Matt Ditch Photography Blog

Andrew Barclay Grey/Glyder  Andrew Barclay 0-4-0WT (well tank) Grey/Glyder was built in 1931 for the Burnhope Reservoir railway near Wearhead. "Grey" was one of 5 well tanks built for use on the line by Andrew Barclay. The railway linked with the Weardale Railway from Darlington at the terminus of the line at Wearhead station. Here items used in the construction of the r eservoir  would have been transferred from the standard gauge trains to the narrow gauge ones. When the railway closed in 1937 many of the locomotives including Grey were sold on to Penrhyn Quarry railway in North Wales. Here the engine was renamed "Glyder". When the PQR closed, the engine and several others were sold onto private collections in the USA. Grey/Glyder returned to the UK in 2012 along with Avonside 0-4-0T "Durham/Ogwen". All the engines that were exported have now returned to the UK. In recent years  Grey/Glyder has returned to steam at Beamish and still carries a lot of its ...

 Event Recap:  Statfold Barn Railway  "Trangkil 50" 12/06/21 I was lucky enough to have my first ever visit to Statfold Barn during their "Trankgkil 50" event. I've photographed a number of their extensive loco collection on a number of times when their engines have been loaned to Beamish & Threlkeld Quarry. This post looks at some highlights from the event and gives a brief history on those locomotives. Trangkil No.4 (the birthday girl) returning from the Balloon loop. The engine was the last Commerical made industrial steam locomotive to be built in the UK by Hunslet. The coach behind the No.4 was built for the aborted Kielder Green Dragon railway . Making its debut during the event was Andrew Barclay 0-4-0WT “Cegin”. It built in 1931 for the Burnhope Reservoir railway in Weardale. And originally named “Red”. It was sold in 1936 to the Penrhyn Quarry railway in North Wales. The engine behind, “Marchlyn” was built by Avonside again for the Burnhope Reservoi...