Here on Staithes station locomotive L1 2-6-4T number 67754 stands adjacent to the signal box with a mixed train of 2nd/3rd class composite coaches, the first carriage being quite a modern example, while the rest are pre-1939. Eric Johnson has advised: “Engine no 67754 was in charge of the last passenger train from Whitby to Loftus, in 1958. on the left of the photograph (behind the boys on the platform) can be seen a camping coach, several of the stations between Staithes and Scarborough had these carriages in sidings at the stations, for holiday makers.” The old station building still stands, it is now a private house, but still is an obvious former railway building.
Image courtesy of Maurice Grayson and several sources, thanks to Eric Johnson for the update.
We wondered where the train was and Mark tells us: ” That’s a War Department locomotive on a train from Skinningrove at Huntcliff, roughly where the ring shaped sculpture is, making a racket no doubt, it looks windy but the exhaust is been blasted skywards.” Eric Lindsay asked: “Was the line Saltburn to Whitby all dual tech or only part ? Sandsend viaduct appears to be single track.” Terry Robinson answered the query: “The track was dual as far as Crag Hall, then was single line with passing loops at stations along the route, all the viaducts and tunnels were single line.”
Image courtesy of Ted Morgan, via Eric Johnson; thanks to Mark for the update; also to Eric Lindsay and Terry Robinson for the update on dual tracking.
Saltburn viaduct and a steam train with a rake wagons filled with ironstone passing over.The viaduct today carries trains from Boulby Potash mine and service as necessary the works at Skinningrove.
When first posted, the Archive was aware it was a culvert being dug out; however David Richardson came to the rescue with: “Yes it is Twizziegill Culvert during its construction.” As the Teesside to Whitby via the coast line opened in December 1883, creation of the culvert must have been prior to this date. Visible are a lot of workmen, but not doing any work; obviously the photographer was expected.
Image courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum and thanks to David Richardson for the confirmation.
You can see from this much earlier image how light and open the valley was originally. I wonder if the viaduct had been built with arched spans whether the problem would still have manifested itself. I’d need an engineer to tell me – is there an engineer in the house? Simon Chapman advises: ”Kilton Viaduct opened for traffic in 1867 and was later filled in with shale to create a massive embankment so that mining could take place beneath it. During this work which took years, one of the pillars showed signs of stress possibly because of uneven tipping, so traffic over was stopped for a fortnight until the problem was remedied. So if the viaduct had been built with arches it would still have ended up as we see it today.”
Image courtesy of the Pem Holliday Collection and others, thanks to Simon Chapman for the update.
This postcard is a lovely example of early colour hand tinting to a black and white photograph and was produced by Cooke’s Fancy Bazaar in Loftus; the original was posted in Loftus on 30th July, 1905.
X marks the spot not of treasure, but of the unsafe pillar of the Loftus to Carlin How viaduct that caused it to be filled in with spoil from the mines. The condition of the pillar lead to the creation of the culvert to house the Kilton Beck and the infilling of the viaduct with iron stone mining waste to create the embankment we still see today. This image dates from 1911 and is from a T.C. Booth postcard. Simon Chapman tells us: ”Kilton Viaduct was infilled from 1907 to 1914 primarily so that ironstone could be worked from beneath it, particularly from the Carlin How mine. The picture was taken in 1911 when one pier cracked and train services were suspended for a fortnight in January 1911 while remedial action was taken.” During that fortnight “rail passengers were carried between Loftus and Skinningrove in Motor char-a bancs.” On consulting the postcard the sender comments ”The viaduct has been repaired and is now open for traffic.” Obviously this is an image from prior to the remedial action which Simon reports.
Image courtesy of John G. Hannah and thank to Simon Chapman and Derick Pearson for the updates.
A pair of Class 20s, led by 20070, cross the new bridge at Carlin How with a train of loaded Potash Hoppers. Russ Pigott advised: “Both locomotives are equipped with multiple working connections, the second man being the guard. Both locomotives in ”Small Arrow” livery; it looks like the Thornaby Kingfisher on the side.”
Image courtesy of Raymond Brown and thanks to Russ Pigott for the update.
I seem to remember these weren’t well liked due to a lack of sanders and brakes like a milk float! Notice the steps for the signalman to give and receive block tokens for the single line working. Also the local semaphore set off to give him right of way. A nice gritty black and white image.
Simon Chapman tell us: “No they haven’t! They are still semaphores but have been replaced with modern safety-minded equipment so that if a technician needs to climb up them for maintenance work he will find it so difficult to fall off. How did they manage climbing signal ladders for the previous 150 years?”
Image courtesy of Russ Piggot and thanks to Simon Chapman for the update.
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