Lewin and Coffee Pot No.17 in steam at Seaham Harbour - c1950s

This fascinating archive film has been seen at odd times on the internet previously, and we present it here in the hope that we can identify the copyright holder. The views show two of Beamish's former Seaham Harbour locomotives, Coffee Pot No.17 (with the vertical boiler) and the almost famous No.18, also known as the 'Lewin'. The film certainly predates 1960 (when Lewin had its cab enclosed), and is probably nearer the mid 1950s in date. We would love to know more and are also looking into identifying the driver and fireman who appear on the film.
No.17 was cosmetically restored in 2006 and has returned to Seaham on numerous occasions, whilst No.18 is being fully overhauled to working order, work which is not far from completion at the time of writing (May 2011).
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[@routeman680]

I have never seen this before. What an astonishing engine with the vertical boiler! Even the more conventional 0-4-0 is called a museum piece here! Railway practice from the 1800s continuing into the 1950s.

[@seaham3d695]

Its the design that lasts forever, not the engine x

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

The seaham bois never get old

[@jonm7505]

See bacon

[@davidmurray8119]

The 'Comin' round the mountain' film features, under a licence from the BFI, in the Marsden Rail Vol. 34 DVD 'Steam in the North East', which is available online or through most transport DVD retailers.

[@bigallan7181]

Glenn from Thomas and friends the adventure begins

[@britishfilminstitute9215]

This film was made by the National Coal Board (NCB). It is one part of the Mining Review 6th Year No. 7 (1953) and is described as; ‘COMIN' ROUND THE MOUNTAIN: antique locomotives at Seaham harbour - locos from the 1870s and 1890s still working’. Copyright of this film and of the National Coal Board collection is now owned by the BFI. To see other NCB films you can buy the BFI DVD compilation 'Portrait of a Miner: The National Coal Board Collection Volume 1'