Another photo showing a different part od the station, photo courtesy of Joyce Dobson

Once again a photo loaned to us by Eric Johnson, do you the names of the two men?

Tod point signal box Warrenby, with men at work.

(photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)

The view from Todd Point signal box at Warrenby Redcar.
(thanks go to Eric Johnson for the loan of the photo)

I thought because of today’s weather conditions this photo was quite apt.
(photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)

This gentleman I am told is the source of many of the photo’s on this site. Thank you Mr Morgan, this photo taken inside Todd Point signal box. (photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)

Peter Miller sitting in front of the Crag Hall signal box.
(photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)

I had to look hard at this photo as I thought it had been reversed I don’t remember a footpath at that side of the beck only Glover’s path on the left hand side. But I have been assured that there was a path on that side and of course you can see Liverton Mine in the background,telling it hasn’t been reversed.
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum)

Yes I know this isn’t an old photograph, but it will be one day and you must admit it is beautiful and shows how the station has changed over the years.

(photo courtsey of Ray Brown)

This, I think, is when the Zetland Hotel was still a hotel and the lovely Victorian facade of the station, including the canopy was intact. Before expediency destroyed the excursion platform with its beautiful Victorian cupolas and when the station building was still a station building instead of a shopping arcade.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

 Looking towards the east,  1971/3 the date when this photo was taken, it was a lovely station as most of them were, what a pity such a lot of them were demolished.

Russ Piggott advises us : ”This picture is later than 1960 I would say about 71-73 The track into the trainshed was closed in 1970 and the sleepers are still present. Also the poster has a mk2 inter-city coach on it which were not introduced until 1966.”

Yes another photo of Saltburn station this time looking towards the Zetland Hotel where the trains could pull right into the hotel. The celebrities could enter the hotel without being seen by the public.

Brotton station over a hundred years ago, the card was posted on 23rd October, 1907.

Image courtesy of Beryl Morris.

The locomotive is an “p” class North Eastern Railway engine. built at Gateshead. the tender has L.N.E.R. painted on, so photo is after 1923. Bloworth crossing is near Ingelby Incline (Battersby to Rosedale mineral line).  Eric Johnson

(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum)

A rather cold and lonely spot where was Blakey station?

Russ Piggott tells us: ”

Blakey station was near where the Farndale road turns off the ‘Blakey Road’ There is still the wall of one side of the bridge which took the road over the railway. The ‘station’ was the junction where the Rosedale East and West Branches seperated. Nothing now remains of the buildings on the site.”

Thank you for that Russ I was hoping no one would say Blakey or wrists would have had to have been smacked joanj
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum, thanks to Russ Piggott for the update.)

Ingleby incline and all people available are posed for the camera.
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum)

North Eastern Railway Terminus 1,000 feet above sea level and that is as much as I know about it and I read that off the caption. Now believed to be on the Rosedale end of the Rosedale to Ingleby Greenhow railway system. Thanks to Mark T for the update.

(photo courtesy of cleveland ironstone mining museum)

14 years on and quite a few differences from the previous photo of Cragg Hall, judging by Russell Piggott’s comment below this may be later than we imagined, any more thoughts out there?

Russell Piggot ha s assisted in identifying the train as:

”A Q6 Class 6 0-8-0.”

Thanks to Russell for the update.

Looking south 24th February 1973, or Brotton station as it used to be. Do you remeber it like this?

This is a lovely image, sadly of an age long past.  A BR Standard class 4 2-6-4T leads a commuter train (with that weird brake van) into Sandsend station across the viaduct.

I think the caption says all there is to say about this photo

Sandra tells us that Brian took this photo of the train crossing the bridge below Carlin How, and the next photo, from their bedroom window on St. Hilda’s Terrace.  

The train is ’The Boulby Flyer’ on the first excursion organised by Saltburn Railtours in August 1995.  This trip took place in the Saltburn Victorian Week.  (Thanks to their website for this information). 

Thanks to Sandra Hutchinson for the photograph.

The train going over the viaduct towards Loftus, with Kilton shale tip in the background.   The excursion was on the Boulby mineral line from Saltburn to Boulby Potash Mine and back.

Thanks to Sandra Hutchinson for the photograph.

Another picture of the viaduct adjacent to the station at Sandsend, viewed from the hill above the village on the Whitby side.

A photograph taken after Skinningrove station was closed.
(photo courtesy of Pem Holliday)

Skinningrove Station – ironically at Carlin How!

