Traincrew banter
Early evening at Hilda Yard on the Harton Electric Railway (HER) as two of the NCB electric locomotives await a path down to Harton Low Staithes with coal from Westoe Colliery.
Electrified at 550v DC with old electric locos, some dating back to 1913, the low height of the cabs was due to very restricted clearances in the tunnel down to the staiths which prevented the use of diesels. I was fortunate to have a couple of cab rides through the tunnel and it was pretty terrifying!
After completion of a rapid loading point at Westoe for MGR operation, the last coal on the HER was shipped in July 1988 but the railway continued until July 1989 conveying spoil from the colliery to be dumped in the North Sea before this was replaced by a conveyor belt.
Photo copyright Douglas Johnson - All rights reserved. No unauthorised use of this image without my express permission.
Traincrew banter
Early evening at Hilda Yard on the Harton Electric Railway (HER) as two of the NCB electric locomotives await a path down to Harton Low Staithes with coal from Westoe Colliery.
Electrified at 550v DC with old electric locos, some dating back to 1913, the low height of the cabs was due to very restricted clearances in the tunnel down to the staiths which prevented the use of diesels. I was fortunate to have a couple of cab rides through the tunnel and it was pretty terrifying!
After completion of a rapid loading point at Westoe for MGR operation, the last coal on the HER was shipped in July 1988 but the railway continued until July 1989 conveying spoil from the colliery to be dumped in the North Sea before this was replaced by a conveyor belt.
Photo copyright Douglas Johnson - All rights reserved. No unauthorised use of this image without my express permission.