This is the pleasure park at Redcar; which featured the ‘Big Racer’ as shown elsewhere in the Archive and the caption tells all.
Image courtesy of Mike Holliday.
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 A lovely day it looks for the ladies taking a stroll along the promenade at Redcar, not much wind by the look of the ladies dresses; notice the bathing hut on the beach.  This photograph is a bit of a rarity as well. It is of an experimental Botrail Tractor on Redcar beach around the 1920s. I couldn’t see this as being very successful due to the length of the treads. Too many parts to go wrong. Perhaps that is why we never see this kind of thing to day. It must have been quite a bumpy ride too. Derick Pearson explained: “In 1912 a patent was issued to Frank Bottrill an engineer in Australia for improvements relating to Ped-rail Shoes for heavy road vehicles. in the UK, it was called a Botrail Tractor. However to throw in more controversy there are two of the largest in the world still in use in Australia and over there they use the name Bottrill after the patent holder. So in the UK it is Botrail for models sometime after 1913 and in Australia Botrill.” Whilst Julie Riddiough confirms: “This is Redcar beach, judging by the pier end and the vents on top of the pier ballroom.”  A lovely view of the front at Redcar in the 1930s, showing the pier; I remember going dancing there but there was no pier left then. Derick Pearson has memories of the pier: “The white building just past the pier on the left was the Pastime Amusement centre on the promenade. Seems it was more busy there than the high street at that time.” Alan Etherington remembers: “We used to go to the truncated pier in the early 1960s to dance the night away to Danny Mitchell’s orchestra. He had a large black Alsatian that was seen around town with him. I saw him in the Post Office and he asked for a dog licence (takes you back, eh?) and the counter clerk said, “Well that depends.” Danny smacked the counter and said “Hup!” and the dog leapt up to put his paws and face on the counter. “Yes, that’s fine,” said the assistant and proceeded with the licensing.” Image courtesy of Mike Holliday and others, thanks to Derick Pearson and Alan Etherington for the updates.
So you think that sand yachts are modern! This beautifully quaint contraption took V.I.Ps, Military servicemen and Lighthouse crew out to the Lighthouse and Gun installations at the end of South Gare. Robin Jones in ”Britain’s Bizarre Railways” has details of the South Gare Sail Trolley from the 1895 period. As we discover more details regarding the sail train which come to light we will update this comment. The sail trains apparently operated in other situations. We will be uploading the additional images and information shortly.
The lighthouse at the termination of the South Gare was supported by a sail train; this image is believed to be from the official opening to the Lighthouse at the South Gare. A similar conveyance operated to the Lighthouse at Spurn Point; instead of an Engine Driver, we have a sailor as Helmsman, we wonder what A.S.L.E.F (Rail Union) would make of it today? Image courtesy of Mike Holliday.
An image of The Stray at Redcar looking a lot different to The Stray today; coastal defences were an essential part of World War II, with the ever present threat of invasion.  A very evocative image of old Marske. A group of Victorians taking the air while a fisherman digs for worms in the foreground. Still a very photogenic view to this day, largely unchanged except for the addition of a tractor or two. Maybe with the regeneration that is taking place in Marske we’ll see the old bandstand and gardens back again! |
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