Who were the two people in the photograph?

  Sandsend Viaduct, with local train

 A view of Sandsend Viaduct with a local commuter train from Whitby approaching.

 Sadly this picturesque line, which skirted the coast all the way from Saltburn to Whitby and from Whitby to Scarborough, has vanished, leaving only the mineral railway from Saltburn to Boulby Potash Mine.

 The locomotive leading the mixed passenger/goods train is an ex-Great Central Railways Robinson A5 4-6-2 Pacific tank - well at home on this demanding coastal line.

Preserved K1 Class, 62005, rounds the bend at Huntcliff, passing the remains of the old Guibal Fanhouse on a Trainspotter’s Special on the 10th May 2008
(image courtesy of Raymond Brown)

Rosedale West is where this station is and I am sure that you will be able to tell me more about this photo loaned courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum

Another memory jogging photo of when the train could pull right up to the Zetland Hotel

(photo courtesy of Mike Holliday)

Now you train spotters out there where is this I know you wil be able to tell me,  just reminds me of Thomas the Tank Engine

Derick Pearson with assistance from Russ Piggott informs us:
Image shows Left to right…
67281. was the last surviving example of a G5, She was an 0-4-4T type. She was withdrawn by British rail in 1958.

43073. is definitely a Ivatt Class 4 and the last photo I have of her is leaving Roose Railway station, Barrow-in-Furness in 1960. Where she ended up I do not know.

67663. Was a V1 2-6-2T Gresley. The Class V3 Gresley was introduced 1939, built on the same chassis and everything else. Appearance was much the same as the V1 but the V3 had a Higher Boiler Pressure. This one is the earlier V1.

63340. Is as Russ says a Q6. It was originally a N.E.R class T2 0-8-0. Classified as a Q6 by the L.N.E.R. 120 were built at Darlington works between 1913 and 1921 to the design of Vincent Raven. They were based on the N.E.R Class T and T1- L.E.N.R – Q5s.
All passed into British Railways ownership in 1948 and they were numbered from 63340 to 63459. 63372 was withdrawn in 1960 after an accident. The others were withdrawn from 1963 to 1967. Only one of them, the 63395 has survived to preservation on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. She re-entered service after a major overhall in 2007.

67685. Was A Gresley 3 cyl V3. The last reference I have to her is at Battersby Junction near Gt Ayton.
Hope this sorts that one out

(photo courtesy of Mike Holliday, but now known to be from a CD produced by Derick Pearson.)

This is a BR Standard loco, number 77012, standing light engine in Kettleness Station.

Another station which has found a new lease of life – as a Scout Activity Centre – the coast line being closed some 5 years before Dr Beeching. Useage was only heavy in the summer, whilst the tunnels and bridges were expensive to maintain. (Thanks to Simon Chapman).

An excellent hand tinted postcard of the railway station in possibly 1907.

Looks different now.

Skelton station as we have never seen it, once again a lovely drawing, the station was South-East along the railway from Hollybush Bridge. It opened on 01.07.1902 and was closed to passangers on 10.09.1951, it was completely closed on 21.01.1964.    The building to the left of the picture was the Station Masters house which still stands.

North Skelton Station was at Holybush where Wilkinson Brothers Car Breakers yard is. I can remember some platforms still being there and am sure this is the one depicted in the etching. Stonehouse Brothers had this yard for coaches before Wilkinson Brothers and they would probably be able to confirm this if they see it. Just a little further along the line was Long Acres Pit which is also shown on site.

(image courtesy of Joan Webster and thanks to David Richardson and Derick Pearson.

Yes I know we have a photo of this bridge but not like this look at all those bricks, how long to draw all those?
(image courtesy of Joan Webster)

One of the two Rail Bridges at Claphow, Stanghow Road (the road connecting New Skelton directly to Lingdale). Due to mining subsidence the bridge was strengthen with the addition of a second arch inside the original arch. A buttress was added at the right hand side and four iron rods inserted through the parapet, whilst the left hand side was concreted.

(Image and information courtesy of Eric Johnson)

Obviously pre 1958 with a steam train, headed by Class L1 2-6-4t.No.67750 was constructed by the North British Locomotive Co. (NB Loco.Co) and was entered into British Railways active records on 9th December 1948. It was withdrawn from service on 9th December 1961. Approaching Easington and the tunnel from Loftus, at the former site of Grinkle station (Easington)with a Whitby to M’bro train. The original photograph was taken by the late Ken Hoole and the Ken Hoole Study Centre at Darlington owns the negative.

