On 30 September 1983, the last revenue earning train left Consett High Yard. Consisting of just 5 16T wagons hauled by 37023, Craig Oliphant was on hand to record the event as well as supplying the ‘The End’ headboard that can be seen on the nose of the locomotive.
Thanks for sharing these photos they are superb! I had worked with john lodge several times,he was a good bloke. His nickname was “ chuckles” for obvious reasons if you knew him .
I knew Craig had more Consett branch gems to share like this and I’m not disappointed! The ones taken at Beamish station are especially good.
Thanks Robert.
As you can see I asked if John Lodge wouldn’t mind having a few photo stops on the way down, good fella. The first was at East Castle where a chap was photographing the train (I think he was called John and may have worked at Monkwearmouth Museum) anyhow we offered him a lift, on accepting the offer he tossed his Honda stepthrough bike into the hedge, with the hope that it might still be there on his return. I never found out if it was.
A superb set of images that makes me regret even more not covering the Consett line