Taken about 1957 of a loaded train from Kilton Mine approaching Lingdale Junction; the Lingdale Mines branch is the one curving to the right and was extremely steep. Simon Chapman told us: “Look carefully at the train and you’ll see the brake van is behind the engine, not at the back of the train. This was allowed in later years because the gradient was down all the way to Brotton, where the engine ran round to reverse the train before taking it to Tees-side. In place of the brake van at the end of the train a lamp or red flag was hung on the back of the last wagon to show to signalmen at Kiltonthorpe Junction and Brotton that the train was complete i.e. a wagon hadn’t been derailed and lost on the way.” Also of interest is the shale spoil ‘hill’ on the left of the image; this is now one of the few remaining hills of excavated spoil from the ironstone mines of East Cleveland; South Skelton being another such reminder. Alan Featonby suggests: “It is possible this photograph was taken on 21st May, 1959. A similar photograph appears in ‘Stephen Chapman’s book Railway Memories No. 18 Cleveland and Whitby’ attributed to Ken Hoole. If so, the locomotive is Class J26 65762 of Thornaby shed. The car by the coal drops is the give away.”
Image courtesy of the Pem Holliday Collection and many thanks to Simon Chapman, Peter Appleton and Alan Featonby for the updates.
My grandad used to work at the pit.
It is possible this photograph was taken on 21st May, 1959. A similar photograph appears in “Stephen Chapman’s book Railway Memories No. 18 Cleveland and Whitby” attributed to Ken Hoole. If so, the loco is Class J26 65762 of Thornaby shed. The car by the coal drops is the give away.