Thanks to Alan Featonby and Chris Davies for the updates and confirmation of location.

Here 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.

Engine no 67754 was in charge of the last passenger train from Whitby to Loftus, in 1958. on the left of the photo behind the boys on the platform can be seen a camping coach, several of the stations between here and Scarborough had these carriages in sidings at the stations, for holliday makers. thank you for that information Eric,  all help gratefully accepted, joanj.

The old station building still stands, it is now a private house, but still is an obvious former railway building.

A Class 37 in Railfreight livery passes what looks like a Class 31 stranded on the roads at Crag Hall, by the lean on it it looks like a broken spring.
As Russ tells us ”The 31 is actually derailed. It came off on the points leading to the headshunt that are worked from the box. I was having my annual assessment at the time and so was the signalman. Also the train was an inspection saloon from York, Ive never seen so many gaffers in one spot!  The cause was put down to poor maintainece of the point rodding and as the chief signalling engineer was in the saloon I reckon he would have got a lot of stick afterwards!” – which just goes to show what I know! – rodders

(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

Class 31, 31549, receives attention from the engineers at Crag Hall, notice the heavy lifting jack in use, broken spring or shattered axlebox?
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

Looks like they got it fixed – it’s now sat level on the 4 foot, running lights are on and the engineers are retiring to their carriage. (no doubt for tea and tiffin!).
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

Okay you railway buffs out there I know this is a train and I know it’s a steam train ’cos I can see the steam, but now I await you telling me more about it.

That’s a WD on a train from Skinningrove at Huntcliffe, roughly where the ring shaped sculpture is, making a racket no doubt, it looks windy but the exhaust is been blasted skywards.

Thank you Mark, I new some gentleman would come along and tell me all about it.

(image courtesy of Eric Johnson)

I  have it on good information that this is Saltburn viaduct, a steam train with a rake wagons filled with  ironstone passing over it. 

(image courtesy of Eric Johnson)

Well I have been informed that it is Twizziegill culvert and the digging of the railway and this has now been confirmed by David Richardson.
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum and thanks to David 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 tells us: ”

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.”

Thanks to Simon for the update.

A beautiful valley and an elegant structure, before the viaduct became unstable and was filled in with waste from the mine to create an embankment.

This postcard is a lovely example of early colour photography.  The original was posted in Loftus on July 30, 1905.

X marks the spot not of treasure, but of the unsafe pillar of the viaduct that caused it to be filled in with spoil from the mines.

(X marks the unsafe pillar of the Loftus to Carlin How Viaduct. 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. – John G)

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 while remedial action was taken.

Thank you once again Simon Chapman

A pair of Class 20s, led by 20070, cross the new bridge at Carlin How with a train of loaded Potash Hoppers. Both locos are equipped with multiple working connections, the second man being the guard. Both locos in ”Small Arrow” livery, and it looks like the Thornaby Kingfisher on the side (thanks for the verification Russ – rodders).
(image courtesy of Raymond Brown)

A late afternoon shot by the look of it, enough haze to fool the exposure meter, but definitely a pair of 37s, both in different BR liveries – the front one sporting the frog-eye headcode boxes.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

A pair of “Large Arrow” liveried Class 37s running light engine at Boulby.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

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: ”There are still semaphores but they 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.

I do like this image Russ – captures the ruggedness of the location perfectly with that haze/fog/mist shrouding Boulby Potash right up to the middle ground of the image.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

I hated these smelly, noisy, uncomfortable, draughty things – it made the bus worthwhile and a car inevitable. I notice that this is before Redcar Central Station became a business park and the railway became single track.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

The well-known gas holder on the right being passed by a late-liveried Class 56 – a vast improvement on the Class 47 – notice the multiple-working connections and lead on the front panel – one driver could drive all the locomotives in a multiple engine set.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

This time with a load of sections from Skinningrove, there’s novel! Full yellow ends and large logo. Never named, but renumbered!
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

This must be a fairly rare image, Guisborough Box (and line) are long gone, just surviving into the diesel era.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

A pair of immaculately turned out Class 20s standing at Crag Hall box with a train – they are being routed into Crag Hall Yard, so I have to assume that its a train of empties for Skinningrove Works.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

The Class 37, like the 25 and the 20, is the unsung hero of the diesel era. A scaled down Class 40 it has pulled everything under the sun, single, double and triple-headed!
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

There is something about black and white and railway images, they just seem to go well together. Here, a Class 37 and a train of empties head across the new bridge at Carlin How enroute to Boulby for loading.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

Possibly the same pair as the other post, just rolling with the loaded train.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

Slightly contre-jour, a photo of a couple of Class 20s in the classic nose-to-nose configuration, leaving the loading yard at Boulby Potash, bound for Saltburn Junction.

