Locomotives
Andrew Barclay 22 of 1949, works number 2274. She is the only surviving Bowes railway steam locomotive she was delivered to Springwell bank foot loco shed on 20th October 1949. Being number Bowes 22 upon arrival. She spent four years working the Jarrow end of the railway, before moving around the local Durham pits - East Tanfield Colliery in July 1954, Tanfield Lea Colliery October, November 1957 and April 1958 (on loan), Bowes Marley Hill shed in November 1959, operating as the Burnopfield pilot until August 1968. She was transferred to St. Anthony's Tar Works in Newcastle upon Tyne. It did little work there, and none at all after 1973. In 1976 it was placed on loan to the Bowes Railway , although she now belongs to the railway. Operational
Andrew Barclay W.S.T. of 1954, works number 2361. Named William Steuart Trimble after the Deputy Chairman of the Long Meg plaster and mineral Co Ltd. She was a most modern locomotive using all available technology. Based at the Long Meg works later transferred to Cocklakes works (now owned by British Gypsum) she was a standby for the diesel locomotives at the plant. She was later placed on loan by British Gypsum to Bowes in 1980, before becoming a Bowes engine in 2008. Awaiting new steam pipe
Hibbert Planet 101 of 1959, works number 3922. This is another locomotive which spent its working life at Bowes. With her sister locomotive she was built to operate over the Pelaw main curve (our current running line) She was delivered on 1st January 1960, and spent 14 years at Springwell, her slow speed earning her the nickname "Wells Fargo". After closure of the line she was repaired at Springwell and then transferred between several collieries in the area, eventually ending up at the Philadelphia shed of the Lambton Railway in 1977. Finally becoming surplus to requirements No.101 was acquired for the Bowes Railway and returned to Springwell in 1979.
Stopped - gear box repairs
Stopped - gear box repairs
Hunslet of 1964, works number 6263. Delievered new to South Western Gas Board in Exeter. Following the closure of Exeter works she was sold to the coal board and used at Derwenthaugh cokeworks,in 1972 to Norwood cokeworks, 1973 Hawthorn cokeworks before a final move in 1977 to Lambton cokeworks. She arrived at Springwell in December 1988.
Operational
Operational
Ruston of 1963, works number 476140. Spending its working life at Redhaugh Gas Works until 1967 and used on other industrial sites until 1972. It spent its early preservation history as the shunter at Beamish Museum - moving to Bowes in June 2010. It has a low power output at 88h.p. she is engaged on light duties. The Ruston now has a new donkey engine and overhauled compressors.
Under overhaul |
Stationary engines/ Haulers
There are two Haulers on the railway - Blackhams Hill and the yard hauler.
Blackhams Hill first opened in 1826 with the railway, but little is known of the original engine. In 1854 she was replaced
by a second-hand beam engine built by Thomas Murray of Chester-le-Street. It had a 27 x 48 inch cylinder with a single eccentric with grab motion to the slides. This engine worked the inclines by two rope drums, only one of which could be in gear at any time. Both of the haulage ropes came out of the building on the West side, so a large return wheel was placed under the track to turn the east rope. The third engine and present hauler house were commissioned in 1915. The engine was built by Andrew Barclay, Sons and Co Ltd of Kilmarnock (maker's No 7923). It had 18 x 36 inch (45.7 x 91.4 cm) horizontal cylinders.After 30 years work she suffered a broken bedplate, this was repaired and she continued to work with reduced loads until it was replaced in 1950. The present engine was commissioned on 30th July 1950, most of the installation work being completed in the space of only two weeks (the annual mineworkers' holiday). The engine is a 300 hp electric engine built by Metropolitan Vickers Ltd of Manchester and M.B. Wild and Co of Birmingham. Its electric motor drives through a reduction gearbox to the main driveshaft which passes between the rope drums. This is the main hauler for both our east and west inclines. Operational, but requiring new electric cable
Yard Hauler a small demonstration hauler is located behind Butlins to shunt waggons from the works. The engine constructed by Clarke Chapman of Gateshead in 1926. She is works number 2600. Operational, requires new electric cable
More information on the operation of the inclines, is available on the Rope Haulage page.
