1969/03/xx, 06. "Austerity" 0-6-0ST IC NCB No. 48 (Hunslet 2864/1943) gets its bunker refilled with the local produce by a bulldozer/digger in the sidings at Eccles Colliery, Backworth, March 1969.

1969/03/xx, 07. A rare beast indeed is NCB No. 41, the sole surviving Consett Iron Company's 0-6-0PT, built on the Stephenson "long boiler" principle (Kitson 2509/1883). This had been resold to the NCB many years earlier, but sadly by this time it was out of use at Derwenthaugh. March 1969.

1969/03/xx, 08. Austerity 0-6-0ST IC NCB No. 59 (Vulcan Foundry 5300/1945) had presumably been transferred from the Philadelphia system (it has the cut-down cab for use on that line) and is here seen in front of a wondrous "torpedo" style water tank at the northern end of Clockburn Drift, served by Derwenthaugh shed. March 1969, and yes, that is snow on the fields in the background! Thanks to Colin Mountford for correcting the location!

1969/03/xx, 09. On the opposite side of the River Derwent to Derwenthaugh was Swalwell Disposal Point. Here, "Mech. Navvies Ltd" Austerity 0-6-0ST IC No. 71515 simmers in the snow between duties. It is painted in an attractive Indian Red livery and is nicely clean. March 1969. The number is the loco's WD identity, it was built by RSH, No. 7169 of 1945. It was sold to the East Somerset Railway for preservation as BR No. 68005 (a fictitious identity!) before moving to the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway. It is now privately owned and undergoing restoration to NCB condition before being used at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway.

1969/03/xx, 10. 0-6-0ST (OC) NCB No. 58 shunts at the Weetslade Washery on the Burradon system. It is snowing heavily and is now settling, the engine crew have fitted their foul weather boards into the cab windows to try and keep the worst of it out! After all, work (and photography) must go on! March 1969.

1969/06/xx, 01. Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) NCB No.49 (Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn 7098/1943) in lined apple green livery shunts in the yard at Eccles Colliery on the Backworth system, June 1969.

1969/06/xx, 02. NCB Wagons in the sidings at West Allotment on the line from Backworth to the staithes at Whitehill Point on the Tyne. The coal industry was something of a harsh environment! June 1969.

1969/06/xx, 03. A nice coincidence at Backworth station on the North Tyneside Loop line, as a DMU (in original green livery) on duty B5 gets ready to depart for Newcastle from the Whitley Bay direction as 0-6-0ST NCB No. 60 crosses over the bridge running light engine from West Allotment to Backworth Colliery. The North Tyneside Loop was electrified in LNER days but changed to diesel traction when the equipment became life-expired. It has since been re-electrified as part of the Tyneside Metro system.

1969/06/xx, 04. A rare occurrence at Backworth it seems - the sun has come out! Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) NCB No. 54 stands on the level-crossing at Eccles Colliery before taking the line towards Fenwick Colliery. In the background are two more engines in the colliery yard. June 1969.

1969/06/xx, 05. Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) NCB No. 54 shunts a rake of ancient NCB wagons (ex-NER) in the yard at Eccles Colliery, Backworth, alongside the line from Fenwick Colliery on the left. June 1969.

1969/06/xx, 06. 0-6-0ST (OC) NCB No. 47 (RSH 7849/1955) brings a train of ancient ex-NER wagons over the level crossing of the BR Blyth & Tyne line as it works from Fenwick Colliery towards Eccles Colliery on the Backworth system. The signal protecting the crossing has already been put back to danger. June 1969.

1969/06/xx, 07. Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) NCB No. 48 (Hunslet 2864/1943) crossing the BR Blyth & Tyne line on the level from Eccles Colliery as it makes its way with a loaded coal train heading for the exchange sidings with BR. The signalbox controlling the crossing is just out of the picture to the left. June 1969.

1969/06/xx, 08. Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) NCB No. 48 (Hunslet 2864/1943) has just come across the level crossing over the BR Blyth & Tyne line (protected by signals) with a loaded coal train and is heading into the backshunt on the left of the picture from the exchange sidings with BR to the right of the picture. The line straight on goes to Fenwick Colliery which can just be seen in the distance above the rake of wagons in the sidings, where another engine is waiting. June 1969.

1969/06/xx, 09. Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) NCB No. 6 (WB 2749/1944) passing Tyne Improvement Commission No. 9 signalbox at Whitehill Point, above the staithes on the north bank of the River Tyne, June 1969.

1969/08/xx, 1. Ex-GWR/BR 57xx Class 0-6-0PT No. 7754 had been sold to the NCB for further use on the line from Abersychan & Talywain to Blaensychan Colliery in South Wales. It is on its way from Talywain with a train of empty wagons returning to the colliery along the steep, grassy track! Built by North British (24042/1930), the engine had been re-painted in bright green livery and carried the number NCB 7754. August 1969.

