Sunday 17 September 2017

Today at NTSR & A.No.5 History Lesson

Some lovely photos, taken by Alison Maw, of Kitson & Co Long Boiler Side Tank, A.No.5, in service today

A.No.5 was built by Kitson & Co in 1883, designed for the Consett Iron & Steel Company. The locomotive finished her working life at Derwenthaugh Coke Works in 1972 and then moved to Beamish Museum and then later to Monkwearmouth Station Museum, their association became the North Tyneside Steam Railway Association at a later date, which was when A.No.5 moved to Middle Engine Lane and they began the overhaul

She returned to steam in 1986 for the first time in preservation, the locomotive underwent another overhaul in the mid-1990s before being retired (again) in 2006. Throughout the loco's preservation life at NTSR she has mainly been a standby locomotive. In late 2013 A.No.5 was called upon yet again after the failure of our Peckett, Ashington No.5

 A.No.5 came out of retirement in early 2014 after a short overhaul and has been in operation ever since, proving to still be very reliable at 134 years old!

Trainee Fireman Robert Kitching uncoupling A.No.5 from the coaching stock at Middle Engine Lane

One of the downfalls to A.No.5 is the locos limited coal and water capacity. Today's crew, Driver Michael Wortley, Fireman Richard Russell and Cleaner Robert Kitching, spent most of their lunch break filling the engines bunker full of coal for the next two trips

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