Returns help Tanfield round off the year on a high
A REPEAT visit by a local locomotive and a first public appearance after overhaul by another helped the Tanfield Railway make a success of its end of season gala weekend.
1871-built ‘coffee pot’ Betchworth
No. 1 made a return visit to Marley Hill from nearby Beamish Museum for the ‘Run It’ gala on October 14/15. The Head Wrightson 0-4-0VBT was stored at Marley Hill in the early 1970s during Beamish’s formative years and returned for a gala visit when restored in the early 2000s. This time, however, it was accompanied by a ‘black waggon’ for shunting demonstrations in the yard.
Also back in action at Marley Hill was Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST Renishaw Ironworks No. 6. The 1919-built locomotive (Works No. 1366) has only recently gained its new boiler ‘ticket’ after receiving extensive boiler repairs. It too was confined to shunting in Marley Hill yard, a full loaded test run taking place after the event.
The returning duo joined five of the Tanfield home-based steam fleet. Arguably, the stars of the show were Andrew Barclay duo Stanley and Horden. With the latter still yet to enter regular traffic, it was partnered with 1904-built Barclay sibling Horden on several runs over the event. Also in steam were Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST Keighley Corporation No. 2, back at Tanfield following something of a summer tour, Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns 0-4-0ST Sir Cecil A. Cochrane, and National Coal Board ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST No. 49, which has received paintwork repairs over the summer months – more than 25 years after it was last painted. Two of the Tanfield diesel fleet were also in action.
A welcome return to pre-gala photographic evenings was also staged on October 13, with the steam fleet posed under floodlights in and around Marley Hill engine shed. The whole event was considered a success, with more than 750 visitors turning out and a healthy surplus predicted.