(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

I told Russ that my favourite diesels were Class 20s, Class 25s and Class 37s – there follows a whole series of lovely images from that privileged track-side position.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

A Class 37, number 37515, passes through Carlin How with a trainload of Potash from Boulby.
Notice the panel over the aperture left from the removal of the nose doors.
(image courtesy of Raymond Brown)

Taken from the bridge at Carlin How, a trainspotter’s special, or was it for Cleveland Potash’s Open Day? Raymond tells me it’s from the early to mid-80’s – the DMU colour scheme fits that era anyway!

A long while later and the platform has gone, the car park has arrived and a special makes its way from Redcar towards Black Bridge (must be a preserved loco on a charter run).

How many of you remember the excursion platform at Redcar? Well, there’s a car park there now, but in its heyday it was heaving (Redcar had a beach then, there was no deep water channel in the Tees, no Blast Furnace on the skyline and Redcar had two picture houses and a theatre).
I count 3 engines in steam here as well!

I couldn’t resist posting this image! 

David tells me that it’s Castleton Station, but when was a Class 55 ”Deltic” on the Whitby line, I know that there used to be one at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway?

Russ says ”Without sounding too trainspotterish,it was 55002 on a special to Whitby in summer 1981. I remember seeing it go through Ayton”.

Craig tells us: ”55002 did two Merrymakers from Newcastle to Whitby on 02/08/81 via Durham, Ferryhill, Stockton, and the 2nd one on the 30/08/81 via Sunderland, both I believe had what are now termed Mini Tours from Whitby to Middlesborough and return during the day.”

(thanks David, Russ and Craig for the updates)

Here’s a few railway pictures to keep the trainspotters happy (count me in – rodders) an EWS Class 56 no. 56032 standing at Boulby.
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

Class 56 no. 56055 outbound from Boulby with a train of Potash Hoppers. As Russ says, it’s in the LoadHaul livery!  Didn’t know they were all American owned now though – is nothing British anymore!
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

EWS Class 56 no. 56032 looking rather clean in this classic shot at Boulby.
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

A photograph of Staithes Viaduct, taken from the landward side, I think, showing a 5 coach train travelling towards Whitby, headed by a large tank engine (possibly an A8 (4-6-2T) or maybe a BR Standard tank (2-6-4T) – or even a Thompson  L1 tank (2-6-4T)  – thanks to Mark Thompson).

What a remarkably scenic railway this was – nowadays it would be the ideal candidate for preservation – and we cannot blame Dr Beeching for the closure of the line. As Andrew Hogan tells us: ”This line closed in 1958, Dr. Beeching did not come to power until 1962 and therefore had nothing to do with its closure.”  Thanks to Mark for that update.

Russ Piggott tells us: ”The loco is a class L1 2-6-4t and the photo was taken after 1956 as it has the later BR crest,maybe even closure day as there seems to be a lot of people (enthusiasts?) stood up and looking out of the coach windows.” Thanks to Russ for that update.

Staithes Viaduct, with a local commuter train, powered by a British Railways “Standard” tank engine.  This photograph was probably taken towards the end of the line’s existence, a two carriage train indicating the decline of rail traffic as increased fares and better road links caused migration away from the railways.

A view the viaduct from downstream, looking inland.  The train is heading towards Staithes station. Chris Davies tells us:”The engine is a Raven/Gresley A8 4-6-2t hauling a train of ex-NER and a Thompson suburban brake of the LNER.”

Thanks to Chris for that update.

Dismantling Staithes viaduct (thanks to Eric Johnson for the information).

According to ”Subterranea Britannica” this occured in 1960. (John G.)

Loftus station site is featured, with Carnaby Willis Timber Merchants Saw Mill (Carnaby Willis became a local benefactor in later years). The shed roof featured carried the caption heading to this image for many years. Many thanks to Derick Pearson for the update. John

The stationmaster and his porters line up to get their picture taken on Carlin How Station (the name wasn’t changed to Skinningrove until 1903).  Does anybody know who they are?

I’d love to build a model of this station – has anybody any drawings (it’d save me counting bricks – the only other way I know of working out the size of the building!)?

