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 A late Victorian Image looking from South Loftus. In the distance centre can be seen Skinningrove furnaces. On the far left is the North Loftus Mine with steam rising from the engine. In the middle distance to the right of the bridge, thate field is now part of the Arlington estate. The wooden bridge over the railway was rebuilt in concrete. Image courtesy of Michael Garbutt.  One for the train spotters! This early view of Loftus Station appears to date from just after the extension of the line to Whitby, with the Train on the Middlesbrough bound line obscured by steam. The embankment looks new with little vegetation growth. The engine looks to be an 0-6-0 tender locomotive, the position of the springs on the tender, and square spectacle windows in the cab could give a clue to the class of locomotive? Our expert viewers will give us their opinion, please. Gareth Spencer comments: “My first thought was the locomotive is likely to have been one of Edward Fletcher’s four-coupled passenger engines as modernized under McDonnell, which would account for the square spectacle windows, as seen running c.1900. I am not conversant with the details of Fletcher’s locomotives, but there were several classes of this type of passenger engine on the North Eastern Railway. One such engine of 1873 is preserved in original condition, plus one of the later Tennant 2-4-0s of 1885, which the locomotive in the photograph is definitely not.” and later added: “Most likely a member of the 901 class, one of 55 engines constructed between 1872 and 1882 by the NER at Gateshead works, by Beyer Peacock & Co, and also Neilson & Co. The extant example No.910, restored for the Stockton and Darlington Centenary, was a Gateshead product of April 1875 and has square spectacle windows. A photograph of No.908 shows a cab with round spectacles. McDonnell adopted Ramsbottom safety valves as standard and introduced them to the 901 class, which later received a new design of boiler and new cylinders, thus altering their appearance. The 1440 class (15 engines) was similar, they had 6ft. diameter driving wheels, whereas the 901 class had 7ft driving wheels. Source LNER Encyclopaedia (Internet).” Image Courtesy of Michael Garbutt; thanks to Gareth Spencer for the updates.  This group of officers appears a fine body of men, perhaps the Yorkshire Regiment? Again the building behind is intriguing. Can anybody assist with names and possible regisment? Ed Jones tells us: ”This is a group of officers. The battalion commander, a Lieutenant Colonel, is in the front centre. They are not in combat and it is probably a training camp pre-war or in the early years of WW1. It is hard to see the cap badge. It resembles a Royal Engineers Capbadge, but they do not have the grenade collar badge. The nearest guess is the York and Lancaster Regiment, which features a lion and a rose (“cat & cabbage”) in a laurel wreath.” Image courtesy of Michael Garbutt and many thanks to Ed Jones for the update.  Obviously a fancy dress event, but all are ladies. The large bottle held by the lady second from right would seem insufficient for a party of this size. We are intrigued by the building behind them; does anybody recognise where it might have been? Image courtesy of Michael Garbutt.  This lady certainly has her hands full. We presume the three pups(?) belong to the small terrier to the right. Whilst the cat appears to be totally disinterested. Help, please with names or even possibly the location. Image courtesy of Michael Garbutt.  Notice how the gentleman has removed his cap, a proper gent! Even the young ladies hat is a joy to behold. Possibly taken in a garden, the seating appears to be very basic. Assistance with names would be very welcome. Image courtesy of Michael Garbutt.  The same family again, in the back garden? But this time the dog is more alert. We do not know which came first (perhaps this one as the dog seems more interested). Perhaps it thought more was to occur and then was disappointed. Image courtesy of Michael Garbutt.  This family group must have preferred the outdoors. Our next image shows a similar pose. Somebody must recognise them or the possible location? Image courtesy of Michael Garbutt.  Despite the sombre nature of her dress, is the lady trying to hide a smile? Again we would welcome suggestions as to her name and where the image was taken. Image courtesy of Michael Garbutt.  This smart young man complete with his watch and albert pictured outside 2 Springhead Terrace. Can anybody assist? Image kindly loaned by Michael Garbutt |
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