NELPG's 'The North East Explorer' Railtour 10th May 2008

11th May 2008

On 5th May 1958 direct services between Middlesbrough and Whitby, via Loftus & Staithes, were withdrawn.

Almost 50 years to the day later, on 10th May 2008 K1 number 62005 ‘Lord of the Isles’ and WCRC's 47760 ran on ‘The East Coast Explorer’ from Middlesbrough to Middlesbrough, via Tyne Yard, Durham, Darlington, Allens West, Eaglescliffe, Stockton, Billingham, Hartlepool, Haverton Hill, Port Clarence, Seal Sands, Thornaby, Redcar, Longbeck, Marske, Crag Hall, Skinningrove, Loftus and Boulby to name but a few.

Let alone being the first train down the branch to Seal Sands for some considerable time, it was the first time a steam loco has run along the 1976 extension to Seal Sands, the train was also the first steam train to Boulby for about 40 years.

The Day ;
A group of enthusiasts assembled at Middlesbrough railway station on a morning of 10th May 2008, awaiting the arrival of WCRC 47760 on the train from Newcastle (1Z50 07:45 Newcastle – Hartlepool) and K1 62005 from the sidings at Middlesbrough.

Both trains arrived pretty much together, 47760 into platform 2, and 62005 steaming up platform 1 at the same time.

The K1 was attached to the west facing end of the train. With the train ready to go (albeit with revised routeing) 62005 pulled away from Middlesbrough station. In fine form ‘Lord of the Isles’ steamed past Tees Yard, under Newport Bridge, past Thornaby Station, and onto Bowesfield Junction, taking the line for Stockton, passing TJ Thomson’s, and then onto Norton’s triangle junction arrangement.

As scheduled the train took the line to Ferryhill South (via Stillington).

After some superb haulage along the ‘Stilly Branch’ we joined the ECML at Tursdale Junction, north of Ferryhill.

Passing John Lonsdale at Browney (near Durham), then onto Durham station, where Gareth waited with his camera… After going into Durham station on platform 1 (a shock for some passengers to see a steam train while waiting for the likes of a voyager or HST set) we carried on passing Newton Hall, and Chester-le-Street, then Tyne Yard, where the hard working K1 had its thirst for water quenched…

The site of many stored 37’s at the yard prompted me to temporally give my window to other photographers wishing to get a ‘snap’ of the tractors close up, as not many opportunities like that come up!

After watering the K1 (wonder if anything grows), 47760 took the lead, running back down the East Coast Mainline, this time not coming off at Ferryhill, to Darlington, where we went down the avoider, and off for the line to Dinsdale and ultimately the Leeds Northern at Eaglescliffe.

After passing Eaglescliffe we used Stockton Cut Junction to get to Hartlepool, passing Norton, Billingham, Greatham Creek, Seaton and Cliff House on the way.

After a break at Hartlepool for photographs and to ‘leg-stretch’, the train set off to Billingham, where outside the signal box the train would reverse, then take the line to Haverton Hill, Port Clarence and Seal Sands.

A high visibility ribbon in a tree at Billingham marked where K1 62005 ‘Lord of the Isles’ could stop so that the coaches and the duff at the rear had cleared the junction.
The train was soon reversed, and 47760 took over for the run to Belasis Lane (next to Haverton Hill) and beyond. After stopping at the signal box at Belasis Lane to acquire the token for the line ahead we got underway with our trip to Port Clarence.

We arrived at Port Clarence shortly afterwards, stopping at the junction for Phillips petroleum (Petroplus) to ‘await instruction’. Then we got underway again, for Seal Sands junction, passing over un-gated level crossings, and going through what I call the ‘Wilds of Teesside’.

After a saunter along the track we arrived at Seal Sands Junction, a run round loop ahead of us, the junction to Seal Sands itself and a level crossing towards the K1 end of the train, a level crossing which the K1 didn’t clear, leaving a TESCO petrol truck and various cars and vans waiting.

After reversing at Seal Sands, we resumed our journey back to Port Clarence. It is important to note that in 1968 62005 was used at Phillips Refinery as a static emergency generator, this having insured its preservation!
We ran back along the Seal Sands branch, with the K1 leading, to water again at Port Clarence.

From Port Clarence we ran to Eaglescliffe, the train reversing again, and then heading for Middlesbrough, passing Thornaby and Tees Yard again. The train passed ‘boro’ and headed for the coast, stopping at Redcar Central for the crossing to be operated then passing Longbeck and Marske before branching off at Saltburn West Junction and up the goods only line to Boulby.

Passing through tranquil woodland, and peaceful glades, the train journeyed on, to its goal of Boulby.