1969/08/xx, 2. Ex-GWR/BR 57xx Class 0-6-0PT No. 7754 had been sold to the NCB for further use on the line from Abersychan & Talywain to Blaensychan Colliery in South Wales. It is on its way from Talywain with a train of empty wagons returning to the colliery along the steep, grassy track! Built by North British (24042/1930), the engine had been re-painted in bright green livery and carried the number NCB 7754. August 1969.

1969/08/xx, 3. NCB Barclay 0-4-0ST (OC) "Dora" shunts in the industrial wasteland that was once the Blaenavon Colliery complex in South Wales. Sister engine "Nora" was also here but out of use. Parts of this complex later became the "Big Pit" museum, and other parts became the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway. August 1969.

1971/01/19, 1. Alongside the line from Leeds to Selby at Micklefield was Peckfield Colliery. Here, on the left is 0-6-0T (OC) NCB No. S.100 (Hudswell Clarke 1822/1949), while on the right Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) No. 3891/1965 propels some coal wagons towards the tip sidings on a cold but sunny winter's day, Tuesday 19th January 1971. The Hunslet saddle tank was originally built by Hudswell Clarke (No. 1763/1944) but was bought by Hunslet and rebuilt on the Gas Producer system and acquired a new identity! No. S.100 was also modified on this system and is now based at the Chasewater Railway.

1971/01/19, 2. A BR DMU with a train from Leeds to Hull via Selby is on the ex-NER line passing Peckfield signalbox and colliery at Micklefield. On the left in the colliery yard is 0-6-0T (OC) NCB No. S.100 (HC1822/1949), while on the right is Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) No. 3891/1965 (previously Hudswell Clarke No. 1763/1944). Tuesday 19th January 1971. Both engines were modified with the Gas Producer Combustion System and No. S.100 is now on the Chasewater Railway.

1971/01/19, 3. NCB 0-6-0T (OC) Whit No. 4 (HC1844/1951), in clean maroon livery poses in the winter sunshine with a tipper wagon on the line from Water Haigh Colliery to the staithes on the Aire & Calder canal near Woodlesford, at the point where the line crossed under the Normanton to Leeds main line. Tuesday 19th January 1971.

1971/01/19, 4. NCB 0-6-0T (OC) WHIT No. 4 (HC1844/1951) simmers in the winter sunshine after propelling a train of coal wagons from the colliery at Water Haigh, Woodlesford, Yorkshire, to the barge loading facility alongside the Aire & Calder canal. The bridge in the background carries the Midland main line from Sheffield to Leeds. Tuesday 19th January 1971.

1971/01/19, 5. Another one of the Hunslet modified Gas Producer "Austerity" 0-6-0ST's, numbered 134, (HE3168/1944, later named "Wheldale") sits out of use in the yard at Primrose Hill colliery, West Yorkshire, together with various ancient wagons on Tuesday 19th January 1971.

1971/01/19, 6. A very nicely kept maroon-liveried Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST (HE 2879/1943 - at some stage named "Diana" though it was carrying no name at this point) takes water from the “Torpedo” type water tower close by the level-crossing at Wheldale Colliery, Castleford, on Tuesday 19th January 1971. Wheldale Colliery lasted longer than some in the area, but it too is now long since closed.

1971/01/19, 7. A very nicely kept maroon-liveried Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST (HE 2879/1943 - at some stage named "Diana" though it was carrying no name at this point) takes water from the “Torpedo” type water tower close by the level-crossing at Wheldale Colliery, Castleford, on Tuesday 19th January 1971. Wheldale Colliery lasted longer than some in the area, but it too is now long since closed.

1971/09/30. Sadly now dumped and out of use, NCB Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) stands alongside the BR coast line from Sunderland to Hartlepool and Middlesbrough at Blackhall Colliery. It is identified by the legend "National Coal Board Durham Division No. 4 Area" on the side of the bunker and "Delta No. 2502/11" on the cabside. A rather splendid slotted post semaphore signal completes the scene! Thursday 30th September 1971.

1977/04/24. Lambton Hetton & Joicey Collieries Railway 0-6-2T No. 29 (Kitson 1904) speeds down the gradient from Ellerbeck summit towards Moorgates with "The Moorlander" train returning from Pickering to Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on Sunday 24th April 1977. The engine is carrying Lambton livery but the initials "NYMR" of its host railway - nowadays it is in the same livery but with "LHJC" on the tanksides.

1995/07/09. The NER Tanfield branch is now partially re-opened as the Tanfield Railway. Signalman Neville Whaler is outside the re-commissioned Marley Hill Crossing signalbox to receive the token from the crew of No. 20 "Tanfield". Confusingly, this is not a Bowes Railway engine, but is very similar to Bowes Railway No. 20 (Area No. 83, seen in an earlier picture!). This one is 0-6-0ST IC Bagnall 2778/1945 and has been painted in Bowes Railway Marley Hill livery. The remains of the Bowes Railway form the right to left track in this picture, but end at the in-filled cutting just out of the picture to the left. Sunday 9th July 1995.

2005/05/11. 66112 waits at Oxcroft Disposal Point as one of the site's shunters propels a rake of HAA hopper wagons under the loading plant, while another shunter is stabled in the foreground loop. 08:15, Wednesday 11th May 2005.