Matt Ditch Photography Blog

For a while now I've been working on a Hunslet heavily inspired by those used on the Howrah-Amta Light Railway. And I've very pleased to finally be able to share the model. Website eBay

  Throwback to happier times with J27 No.65894 & T2 (Q6) No.2238 double-heading a train away from Grosmont during the 2019 steam gala. Full gallery

  Today's shot comes from the heavily overgrown trackbed of the Lambton railways Littletown & Sherburn branch. The picture was taken near the site of Hunter's house pit.

 

 Today I walked part of the "Tyne Dock to Consett" route from Washington to near Pelton. Obviously, this got me thinking about what the line must have been like back in the day and how I wish I could've seen a 9F thunder through South Pelaw on its way up to Consett. The above shots is of 9F No.92134 taken last year on the NYMR during their steam gala.

Heywood 0-4-0 "Katie" passes the site of Gill force junction with a train from Ravenglass to Dalegarth. The video was taken during River Esk's 100th centenary gala on the 29/04/23 The full gala video can be found here:     • River Esk's 100th...  

 

  Last night the South Tynedale Railway published an image on their social media of the completed work to radically alter the appearance of historically important Thomas Green 0-6-2 "Barber".  The loco, pictured above  was built in 1908 by Thomas Green & Sons of Leeds and spent its entire working life on the Harrogate Gas Works railway. It was even used during the construction of the railway. "Barber" was named after Francis Barber who was the chairman of the gasworks. It is also thought to be the only Thomas Green locomotive left in this part of the world "Barber" was built with a cut-down cab to allow it to fit through a tunnel with a reduced clearance, hence the somewhat squat appearance. Prior to 2015 "Barber" was last steamed in the 1940s by which time it was worn out. The rear of the frames were extremely weak due to the lowered cab. And there were also issues with its regulator. The engine had been rebuilt a number of times during its...

  A little sneak peek from an upcoming project. No prizes for guessing which railway this is/was!

River Esk's 100th centenary gala 29/04/23 Visiting Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway locomotive No. 2 "Northern Chief" passes Gill force Junction with a train for Ravenglass. Full gallery

  River Esk's 100th centenary gala 29/04/23 Here are my pictures from River Esk's 100th centenary gala on 29/04/23. As always the whole gallery  can be found here . But, below are a few of my favorites.