Northern Counties
and Northumbrian Ranger

10-19 July 1984

...rail-related activities in Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland.

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37 on northbound freight, Shipton46229 "Duchess of Hamilton" near CopmanthorpeIn July 1984 we spent a few days based in York - here are some photographs from that trip. There are basically four elements to this page, which overlap somewhat...

 

  • York - Scarborough and York - Leeds - Harrogate steam operation
  • A couple of days on BR's "Northumbrian Ranger" ticket (fully described in "Northumbrian Ranger" on the "Trips 'n Tours" pages)
  • General main-line activity around York
  • A trip to the now-defunct Army Museum of Transport in Beverley
We start on 10 July with a day out photographing the "Duchess" - 46229 - in action, firstly on the Scarborough line at Foston Gates, where a Peak passed a few minutes earlier on a Scarborough - York train. A brief trip to the main line followed - the precise location is indicated by the "Edinburgh 200 miles" sign... Lastly, a trip to Copmanthorpe for the evening run to Leeds.

Peak on Scarborough - York, Foston Gates  46229 Foston Gates  47 on southbound freight, Shipton

The following two days saw my "Northumbrian Ranger" rover ticket trips. On the 11th of July, I took a long run up the main line, Peak-hauled to Newcastle, then on "The Aberdonian" HST to Berwick for lunch. On returning to Newcastle (southbound "Aberdonian") I took a ride down the coast line, via Sunderland, to Middlesbrough - DMU this time. Another DMU took me back through Darlington and out to Bishop Auckland, before returning again to Darlington and back to York down the main line - another "Peak"-hauled service.

45 147 (?) at York, 8.56 to Newcastle  Arrival - Newcastle Central  45 147 - off to the depot

HST departure, Newcastle Central  Newcastle Central  HST and 47, Newcastle Central

Twilight of the 03s - 03 078 at Newcastle Central  HST on the Royal Border Bridge, Berwick  Berwick station

101 DMU, Middlesbrough  Bishop Auckland - box and DMU  Bishop Auckland - remains of a once-fine station

The following day, I returned to Darlington, in the company of my then very small son - we had a pleasant run to Whitby, and he was always a good traveller on such trips, but it meant I had little scope for photography - just a couple of quick snaps at Whitby before returning to York. York - Whitby used to be a straightforward affair, of course, but these days it's a bit of a marathon...

Whitby - DMU and signal box  Whitby station and DMU

On 14th July, we paid a visit to friends in Beverley - and the now-defunct Museum of Army Transport. The most notable exhibit was the amazing "Gazelle", built by Dodman's of Kings Lynn in 1893, and famous for its activities on Colonel Stephen's Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway. Also present were "Austerity" No 92 Waggoner (Hunslet 3792 of 1953). "Woolmer", a rather nice Avonside (1572 of 1910), diesel "Rorke's Drift" built by English Electric for the Drewry Car company as long ago as 1934, and Motor Rail 8855 of 1943.

"Waggoner"  "Gazelle"  "Woolmer"

"Rorke's Drift"  MR 8855 of 1943

The Selby deviation line opened in 1983 - last time I had seen it in November '82 the track had still to be laid. I decided it had to be worth a visit...

37 209 on a southbound freight near Colton Jcn  HST on the deviation  31 on a short freight, near Colton Junction

The "Tees Executive" joins the Leeds Northern, NorthallertonAlso on the itinerary was a trip to Northallerton - while there, I paid a visit to the Stockton line - I had several photos taken on the main line through the station, but had none on the former Leeds Northern Railway's route to Yarm and Stockton. For several years it had been freight only, but at this time the daily "Tees Ex-NER 2-2-4T "Aerolite"Executive" HST ran along this route.

Another little outing - a trip to the NRM at York (haven't been for ages - must go again...). Most of the exhibits are well-known and well-recorded - I homed in on some the less well-known exhibits. The ex-NSR battery electric No.2 was worth a shot, as was "Coppernob", while the ex-L&Y 2-4-2T no. 1008 looked rather fine. Also depicted below - a Wickham trolley, the Port Carlisle "Dandy" coach, and a bit of Shropshire ironwork - a piece of tube from Brunel's ill-fated atmospheric railway.

Ex-NSR BEL No. 2  Ex-L&Y 2-4-2T No 1008  Coppernob

Wickham 899 of 1933  Atmospheric railway tube - cast at Coalbrookdale  Port Carlisle Dandy coach

The page ends as it began - this time, ex-SR King Arthur no 777 "Sir Lamiel", see firstly near Howsham, then at that same spot near Copmanthorpe where we saw the Duchess. Typically, the great light on the 47 didn't quite last for the steamer...

777 "Sir Lamiel" near Howsham  47 on southbound passenger, Copmanthorpe  Sir Lamiel, Copmanthorpe

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