Rounding Hunt Cliff, and Warsett Hill giving superb views of Saltburn and the coast, then passing Crag Hall, Carlin Howe, Loftus and Grinkle Tunnel in all of its 992 yard long reverence, as we emerged from the tunnel we neared Boulby, its chimneys and buildings could be seen on the horizon through the tree’s. Slowly the train pulled up outside of the works at Boulby. The reversal letting 62005 ‘Lord of the Isles’ take over. After about five minutes it became apparent that the gradient out of Boulby, towards Grinkle Tunnel was pushing the limits of 62005 and the 47 have to help take the strain, until we cleared Grinkle Tunnel…
Returning to Middlesbrough, steaming flat out through Redcar Central felt exhilarating, how excellent that a locomotive like this can still see mainline service and with a vengeance! It just shows how the efforts of those like NELPG, WCRC and others do go far… At the end of an excellent day, I had a short chat to Richard who works with my father, who has gone to Scotland with 62005 this year…

Thanks go to Albert Ellis, and NELPG…

47760 arrives at Middlesbrough on 1Z50 Newcastle - Hartlepool, ready for 62005 to take the lead... 2008-05-10 09:07:03	62005 rounds Hartburn Curve near Stockton on 1Z50 Newcastle - Hartlepool 2008-05-10 09:27:57	62005 rounds Hartburn Curve near Stockton on 1Z50 Newcastle - Hartlepool 2008-05-10 09:29:01	47760 passes Urlay Nook signal box on 1Z50 Newcastle - Hartlepool 2008-05-10 12:03:10
47760 passes Urlay Nook signal box on 1Z50 Newcastle - Hartlepool 2008-05-10 12:03:18	2008-05-10 12:35:39	62005 gets dragged out of Hartlepool to be put onto the other line... 2008-05-10 12:51:55	62005 gets dragged out of Hartlepool to be put onto the other line... 2008-05-10 12:52:20
62005 masterfully steams round the curve at Hartlepool, onto the Disused Platform side of the station... 2008-05-10 12:58:47	62005 masterfully steams round the curve at Hartlepool, onto the Disused Platform side of the station... 2008-05-10 12:58:53	62005 masterfully steams round the curve at Hartlepool, onto the Disused Platform side of the station... 2008-05-10 12:58:55	62005 masterfully steams round the curve at Hartlepool, onto the Disused Platform side of the station... 2008-05-10 12:58:55
47760 on the tail of 62005 at Hartlepool 2008-05-10 12:59:54	47760 on the tail of 62005 at Hartlepool 2008-05-10 12:59:56	47760 on the tail of 62005 at Hartlepool 2008-05-10 12:59:59	62005 waits for its time to shine at Hartlepool 2008-05-10 13:07:11
62005 on the disused side of Hartlepool’s platform 2008-05-10 13:07:20	62005 on the disused side of Hartlepools platform 2008-05-10 13:11:30	62005 gets dragged again out of Hartlepool Station, to pick up its waiting passengers... 2008-05-10 13:22:30	With a massive crowed 62005 pulls into Hartlepool to pick up its passengers and progress to Billingham... 2008-05-10 13:26:48
With a massive crowed 62005 pulls into Hartlepool to pick up its passengers and progress to Billingham... 2008-05-10 13:26:53	47760 powers over Billingham North Junction towards Haverton Hill and Seal Sands... 2008-05-10 13:57:18	47760 approaches Port Clarence on 1Z51 Hartlepool - Newcastle 2008-05-10 14:06:38	The tour approaches Port Clarence with the Transporter Bridge keeping watch over proceedings. 2008-05-10 14:06:42
47760 after stopping for instructions powers along the 'Wilds' of Teesside passing Port Clarence 2008-05-10 14:13:37	47760 motors (albeit slowly) up the Seal Sands branch. In what I call the 'wilds' of Teesside 2008-05-10 14:17:28	47760 travels along the branch to Seal Sands passing the Nature Reserve... 2008-05-10 14:17:32	47760 at Seal Sands Branch Junction the run round seen infront of the loco, used when the HCN trains ran from Seal Sands BASF - Haverton Hill... 2008-05-10 14:24:36
62005 travels to Port Clarence for water, passing its former home... 2008-05-10 14:30:39	62005 at Port Clarence, with the Transporter Bridge... 2008-05-10 14:32:32	62005 and Port Clarence signal box... 2008-05-10 14:32:56	62005 pulls away from Port Clarence 2008-05-10 15:06:26
47760 rounds Hunt Cliff on 1Z51 Hartlepool - Newcastle 2008-05-10 16:45:57	47760 rounds Hunt Cliff on 1Z51 Hartlepool - Newcastle 2008-05-10 16:46:05	47760 rounds Hunt Cliff on 1Z51 Hartlepool - Newcastle, if you look past the loco, you can see Skinningrove Steel Works and the related industries at Crag Hall... 2008-05-10 16:46:11	47760 at Boulby... 2008-05-10 17:04:37
62005 pauses in the pleasant woodland near Grinkle Tunnel, the K1 required some assistance up the gradient here... 2008-05-10 17:23:02	62005 enters the 992 yard long Grinkle Tunnel 2008-05-10 17:25:39	62005 passes Loftus on 1Z51 Hartlepool - Newcastle... 2008-05-10 17:28:46	In the late afternoon sunlight 62005 skirts the cliff edge at Hunt Cliff near Brotton 2008-05-10 17:57:54
In the evening sun, 62005 arrives at Middlesbrough working 1Z51 Hartlepool - Middlesbrough 2008-05-10 18:37:46	62005 back at Middlesbrough after a great day... 2008-05-10 18:40:16	... signalling the end of my day was 47760 leaving Middlesbrough... 2008-05-10 18:43:59

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