Doesn’t look real  does it?  The train going over Loftus viaduct is dumping shale from the mines to convert the viaduct into an embankment.  The viaduct was seriously weakened by undermining from the ironstone mines, so these drastic measures were taken to fix the problem.

But not by this train – a local commuter makes its way across the skyline towards Loftus as the biggest shale heap in the area takes shape!

Arthur Halton on Loftus station – anybody care to name the other two worthies in the image or try and put a date on it?

(image courtesy of P. Dolling)

An image of Loftus Railway Station, unfortunately a little age-bleached, but showing the beautiful Victorian canopy well.

(image courtesy of P. Dolling)

New London being the local nickname for Liverton Mines. The long sweep of the viaduct is easily visible in this image, as are the calcining kilns at Liverton Mine – the fumes from which used to rot the clothes of the labourers working on them.

Norman Patton says ”Our family moved from “Brickyard” to Liverton mines in 1952. The promise of a fitted bathroom and hot ‘n cold running water and our garden front and back was too much to resist! Wages at Kilton pit were good at the time and the Journey on push-bike much easier for our Father. We even had a television before the Coronation and the Stanley Matthews Cup Final(12? Black and White, Console model)! The new estate of council houses inspired the name ” New London” for the village and the council estate was the “Holy City”!”

(Brickyard being the local name for the Hartington Street, High Row and St Hilda’s Terrace area of Loftus – rodders)

A pristine locomotive – another A8, number 69883, a beautiful piece of photography!

(thanks Simon – rodders)

This is quite a well-known picture of North Skelton Junction. The train, hauled by a J27, is coming down the gradient from Brotton towards Saltburn. The line to the right served North Skelton Mine but had originally gone through to Priestcrofts Junction near Boosbeck. (words by Simon Chapman)

Chris Davies advises:”Engine number would be in the 65780-65894 range as it is of BR Class J27 0-6-0.”

Thanks to Simon and Chris for this inforamtion.

I wonder whether that first coach made it to preservation?  The locomotive a Raven/Gresley A8 4-6-2T 69862 didn’t, it was cut up at Darlington in 1958.

Taken from the old road bridge that carried the A171 over the railway at Slapewath (the scene of many minor bumps I seem to recollect), the picture shows the backs of the houses at Slapewath.  The train is approaching Spawood junction from Boosbeck.  It’s difficult to visualise this view now as the A171 re-alignment was so major, I seem to remember two bridges, one over the railway, one over the beck and one rail bridge over the road (to South Skelton (Park) pit) at Fancy Bank (the remains of the railway can be seen on the hillside as a gated forest road).  Some of the remains of the old road and rail structures can be seen with the beautiful viaduct at Spawood (now becoming enshrouded in trees) and the road bridge over the beck adjacent partly covered by the modern A171 as it sweeps down Fancy Bank.

I think the locomotive is numbered 67678, which would make it a V3 2-6-2T, but it’s not an easy one to see.

There’s not a lot to say about this image – it’s a photograph of Commondale Halt. (thanks for the correction Simon – rodders)

A shot of the Whitby-Middlesbrough platform at Grosmont Station, change here for Pickering and all intermediate stations.  Alan Woods can tell us the engine number as 69877.

The junction point of two railways, the Whitby-Pickering and the Whitby-Middlesbrough (I expect a comment from Mark Thompson here to give me the proper titles for these railways!) lines.  Both lines still traversable by train,  the Middlesbrough-Whitby Line having escaped the Beeching axe by virtue of remoteness (it wasn’t economically viable to replace the routes with a bus service) and the Grosmont-Pickering Line by the good fortune of becoming the first Heritage railway, The North Yorkshire Moors Railway. A line I’ve been travelling regularly since they had ”Salmon”.  Long may it flourish!

Thanks to Alan Woods for the update.

A good shot of BR Standard 2-6-4T 80118 standing at Guisborough Station with a local train.  It could be going either to Middlesbrough, Saltburn or Whitby, because Guisborough was a terminus on the old Cleveland Railway and there is no sense of ”up” and ”down” to tell you the apparent destination.  A subject for the Beeching axe, Guisborough nevertheless lasted longer than the steam engine and saw the advent of the Diesel Multiple Unit before its demise.

Anomalously called Skinningrove, but originally called Carlin How, nothing remains of this station now except a locked gate and some footings. The photographer is standing on the Loftus side looking towards Skinningrove Iron and Steel Works (the real reason for the re-naming of the station?).

