The Tanfield Terminator
Sunday 25th February 2018
Report by Simon Mortimer.
With the timely termination of the Metro Meanderer tour (hopefully to become Metro Meanderer I) at South Gosforth at 15.43, there began a Le Mans type start to return to our cars, fire up the engines and head for Tanfield about 10 miles distant. Despite the seemingly very circuitous exit from Newcastle it was noticeable how different sat navs took different cars on different routes often for us to simply pop out just in front or behind each other. We all parked up under clear blue skies and strong sun on the summit that is Tanfield car park with the temperature peaking at ZERO centigrade! Most climbed down to Andrews House (no apostrophe) platform café in the interests of refreshment, avoiding hypothermia and exposure; the keen east wind cut through all but the sturdiest Alpine rated clothing.
Perhaps just like the apocryphal policeman who seem to look younger as one gets older, the first and indeed enduring impression was that the railway was staffed largely by teenagers (or even younger). Our guard in the course of the safety briefing about the perils of the propelling movement admitted to looking ...12 years old ... but I really am the guard... Before the 'action' it was teas and coffees all round, no doubt providing quite a lift in takings especially when to café would normally be closing.
Our group at Andrews House we might ask ourselves why the stewards are all at the far end of the platform - did they know something?
[© Geoff Plumb 2018]
Propelling round the (nowadays) rare curve to Marley Hill.
[© Geoff Plumb 2018]
Tanfield No3 'Twizell' at Marley Hill.
[© Geoff Plumb 2018]
Marley Hill after the epic journey, the line used to continue past the red flag in the left foreground via a flat crossing over the present passenger line then originally join to Bowes Railway.
[© Geoff Plumb 2018]There seemed to be quite an elaborate choreography for the two trains in steam to assemble our rake of two coaches behind the 126 year old 0-6-0T No3 'Twizell', ex-Lambton, Hetton & Joicey Collieries Railway, which took on more coal and water in preparation for our mission to Marley! So, after 17.00 with much planning, preparation, propulsion and propelling, we boarded for the trip. We waited... and finally, once the other train had recessed in the sidings, we set off. Leaving Andrews House (noting the distinctive flat crossing at Marley Hill has been removed and plain lined), we headed north over 13ch to Terrace Jn and paused in expectation at the propelling traversal to come over 5ch to Marley. The tour tottered round the (now) rare curve and duly arrived at Marley House. Our group was then escorted away in groups of 10 - the actual trip had taken about 7 minutes; many spent three times longer in the buffet! It was a useful add on after Tanfield's public running, as so many of us were in the area for the T&W trip, with relatively rare steam haulage on a Society trip and 57 took advantage.
All Our Yesterdays -Tanfield Railway:
from BLN 791From BLN 815 (29 Nov 1997) the quoted back reference is lengthy and detailed.
From BLN 815