Blackhams Hill first opened in 1826 with the railway, but little is known of the original engine. In 1854 she was replaced
by a second-hand beam engine built by Thomas Murray of Chester-le-Street. It had a 27 x 48 inch cylinder with a single eccentric with grab motion to the slides. This engine worked the inclines by two rope drums, only one of which could be in gear at any time. Both of the haulage ropes came out of the building on the West side, so a large return wheel was placed under the track to turn the east rope. The third engine and present hauler house were commissioned in 1915. The engine was built by Andrew Barclay, Sons and Co Ltd of Kilmarnock (maker's No 7923). It had 18 x 36 inch (45.7 x 91.4 cm) horizontal cylinders.After 30 years work she suffered a broken bedplate, this was repaired and she continued to work with reduced loads until it was replaced in 1950. The present engine was commissioned on 30th July 1950, most of the installation work being completed in the space of only two weeks (the annual mineworkers' holiday). The engine is a 300 hp electric engine built by Metropolitan Vickers Ltd of Manchester and M.B. Wild and Co of Birmingham. Its electric motor drives through a reduction gearbox to the main driveshaft which passes between the rope drums. This is the main hauler for both our east and west inclines. Operational, but requiring new electric cable
Yard Hauler a small demonstration hauler is located behind Butlins to shunt waggons from the works. The engine constructed by Clarke Chapman of Gateshead in 1926. She is works number 2600. Operational, requires new electric cable
More information on the operation of the inclines, is available on the Rope Haulage page.
Passenger Stock
The railway operates three brake vans as the core of our passenger fleet. From left to right they are...
- Lambton, Hetton and Joicey Colliery A 18 of 1933. In Harton colliery livery. Operational
- LMS van number 1872 Van No.3 used at Scunthorpe Steelworks, in Bowes livery. Operational
- Midland railway 'Barrington' van of 1920.Van No.2 used on the Barrington light railway. Operational.
The waggon Fleet
Our extensive waggon fleet amounts to around 40 vehicles, these are included in the sites status as a scheduled ancient monument. The fleet is discussed below...
Thomas Smith (Rodley) & Co rail crane of 1948, works number 18773. Constructed for Hartlepool shipbuilders William Gray & Co the crane was originally steam powered. Then acquired by South Durham Steel & Iron Co for their Hartlepool works later being rebuilt with a diesel engine and new cab. Passing to British Steel it was considered too light and did little work until 1979 when the only man that knew how to drive it retired and the crane laid to one side. It was purchased in 1980 for £150. Static
PWD waggon. Used as a permanent way storage van. Operational
Chauldron waggon, Pontop and Jarrow flat waggon and Dandy cart. A traditional train from early north east railway operations. Black waggons such as this were all withdrawn from the Bowes Railway by 1911. Operational
Bowes reel waggon - specially designed waggon employed to change the ropes on the inclines. Operational
Kibblesworth Drift waggon - B1 is a specialist waggon used for shunting at Kibblesworth colliery - fitted with gong and operators platform. Operational
National coal board tank waggon number 1183, built at Seaham Waggonworks for the Hawthorn (ex South Hetton) railway. Operational
Darlington Iron framed - supplied by the Darlington Wagon & engineering company in 1887. Number 122 is the sole survivor she is in Pontop and Jarrow livery of 1900. Operational
Jubilee waggons,
Numbers: 197, 202 (on loan off site), 210 Static
Numbers: 197, 202 (on loan off site), 210 Static
Ordinary waggons became the standard Bowes waggon:
Numbers: 289, 525, 572, 573, 605, 775, 788, 842, 939, 971 Static
Numbers: 80, 308, 364, 511, 717, 782 Operational
Numbers: 289, 525, 572, 573, 605, 775, 788, 842, 939, 971 Static
Numbers: 80, 308, 364, 511, 717, 782 Operational
Stripey waggons were purchased second hand from the North Eastern railway, gaining their name from the NER livery they carried - grey with a white stripe.
Numbers: 1104, 1111, 1160, 1212, 1220, 1254, 1255 Static
Numbers: 1107, 1289, Operational
Numbers: 1104, 1111, 1160, 1212, 1220, 1254, 1255 Static
Numbers: 1107, 1289, Operational
Loco coal bogie. Used for supply coal to the locomotive sheds at Springwell (bank foot) and Marley Hill Number 1424 is the only survivor. Under overhaul
Flat Waggon B53 - Operational
Bogie waggons - 1 plank waggon number B3 Operational,
2 plank B49, built from parts of arson damaged waggon Operational.
Three planks B24, B33 & B39. Operational.
Nanny waggon (G4) Static
Permanent way trolley Operational
Bogie waggons - 1 plank waggon number B3 Operational,
2 plank B49, built from parts of arson damaged waggon Operational.
Three planks B24, B33 & B39. Operational.
Nanny waggon (G4) Static
Permanent way trolley Operational
The railway operates eight modern steel hopper waggons.
6972 & 6977 14 ton steel hoppers of 1957 Operational.
6067 21 ton hopper of 1956 Operational.
944 A 25 ton East Hetton hopper of 1944 Operational.
Metro Cammell Ballast hopper of 1951 Operational
Wheetslade 21ton hopper 6056 Operational
6196 & 6005 Ashington steel hoppers Static
6972 & 6977 14 ton steel hoppers of 1957 Operational.
6067 21 ton hopper of 1956 Operational.
944 A 25 ton East Hetton hopper of 1944 Operational.
Metro Cammell Ballast hopper of 1951 Operational
Wheetslade 21ton hopper 6056 Operational
6196 & 6005 Ashington steel hoppers Static