11 Minutes. The VHS tape from which this video was made was sent to me by the British Coal film crew which you saw in my own video of this interesting railway. I could not find it elsewhere on RU-vid so here it is.
I also find industrial electric locomotives to be particularly interesting but there were not many of them in this country. Port Kembla steelworks had some but they disappeared around the 1950s. There was also a network in Whyalla, SA, I think it was, while the SEC had them in the Latrobe valley for the brown coal. You may be able to find my video on that. A coal mine west of Newcastle also had electric locomotives which hauled coal wagons to the surface. They were interesting as the overhead collector ran on twin wires. I have movie film of that. As for the Harton railway, my video covers two visits and the second one was the same day as that official film crew who was kind enough to you send me a copy of the completed works which you have seen. Here is the link to my own coverage of that fascinating system. They were not playing trains there! Harton Electric Railway 1986 & 1989 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sLwqkGYgB-0.html
I'd always loved those short steeple-cab locomotives but had no idea they were German built, but I can sort of see it now. Love the sound of those pantographs on the low overhead and the gravity transfer system is pretty unique. What's always impressed me is how long some industrial steeplecabs lasted in service. One over here in the US (of which I volunteer with at a museum) was completely custom made from spare bits in 1926 and never actually retired, having gone straight from service at the power station to the museum, where it is still frequently used.
While the earlier locos where certainly German Siemens built, I guess you realise that the locos in general use this time were, I believe, British built and favoured because of their greater horsepower. I think a Siemens loco makes a short appearance in each video but sadly lack of funds apparently meant none of the larger locos were saved. And I share your interest in electric steeple cab locos.
Yes. It tended to be a low entry step for the crew. All good machines from a fascinating railway. And it was just great luck that I was there the same day as the official photographers and they were kind enough to post me a copy of their finished product. Otherwise I think their work would be hidden from view forever which would have been a pity. Anyway I had better get back to editing a visit to the NYC Subway museum with a commentary by a real expert. 😄
You may enjoy this one also. I was there at the same time as the British Coal team. Harton Electric Railway 1986 & 1989. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sLwqkGYgB-0.html
😊👍. You have probably seen this already, but if not it may be of interest. Harton Electric Railway 1986 & 1989 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sLwqkGYgB-0.html
I was young Tyne yard guard we would go in to pontop ridings and work mineral trains to convert.Seems like 100year ago.Steve shields saltburn by the sea
I was expecting a lot more of that “exciting ride “ from the sidings onwards! 🤣 Great to see and also the section seen going through the centre of ‘ shields is still visible last time I visited. 😁👍👊😎
Well it was in fact only quite a short distance. One must bear in mind that all of this was recorded before the Internet existed so there was never any thought that the whole world could one-day see what I took. If I could see into the future, I may have well taken more.
Thanks, and if you have not seen this before, you may like my version: Harton Electric Railway 1986 & 1989 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sLwqkGYgB-0.html
Thanks. If you have not already seen it, you may also enjoy this one, some of it been recorded the same day as mine. 'END OF THE LINE' Harton Electric Coal Railway by British Coal Television ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Kom4AaeLnlc.html
Yes thank you. TBG I wasn't looking for a video on the railway it sort of popped up thanks to RU-vid. I am going to get a book off Amazon now. I sort of have a passing interest in railways, trams, and coal. I come from a former mining area in the Midlands.
For anyone interested in this fascinating line, may I recommend 'The Harton Electric Railway' by William Hatcher. It's quite possible my favourite railway book - and I have a lot of railway books! Incidentally there is a Facebook group for this line, not crazy active but some great photos and memories do appear now and again.
Amazing stuff old fruit, ancient German and EE locos. Shame to see yet another thing go during the Thatcher years, she hated the mining industry. Yes, I know there were too many petty union disputes, and too many petty managers who couldn't run a bath. Now we're dependant for our power on looney-tune countries. Near me there was a lovely old cable car system used by British Gypsum. This was replaced in the late 80's by a much less interesting conveyor belt. My old Area Manager on BR came from Newcastle. He was in all respects an incompetent fiddling fool, being done for selling off locos for scrap from Ashford Depot ! But, get him talking about his days on the old Tyneside Electrics, and he was fascinating.
+River Huntingdon Interesting! I guess you have already seen my own Harton video. I also took movie film of the self-acting inclined coal line at Seaham but I'm not sure it shows enough. If you can help, please contact me by email, tressteleg(at)icloud.com using the usual symbol for (at). Certainly a lot of fascinating old technology has disappeared over the years.
Isn't that seriously dangerous what that bloke was doing at 2:33? Shoving that long pole up onto the live overhead line?! I take it the pole was well insulated.
The pole would have been made of wood. Power was only 600v dc. In the past, I heard Sydney electric train drivers did the same when there was insufficient air to raise a pantograph. And they were playing with 1500v dc.
True. Double deck trolley buses were more likely to use those bamboo poles while single deckers were more likely to use ropes. Riding the brake lever on those coal hopper wagons was certainly risky but they seemed to manage, but I guess there was the occasional slip.
