Thornaby depot had 3 or 4 A5 Tank Engines when it opened in 1958. Thornaby also had a similar number of A8's, as well as V2s 60806, 60915, 60884, 60885 - and there may have been one other, with memory failing to supply the number. I was born in 1952 and we travelled on the Staithes line 3/4 times a year until it closed. In 1956 (when I was 4) we had a week's holiday in Staithes - and my treat was to stand on the bridge over Staithes Beck to look up and wave to the steam engine on the mid - morning Whitby train.
I would so much have loved to have traveled on this line when it was open. I have walked along the disused sections many times in the past, and held those demolished viaducts in my imagination for what they must have been.
The iron viaducts were the reason for the early demise of this line. These viaducts were designed in the style of Bouch, who had designed the imfamous Tay Bridge. After this disaster the viaduct at Staithes was fitted with a wind gauge, if the wind pressure got above 28lb/sq. ft the viaduct was closed to all trains. You needed plenty of sand if got a haar.
@@archerry6457 He means sand for the sand boxes - to be blown onto the track to help the engine to grip. A "haar" is a moisture - Laden sea mist which would make the rails slippy.
The victorian architects were very good and the navvies were excellent builders. It's a damn shame that all there work was Totally destroyed by unscrupulous Council and government officials. This country could have had a fantastic rail service if common sense prevailed.
onthegoldenline :. Yes, in his career his work was accredited as "A.W. Camwell"and known to his friends as "Cam". The original footage would have been on 8mm or super 8.
