The LNER Encyclopedia

Does anybody remember when the Isabella / Bates branch and the DCE siding at Newsham South signal box were in use? Unfortunately they went out of use when I was a kid, so I don't remember, but I'm trying to answer a question about how they were used!

Regards

Jon

The first closure of the Bates branch was after 6th April 1985, when as far as I know the final wagone were removed by BR when Bates closed.

It was later of course relaid and reopened for coal export, sadly even though I live in Blyth I do not have a note of its closure date, nor for the S Newsham siding.

I hope this is some use.

David

The basic operation in the late 1970s was using Isabella sidings an an exchange for the NCB locos work into the colliery and shipping point. It was very ususual as a rail served colliery at that time, because no coal was forwarded by rail, but reasonable quantities were taken in, all for blending and onward shipment by sea. Bates' coal being of a fairly poor quality.

All workings were standard Blyth single manned 37s with a big fleet of 21 & 24 ton hoppers, all of which were worked loose coupled, unfitted. By this time all Northumberland coal was coming from the north so ran round at South Newsham to access the 'bella sidings. I think the exchange sidings were NCB, and I can remember attending minor derailments there.

The Blyth & Tyne main line" though South Newsham did see traffic passing to/from Tyne Yard, Stella Power stations via this route, but the East Coast Main line via Morpeth was also used

Hi everyone,

Thanks for that. Cambois - was everything always propelled along the branch? Did this continue once Isabella disappeared and it was just used to access Bates? Can you remember off hand if any traffic from the south ever went along the branch? I'm trying to work out the signalling arrangements there and if it was used that way then things would nake a lot more sense!

Thanks!

Jon

Jon

I am struggling with my memory, but suspect that propelling was unlikely. Most traffic in my time was from the north.
Not sure what happened later as I had moved south to Darlington, Hull Teesside & York!
Propelling was not often done on the B&T. Mind pre the new Morpeth chord the standard working off the ECML north was to propel acoss the crossing at Morperth box then run round, leaving the brake van on the front, and a tail lamp hung over the draw hook of the last wagon. All of course loose coupled. My first time seeng this formation going past Hepscott Crossing Box was a bit of a surprise, but of course it was safe, as it was down hill all the way. The guard was supposed to ride in the van, but ...... In this manner the run round at Bedlington Furnace Way, or South Newsham was easy

Hope that is of some interest

I'd be surprised if propelling ever happened? The level crossing across Plessey Road (next to Cosmini's fish shop if you're from the area!) and the open crossing on Newsham Road would have been issues.

Isabella/Bates branch was, of course, a branch off the Newsham - Blyth double track line that ran parallel to Newsham Road and which was lifted around 1968/9. After that the line to Isabella and Bates effectively became a long siding from Newsham, the gated crossing was replaced by barriers at the time of closure of Isabella box about 1975.

I do know that the sharp, check-railed curve on the branch between Plessey Road LC and Newsham Road LC caused alot of problems with both steam and diesel locos - derailments were quite common.

The only 'propelling' I can remember is with a Brake Van only from Newsham as far as the Bella exchange sidings. This would be in the early 1980's when I used to visit the late Jack (John) Sinclair who used to live in Newsham station house. At that time BR locos only worked as far as the Bella sidings. There are several views on this collection:

http://erniesphotos.fotopic.net/c970017.html

ERnie

Cambois, BlythStationLad, Ernie.... Thanks.

Interesting stuff.... All this came about after I started looking into the signalling at Newsham South... Essentially there's a shunt signal on the single line near the box which allows access to the Isabella branch from the single line but it seems only for a movement that's set back across the LC, not that approaches from the single line.

I presume the traffic for Bates mainly came from the north and stood on the up line while the loco ran round over the crossing so that it was drawn forward along the branch?

Thanks for your help.

Jon

ps - many happy memories of the chip shop!