Brotton Station - old faithful 80118, a BR Standard 2-6-4T, waits with a Loftus-bound local train.  Lovely atmospheric shot this one, plenty of life in it.

The view is looking south so the train is heading towards Huntcliff and Loftus, not Saltburn.  Thank you Simon

Not so old here – we’ve got colour light signals. A goods train, headed by 0-6-0 class J39 64848, chugs ponderously past – east of Thornaby Station, heading west on the goods line.

(thanks Simon, rodders and Alan Woods for updates).

This photo and others of the loco appear in the book ‘The Steam Locomotive Era of the Skinningrove Iron Company Ltd’ by David W Husband [Peter Tuffs, 2003]. The book gives the folowing information about the loco: ‘MINNIE’, built by Fox Walker of Bristol in 1878, works number 385. Entered service at Skinningrove in 1883, previously with John Waddell, contractor for the Loftus-Whitby railway, 1880-83. MINNIE was employed as a general use loco at Skinningrove and in this photo is on yard and gantry duty about 1920. Over the years MINNIE was rebuilt, notably her cab and steam dome. She was the longest-serving steam loco at Skinningrove and probably the best-loved. In August 1965 she moved to the Kent & East Sussex Railway for preservation and was still in steam in the late 1970s. In 1980 she was presented to Dover’s Transport Museum and by 2003 was at the Mangaps Farm Railway, Essex.

Thanks to Alan Woods for the inforamtion.

A quiet day at Marske Station.  Difficult to date this image, no people, no trains – Andy Rush believes it could be British Rail period based on the signage.

Russ Piggott tells us: ”it is probably after 1970, as there are no semaphore signals visible towards Saltburn. The Longbeck signal box took over the Marske/Saltburn area with colourlight signals in 1970.
The gas lights also lasted into the 70s, I clearly remember going to the station with my Grandad and them being present and working. My Grandparents moved to Marske in 1970.”

Thanks to Andy and Russ for the updated information.

This is another ex-Great Central Railway Robinson A5 number 69832 with a Darlington – Saltburn train between Redcar East and Marske.

Chris Davies advises: ”Loco is of GCR Robinson design but this version was in modified form to work in the north eastand built by Hawthorn Leslie in 1925. 69832 built October 1925 and withdrawn in November 1958.”

Thanks to Chris for that update.

A classic image of a Saltburn – Darlington train headed by a BR Standard Class 3 2-6-0 locomotive number 77013 passes the home signal approaching Redcar East Halt.

Thanks to ”Bald Eagle” who advises us that this is a Class 3 locomotive.

Another of Skinningrove’s delightful little loco’s – Hilda, dumb-buffered like Minnie, built by Thomas Peckett of Bristol in 1899.  Minnie was built by Fox Walker of Bristol in 1878 – same town different works!

(thanks to D. W. Husband and Eric Johnson for that information – rodders)

Double-headed by an Ivatt 3MT 2-6-2T number 41265, a Whitby and Moors Excursion rounds the reverse curve at Fen bog, a few miles South of Goathland (near Levisham), a long train from the West Riding requiring assistance up the gradients out of Levisham. The second loco is probably a B1. This location is also close to Fylingdales moor, sitting roughly below the radar station.

(freely adapted from Mark’s comment – rodders)

Another local commuter train underway, headed by a BR Standard tank, skirting the cliff edge at Kettleness.  The unusual configuration of the first coach can be clearly seen in this image.

A beautiful picturesque route, this would make a lovely leisure route today (after re-alignment to avoid the continuously advancing cliff edge!).

Whitby West Cliff Station – very quiet, only two carriages on the train.  An ex-LMS Fairburn 4MT 2-6-4T, not obviously in steam from this photo, but crewed up ready for the Saltburn leg of the trip.

Thanks to Mark Thompson for the information about the guards van and locomotive.

Class L1 No. 67754 in Whitby West Cliff station with local commuter train

Once again, a rather grainy photo – but one that was the end of an era, as it shows the workmen dismantling the railway.

Doctor Beeching is frequently blamed for closing many railways which he didn’t. The Loftus to Whitby Railway closed in May 1958, and Loftus Station closed to passengers in 1960 although goods deliveries continued until 1963. Although the caption is correct these closures were in place before Beeching presented his Report

Once again it’s Thank you Simon for putting me right.

Lovely clear shot of Loftus Station, the bank on the left would have taken us to Liverton Mines, clearly visible on the hill.

