch provided (!) the 2 Apr 1989 railtour looking back down train in the direction it had arrived from. This was the point reached just beyond Westoe Colliery (on the right) at South Shields.<br>[© Ian Mortimer 1989]	A locomotive approaching Hilda Sidings with empty wagons from Harton Low Staiths (note in the North East spelt without an 'e') during a Society internal railtour for 17 members on 15 May 1987.<br>[&copy; Ian Mortimer 1987]	Westoe (South Shields), 15 May 1987 again - a cab full of members on a light engine tour coming up from the staiths (round to the right).<br>[© Ian Mortimer 1987]	The tour at Monkwearmouth Colliery, Sunderland, looking along the branch towards Monkwearmouth Jn and now the Stadium of Light..<br>[© Ian Mortimer 1989]	The impressive, but short-lived, loading bunker at Dawdon Colliery - taken from the 'wrong' end of the train, (the other end of which reached the buffer stops). Looking back towards the main line, the North Sea is off to the right.<br>[© Ian Mortimer 1989]	No prizes for recognising Seaham Colliery; another Society internal tour on 15 May 1987. The NCB system here closed just two months later. These pictures illustrate well that, despite Britain once having a considerable number of collieries, no two were ever the same.<br>[© Ian Mortimer 1987]	Lynemouth Colliery (typical of the time) in Sep 1974 looking northeast. To the right was once a through National Coal Board line via Ellington Coliery, past Linton Colliery back round to Ashington. Lynemouth Power Station (commissioned 1972) and the North Sea are off the picture to the right.<br>[© Ian Mortimer 1974]
The southernmost colliery on the railtour, Easington, from the 'right' end of the train. It can be seen why it did not go further; the disused empty wagon sidings beyond were (nearly) empty too.<br>[&copy; Ian Mortimer 1989]