LSG Returns..
(getting back into the game again)
Well Hello there, sorry this trip reports a bit late but Railways died on their backside for a bit with me, I've had a few issues, I won't bore you all with details, I think it's fair to say, throughout this pandemic, we've all had our fair share of the brown stuff. I just hope everyone's OK and with restrictions eased I sincerely hope, everyone's making the most of it too.
One thing that the pandemic brought was everyone going for walks, a mate of mine, is a very outdoors type and also excellent at finding places to go walking, he's an old railway crank from the 70s, so he introduced my girlfriend and I to some walks that were old railway lines in the North East. Bowes Railway, Tanfield, the sight were the Stella Power Station used to be, now Blaydon Burn. My personal fave was one at Derwentwaugh, a mere 15mins from my house by car. Its where the Railway ran up to Consett from Swalwell. One of the former platforms at Swalwell Station platform is still visible although largely overgrown but as you wander on you come to what was Lintz Green Station, both platforms can be walked on, as can the footbridge that links them. I had to, just to say I had a shack, that maybe a few of you Shack-aholics hadn't.
As you walk further to the viaducts, there's a stunning view from them to the rolling hills and where you can freely watch Buzzards and Red Kites going about there daily business. If your into your walking and in the area give it a visit.
However the girlfriend and I were having an afternoon stroll from Dunston past the Staithes, and along by the Tyne, towards the Millennium bridge. We were seeing the Azumas, Voyagers and Novas going over the King Eddie Bridge, when my girlfriend said I wonder where they've been or going? She was quite shocked when I told her where they'd likely to be have been or going to. How do you know that, I'm asked, this turned into a tale of my love of railways past. A walk to Tyne Yard, saw me actually stand on the bridge for the first time in years, largely recounting the many hours, I'd stood on this bridge, overlooking the yard, with mine and other friends parents, to the days I was old enough to go with just with mates, where we'd stand and take piss out of each other for the duration, occasionally we'd try planning trips.
I stood there with a smile, as I told my girlfriend, we must've sickened that foreman, with the words, can we go and get the locos off the stabling point or Any chance of a TOPS Reports. Sadly Tyne Yard was dead, as a door nail, today there's only a 325 and a handful of new Azumas caged off at the bottom of the yard and a Hull trains version stood nearest the Bridge and a Voyager was stood in the fueler.
Christ Almighty, How the mighty (to me, at least) had fallen. Even the Blunts(91s) had gone and they're relatively new, this place used to have its own gronks at one point. Not even a slight whiff of a 31, 37, 47 or 56, even the newer 60s and 66s have abandoned the place. I find it devastating to see it this way because Tyne Yard holds a big place in my heart, always will too.
Why don't you take it up again, I was asked, it'll do you the world of good, it seems like it's never left you, be good for you, an escape, if you don't mind I can come with you, I won't be buying a book or nowt though. So I thought, OK why not, a few weeks later, the weather was alright, one Evening we drove down to Plawsworth, which is between Chester Le Street and Durham Station. Its a bit out the way but its a lovely spot, dead quiet, its dead peaceful, odd bit of wildlife, I even copped a stoat for sight there the other week, never saw a stoat in the wild before. If you like your own space, there's plenty birdsong to listen to, accompany you, whilst collecting your thoughts and train numbers. We'll it would be but for the fact, I'm getting a million and one questions and what's next
Standing on the bridge overlooking the lines, trying to get the numbers on the Azumas going North was erm fun. Did I say fun, I meant frustrating. The other side of the bridge the vegetation makes it hard to see them approaching said bridge but the other side, is OK for Southbound stuff, Northbound not impossible but if you factor in a) my eyesight is crap nowadays b) I've been out the loop for catching train numbers at speed and c) the angle your looking from and they're going away from you. Left us looking at each other asking, did you get that. Eventually I sussed it but the other half didn't, still hasn't either. Luckily 66021 went through South at a fairly pedestrian pace with the Jarrow Tanks, even she got that number, light engine 66848 trundled South to Donny from Millerhill, another my other half proudly proclaimed she'd got the number of. Shortly after that 57313 and 57314 came through on a Northern Belle. I was more interested in the locos they were not the abominations they are now, in fact if I'd had a dictaphone the coaching stock would've been more appealing. After 66109 went through with the Tees to Mossend intermodal, we took off home, now I had seen some of what I call the new stuff but not loads, so I did wonder how many 'the book of sights' (copyright owned by kite) would benefit from tonight's sojourn out. As it turned out I ended up underlining about half the Azumas and TPE Novas, we'd seen. Much to my shock, the other half said, that was enjoyable, I'm crap at getting the numbers though.
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So roughly twice a week we have a trundle to a spot near King Edward Bridge Junction and watch stuff go by for a couple of hours at most. I've done quite OK roping in these new trains. The other half has now adopted nicknames for the 156s and 158s, they're simply flat faces to her. An Evening trip out to Eaglescliffe too, was a fairly decent evening out, OK the NREA was never threatened but there was a good 5 or 6 freights came through in the couple of hours we were there. In fact as we got into the car park, we were bowled on the bin liner train, which had 66027(thanks to the Jonathon on the TOPS thread for that) by double Tugs 60001 and 60039
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As happens, you get back into this hobby, the urge to travel overtakes you. The car will get ditched for the day as the train will take the strain. So after a good butchers in the NREA and decide what needs scratching, I'm left to my own devices to organise a North East Round Robin with a couple of add on's. It also gave me a chance to try out what these Azumas and Novas are about. Which is where I will leave this and do the next installment very soon.
Everyone I met that day was fantastic and it was a real pleasure to spend a few hours chatting away with you, especially hearing all of your stories from the not so distant past when Gateshead shed was such a prominent feature for you. Your enjoyment of that era was certainly evident very early on from when you arrived on the platform that day - it's always easier to listen to people talk about a subject that they are enthusiastic about and you had that in bucket-loads! And not forgetting that amazing day at the ELR for my first ever Diesel Gala - I'll never quite get over seeing you kiss a 47 
So off to Stafford for a couple of hours, in hope something might drop, Like some of the Freightliner sheds I need. GB have already been nice and sent 2 past me the day before, so probably no chance of that today.
