35 Years since end of Hexham steam

[Special_K]

On the 24 September 1987, tank engine No. 25 (formerly SMR) was lit up at the Coal and Allied Hexham depot with the intention of the loco being used to rearrange locos and sort out a vast array of wooden hoppers that were no longer required. The last actual coal train from Stockrington Colliery to Hexham ran with just a few wagons on 22 September. Loco crews had attempted to block access to road trucks by blocking the level crossing on the colliery access road.

After the "yard" duties were completed on 24 September, the crew steamed No. 25 out across the swamp to Stockrington Colliery where a further attempt was made to block road access. The loco was moved to a prominent site near a main road where a protest camp was established with crews keeping the loco in steam around the clock. The event attracted major media attention.

The protest ended on 15 October 1987 when No.25 was driven back to Hexham to end a 130 year era on the Richmond Vale Railway.

There is a magnificent video on Youtube filmed by the Belbins in the 1971-72 period showing evocative winter scenes on the railway and featuring three different types of private steam locos plus NSWGR steam. The haunting classical soundtrack is a masterpiece!

[Special_K]

The Belbin video :

Richmond Vale Railway 1971-72

[1whoknows]

Each time we would do a bus bash out to Cessnock in the 70s/ 80s there was usually at least one opportunity for a steam coalie shot.

[Special_K]

We were the same on our Hexham, Cessnock jaunts. Once NSWGR steam stopped, our focus was squarley on photographing or riding on either the SMR or the Richmond Vale Railway, sadly only on the Stockrington portion of the RVR, being only 14 years old when the Richmond Main Colliery closed in 1967.

Fast forwarding to 2022, I have just looked at some excellent Hunter Valley Oddities filmed only this week!

Thank you to those who bring us such excellent material.