One for the train buffs.

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NewcastleFalcon
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by NewcastleFalcon »

bobins wrote: 12 May 2024, 22:24 There were always rumours that a couple of tunnels down this way ( Cocking, and Privett) were used to store army surplus kit after the war. I presume similar rumours exist for an awful lot of tunnels up and down the country ? Anyone know of any tunnel rumours local to them ?
The site I came across today has a pretty comprehensive tunnels database...this relates to the Privett tunnel
http://www.forgottenrelics.org/tunnels/ ... n-tunnels/
Privett used to house a mushroom farm but is now owned by a builder. Along it’s 1,056 yard length, there are building materials – chimney pots, double glazing, cement mixers, sand bags, bricks, pipes.

About half way in, a few old cars are dumped all with mold-covered interiors. There are also old filing cabinets with paperwork (possibly from a solicitors) dating from the early Eighties.
Another tunnel "West Meon" is covered in the same article.
The tunnel (West Meon ) is also a store for caravans, cars and a massive pile of decaying metal parts. Until the Eighties, it was used by a scrap dealer to break up Cold War aircraft.
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Re: One for the train buffs.

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The one between Sandsend and Kettleness supposedly.
There was a firing range at the Sandsend end where we used to collect spent bullets and frequently mortar shells (duds). There were batteries nearby. My mother was on the Whitby one for a while, then moved to the Sunderland one before being shipped to Belgium.
It was closed for years but is open again now. YouTube videos of it.
As kids we walked through and scared ourselves silly.

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Re: One for the train buffs.

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Some will have heard of them some not. There may well be an easier youtube video on them, but occasionally the old fashioned skill of reading needs exercising, and the time it takes accepted and enjoyed. It is a skill which needs practicing.

This is undoubtedly in my classification of an interesting article jam packed with information and interspersed with pictures, on a subject I know little about. Its title is
The story of Stephenson's vaults at Camden Come hell or high water

I have read it. but not in an in-depth sort of way. I was searching for "the gist", trying to visualise the story the words were telling and indeed the architecture of the vaults and the infrastructure required to make the system work, and what remains of it today. A re-read may be necessary, I didn't get it first time. Reading is becoming a lost art in the visual and moving pictures, short attention span 2020's.

It's here for the readers...
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Re: One for the train buffs.

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NewcastleFalcon wrote: 13 May 2024, 08:55 It's here for the readers...
Neil
Thanks for posting that Neil, incredibly interesting... I've unknowingly travelled over those vaults thousands of times!
Jim

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Re: One for the train buffs.

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Close by we have another set of listed Tunnel Portals, Primrose Hill Tunnel. Superb if the grandeur of this original watercolour of the eastern portal was visible today in that form

Image
Primrose Hill Tunnel, 1837 (colour)
London and Birmingham Railway, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

but adaption and extraneous paraphernalia hide its previous grandeur, and leave it in grubby barely-noticeable state

Image

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Re: One for the train buffs.

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Yes electrification hasn't improved it's appearance. The masonry/stonework could do with a good pressure wash to freshen it up - but you'd need a big one!
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Re: One for the train buffs.

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Nice places to mooch around at in real life as well as on film...disused railway lines and paddle through their history. Nice little documentary on the Border Counties Railway from Hexham to Riccarton Junction just over the Border into Scotland, where it did join up with the Waverley Line onwards through Hawick to Edinburgh. The Waverley Line has been restored from Gala to Edinburgh, but not to the back of beyond that was Riccarton Junction.




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Re: One for the train buffs.

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This little film brings us up to date, and a very small part of the railway has indeed been reinstated at Saugthree Station just over the border into Scotland on the Borders County Raillway. The film predates a change in ownership earlier this year, but the line the shunter and the B&B business at the restored former station no doubt will continue.
Middle of nowhere, a different experience has to be offered and the restored short section of line and the little train help with that.