Must have been a very still day when this train pulled into the station as the smoke is going straight up. How I would love to be on that steam train now on the way to Whitby.

A train of empty iron-ore wagons rolls towards Skinningrove station , Brotton Cottage Hospital (Brotton Miner’s Hospital) in the background, headed by a rather grimy ’Austerity’ class 9 2-8-0 locomotive whose number looks like 90395.  This train isn’t bound for Skinningrove Iron works, the reception sidings are the lines branching away on the right.

A line-level shot of a local train in Hinderwell Station.  The loco is a 2-6-4 BR Standard Tank, number 80118, so this image could well be towards the end of the line’s life, certainly in the ’50s, when this class took over from A-series 4-6-2T.

For the railway modellers among you this particular locomotive is available from the Bachmann stable for ’OO’ gauge, in early BR livery – probably exactly this era (sorry for the geeky information).

Minnie about to leave Skinningrove Iron and Steel Works at the end of her life there.  Notice the changes in her appearance – dumb buffers replaced the sprung buffers (easier to push shunt the slag pots, iron ladles and ingot bogies), full crew cab (obviously taken from another redundant locomotive) and different safety valve arrangement – she had obviously had a refit during her long life on ”the ’Grove”.

Minnie at the beginning of her career at Skinningrove, canvas roof over the crew quarters, sprung buffers and very Victorian safety valve.  A good example of industrial photography. Driver is now identified as Thomas Baldwin (standing in front of Minnie in image). Thanks to Violet Shaw (nee Baldwin) for this inforamtion about her father.

Minnie was built by Fox Walker of Bristol in 1878

This must have ben a pretty important day, judging by the number of people standing around  and the obviously posed nature of the image – Eric tells us that it was possibly the blowing in of the new No. 5 Blast Furnace  (- so that would be 1950 then? – rodders)

Minnie, obviously refurbished and resplendent in a new coat of paint, in steam, prior to disposal.

Minnie left in 1968 for the Kent and East Sussex railway but has since moved to the Mangapps Railway Museum in Essex. – thanks once more to Mark Thompson

A picture of 0-4-0 saddle tank engine “Freebrough”, built by Andrew Barclay, Kilmarnock, taken by Eric johnson in 1963.  Awaiting disposal at the end of its working life. (thanks to Eric Johnson for the image and the comment – rodders).

The Sentinel diesels arrived in 1963. (Thanks once more Eric – rodders)

Skinningrove riggers loading Minnie onto an articulated lorry, for transport by road to the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

She now resides in Mangapp Railway Museum.

(thanks Chris – rodders)

I think this photograph (and several others in previous posts) must have been taken after Skinningrove took delivery of the Sentinel diesels.  I believe these locomotives are awaiting disposal, they are certainly all cold!

Same shot as the previous post, about 20 feet further along the track and squarer on.  I’m inclined to believe that the structure in the background was the conveyor to the Sinter Plant from the top end of the site.  The building in the background, housed the ore crusher, with conveyor belts from tippler in and belt out to No. 5 furnace. (thanks Eric)

Any other ex-Skinningrove men out there can help me out here? – I was only a staff man and didn’t see much of this side of the business (except as little sample packets with Nassington Ore written on them, despatched from the little cabin near the bottom Test House).

A rather poor photograph of Minnie.  I’d guess that the image was shot in poor light, possibly approaching dusk.

The building on the left housed the ore crusher, with conveyor belts from tippler in and belt out to No. 5 furnace, with the wagon tippler in this view in the background. Also can be seen the pedestrian gantry crossing the tracks and down to the fitting shop side. (thanks once again Eric)

A shot of a J25 0-6-0 loco, number 65663, (based at Whitby shed) and guard’s van leaving Raithwaite Viaduct towards Whitby on the ”pick-up” goods.  The locomotive is fitted with a snow-plough (known as a bufferbeam plough) .  The logo on the tender looks like an early BR roundel.

(thanks to Mark for details – rodders)

You’ll only see guard’s vans on preserved railways these days, despite objections from the railmen’s union they were removed from service early in the diesel era.

This is a photograph of Minnie, a diminutive 0-6-0 saddle-tank loco, much loved on Skinningrove Works.  In her day she was the work-horse on the site, seemingly everywhere, fussing about with a train-load of trucks.

I believe she was a quarry locomotive originally and I also believe that is where she went to end her days too after Skinningrove outgrew her.

