One for the train buffs.

[NewcastleFalcon]

A little further downstream under the A69 bridge the Border Counties Railway crossed the River Tyne about half a mile from the watersmeet of North and South Tyne rivers as previous post.

Then "An unusual low-level view of (the) Border Counties Bridge at Hexham with Blaydon allocated D49 4-4-0 'The Percy' crossing the River Tyne with a northbound service."

Now The bridge carrying the Border Counties Railway from Hexham to Riccarton Junction in Roxburghshire, diverged from the Newcastle to Carlisle line at this point. The railway was operational from 1851 to 1958.

Neil

[CitroJim]

Love seeing these pictures of old, abandoned railway infrastructure Neil Keep 'em coming

[mickthemaverick]

Just out of interest I thought you might like to know that the video I made of 'Fenchurch' during my birthday treat, you can find it here, has now clocked up an amazing 3300 views on Youtube!!

[CitroJim]

Out on our bikes today for a superb ride of more miles than I normally drive It was warm enough to be in summer gear!

We were held up at not one but two level crossings... One was a passenger train on its way to Bedford and the other was a freight train full of rubbish

A nice class 66 in Biffa livery...

I understand its a relatively new 'flow' of rubbish from Wembley to sidings near Bedford - presumably to fuel the big incinerator/ power station thereabouts...

[NewcastleFalcon]

One or two to keep the thread chugging along

Solar Illuminated Signals!

Neil

[CitroJim]

That's neat Neil... I like that

This thread may chug along but that Class 66 on full chat we saw at the crossing was hardly chugging!

[NewcastleFalcon]

One of the most iconic UK Viaducts in wild and bleak terrain under dark skies at Ribblehead.

Neil

[CitroJim]

^^ I need to both see that and ride across it one day Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

I did wonder if the timetable could be made to work to take the train from Ribblehead Station to next stop at Dent and then back again. Ribblehead station is literally the middle of nowhere, not really serving the needs of agriculture/or quarrying or viaduct building anymore but still open, with a little cafe and a bit of an information centre. Plenty folk park up the cars and walkdown to the viaduct, some even take their vehicles down the access track maybe for one of those "brochure" photo's. That was in my mind too, but it seemed a litle dubious as to whether it was the "done thing" or not.

While mooching around and taking photos up at the station had a good chat with a chap who worked for Network Rail on his day off. He had got off at Horton in Ribblesdale then hiked up to Ribblehead and was getting the train back to Leeds then on to Wakefield. He had some fantastic pictures on his phone which he had taken of the Viaduct with the Aurora Borealis as a backdrop from a couple of weeks back.

Here's a little gallery of my snaps at various points

Settle Water Tower	Settle Signalbox	Settle Station
Horton-in-Ribblesdale	Horton-in-Ribblesdale Station	View from H-i-R station
Ribblehead Viaduct	Ribblehead Station	Ribblehead Station-Ticket Office

Neil

[CitroJim]

That's superb Neil I saw on TV the water tower is now a rather swish dwelling

[NewcastleFalcon]

That's superb Neil I saw on TV the water tower is now a rather swish dwelling

You tube curently has the whole programme as long as it remains up...George Clarke Restoration Man. Michael Portillo has also been there on his TV travels.

This link starts at the walkround of the finished conversion...

link Settle Water Tower Conversion

Neil

[CitroJim]

That's the one Neil George Clarke. Enjoyed that episode...

[NewcastleFalcon]

That's the one Neil George Clarke. Enjoyed that episode...

A little detail which didn't pass the Falcon eye unnoticed. The gorgeous ceramic insulators from the railside telegraph poles as newel post caps on the staircase. Excellent targets when the local railway was closed and the track lifted in the 60's. Collectable now in their various shapes and forms, and a nice detail in the conversion of the water tower.

By no means the first time insulators from trackside telegraph poles have had their moment in the spotlight.
Trivia Investigation case no 3 The Black rubber thing ( viewtopic.php?p=660737#p660737 ) investigates this... know your gutta percha!



Neil

[CitroJim]

That's the best use of insulators I've seen in a while Neil Missed that bit when I watched it...

[RichardW]

45407 'The Lancashire Fusilier' is on its way down South from Fort William (where it has been on the Jacobite Express duties for the summer) to Carnforth today, and was stopped in at Carstairs Junction so we went down for a look.

Was double headed with Class 37 'Loch Rannoch'

There was another small diesel unit on the rear, but didn't realise that till it was pulling out the station.

A long day out for them, they left FW at 09.00 and not due at Carnforth till midnight!