A screenshot from the other video reminds me of the Thomas the Tank engine story showing that in times past the weather could be quite severe in the winter up at Saughtree :-D
temp2.png
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Re: One for the train buffs.

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You may not think "One for the Train Buffs" could provide an interesting aside to the BMW Isetta Story but try this article from the charmingly named "www.bloodandcustard.net.
Rather than serve it up in a convenient bowl, summarising the hard work, images and writing put together by the author, if you are curious have a read. I enjoyed it.

Yes and for the game players...where do you think the "bloodandcustard" name comes from in a railway context. :?:

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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

That would be a reference to the maroon and cream coaches of the old LMS I would suggest :-D
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Re: One for the train buffs.

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mickthemaverick wrote: 22 May 2024, 08:39 That would be a reference to the maroon and cream coaches of the old LMS I would suggest :-D
This page of the bloodandcustartd site ( https://www.bloodandcustard.org/#CLC ) tells that the official livery colour was "Crimson Lake and Cream", but soon acquired the nickname "blood and custard".

Quite a detatiled article on liveries and goes into many others including "plum and spilt milk", "chocolate and cream" etc.

Even has a delve into the varouos regional branding colours of British Railways and the very pleasant "tangerine and white" signage of the North East Region. As white lettering on a tangerine background was sometimes difficult to read the white letters on station names (except totems) were often outlined in black. You don't notice these litle details until they are pointed out.

as per the Berwick Upon Tweed Sign.

Image

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Re: One for the train buffs.

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To get a decent pic of a Viaduct you probably need a drone.
DSC07028 (2).JPG
This is the Pont Burn Viaduct on the former Derwent Valley Railway, now an excellent walking and cycling route up the Derwent valley from Tyneside to Consett. The Pont is no more than literally a small burn, the viaduct is immense in comparison.

Old favourite "Forgotten Relics of an Enterprising Age" carries a nice little piece about the Pont Burn and nearby Fogoes Burn Viaducts.
At almost 250 yards, the longest on the line was a ten-span structure over Pont Burn; it was also the highest, reaching 120 feet. ....

On 23rd September 1865, at the height of construction, labourer Thomas Oatley was digging out clay from beneath an embankment for the two brick-making machines. As he did so, the ground gave way, inflicting injuries to his body and a cut to the head which rendered him “insensible” for a considerable time. He was taken to Ebchester where Doctor Bolton tended to him.
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Re: One for the train buffs.

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Not one of my originals but if you are ever down Staffordshire way, a nice picturesque scene to seek out for a shutter click.
Closed railway tunnel and former crossing keeper's cottage On the former Churnet Valley line in North Staffordshire.<br /><br />Geograph stamped image<br />https://www.geograph.org.uk/
Closed railway tunnel and former crossing keeper's cottage On the former Churnet Valley line in North Staffordshire.

Geograph stamped image
https://www.geograph.org.uk/
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Re: One for the train buffs.

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The famous "Woodhead Tunnels"
A short film for the train buff, featuring the famous "Woodhead Tunnels"From 1955 . For those who dont want to view it with a magnifying glass..click the view full screen icon!
The "old" Woodhead Tunnels did have a portal worthy of this thread's portals gallery
temp2a.png
The last day July 1981
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6lEtQFyQoQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6lEtQFyQoQ
..and the Class 76 and 77 Electric Locomotives which ran the line following the new tunnel and electrification, just gorgeous particularlly the Class 76 in all its glorious rivetousness. :-D
Image
British Railways Class 76 Electric Locomotive 26020 National Railway Museum NRMObjectNumber 1978-7005
David Jones from Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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Re: One for the train buffs.

Unread post by NewcastleFalcon »

There's a story behind this. Youtube does its best, wiki has it, the train buff or the curious will find it.

Nice image, nice livery though in any case.

Image
HS 4000 Barrow Hill Open Day 1971
Phil Sangwell, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

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