Skinningrove Iron and Steel Works in the days of steam locomotives, on the right the Fitting Shop, with the Blacksmith’s Shop behind it.

“Elizabeth” with a rake of galley (iron ore)pans, passing under the pedestrian walkway over the ore crusher, Fitting shop side.  Mobile steam crane behind was “Jumbo”. (much better words than mine  – and more informative! – thanks Eric)

Another view of Loftus Station, looking towards Liverton Mines from the Rosecroft Lane bridge, visible in the previous post.

A neat and tidy Loftus Station with a Saltburn-bound train arriving, headed by the ubiquitous tank engine.  The Stationmaster is exchanging Tokens with the engine-driver, as Loftus was the end of one control block and the beginning of another in the Token-controlled single track railway system (basically the line was split into sections, each controlled by a token.  A train arriving at Loftus would surrender its Token (freeing up the section of track that it was leaving) and would receive a Token allowing it to proceed into the next section of track.  If there was still a train in the next section then the Stationmaster couldn’t give the engine driver a Token, so the train would be held at Loftus until the incoming train arrived and surrendered its Token).  This system is still in use on the Middlesbrough to Whitby branch, although, sadly there are no more Stationmasters and no more signal box staff (a control section always had a signal box), so there is a box on the control stations with a Victorian Lock Frame (to receive the Token) and another Victorian Lock Frame to dispense the next Token and a computer link to advise the Middlesbrough Control Centre of a ”train in section”.  All very sad, but I’ve no doubt all very efficient(!).

Loftus still has trains passing through, but none stop. The line now serves the Cleveland Potash Mine and sadly passengers are no longer a feature of the line after it departs Saltburn.

Another proud loco crew (and some extras!) stand with their gleaming charge!  As far as I can tell this is an 0-4-4 loco, of Victorian vintage, the location is unknown, but 0-4-4 locos were known to work the Middlesbrough to Whitby line.

The location is believed to be Loftus (outside the Goods Shed) between 1875 and 1883 – which would fit quite nicely! (thanks Simon – rodders)

The ubiquitous Diesel Multiple Unit, workhorse of the post-steam era, in this case a Metropolitan-Cammell se,t waits at Guisborough station (now only a memory, like the DMU).

Looks a very modern photograph, about mid-80’s we’re informed.  The locos are BR Class 20s, 20165 (at one time named ”Henry Pease” – how ironic!) and possibly 20118 (latterly named ”Saltburn-by-the-Sea”) – they typically operated ”nose-to-tail” as in this image.  With these big arrows they could have been blue with yellow ends, or, even later, grey with yellow ends. The picture was taken near the Guibal fan house at the base of Warsett Hill, Brotton.

This is a photograph of the old engine sheds at Skinningrove (please correct me if I’m wrong!).   The second small ”saddle-tank” loco from the left is the famous Minnie, so loved by all at ”the ’Grove”.

Of course I could be totally wrong – in which case I’ve got a good imagination and a large amount of egg on my chin!

The proud loco men pose for their photographs with their brand new locomotive.  The NER insignia being for the North Eastern Railway which became one of the component companies of the London and North Eastern Railway. This is a late Victorian image – I wonder if this is one of the locomotives that used to operate on the Skinningrove ”Z”?

Geoffrey Allen tells us: ”The loco is a class 1037 0-6-0T built at Darlington Works in 1876 one of a class of four specially built in 1876 for the Skinningrove Zig Zag. As pictured it is not new, but as rebuilt in the early 1890′s. The last of the class to work on the Zig Zag was No.1294 withdrawn from Carlin How shed in 1910. This class replaced the 1866 built Class 1196 0-6-0ST’s on the Zig Zag which at 6 tons heavier caused track damage. These were subsequently rebuilt from 1876 as 0-6-0 Tender engines and as rebuilt lasted until 1910.”

Many thanks to Geoffrey Allen for that update.

One of a series of photographs taken from Loftus Station, looking over the Station Yard.  This one taken in Winter from the bankside above the railway station, which can be seen bottom right with the goods yard behind it.

Still in the era of horse-drawn transport and unbraked rolling stock, so probably taken around 1900.

 This photograph was taken at Beck Meetings, Dale House on the 20th December 1884 (according to its caption).

It shows a train from Mr. Palmer’s Grinkle Park mine carrying workmen towards Port Mulgrave.  The loco’s were cabless to allow them to travel through the low tunnel under Ridge Lane.

(correction by Simon Chapman – rodders)