Seaham Harbour INDUSTRIAL derails, runaways, gravity & steam shunts 1963

Industrial railways were developed to carry heavy, bulky minerals such as coal.
This shows how it was done, often over much greater distances than this.
We also see some very old long suffering but surviving equipment.
Please view my other transport films via / alansnowdon
Kindly like, comment, share and subscribe to support my channel & videos © A Snowdon 2006-21.
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Learn more about industrial engines in ‪@NatRailwayMuseum‬'s wonderful explainer video • Bauxite: The Little In... featuring my Seaham steam footage.
See more railway mishaps • Vintage railway film -... thanks to fantastic ‪@BennettBrookRailway‬
See more British mishaps on ‪@lestrainsdefrance9392‬'s • BRITISH STEAM RAIL DIS...
American accidents on ‪@JawTooth‬'s excellent channel • Weird & Unusual Railro...
If freight operations here look scary, see ‪@rorymacve‬'s great account of passenger slip coaches in action • The History of the Sli... and ‪@TrainFactGuy‬'s excellent • Why passenger carriage...

[@hughrainbird43]

Amazing! Shows what working conditions were like in the North East even during one's own lifetime. They hadn't changed much since the early coal railways which used a mixture of rope hauled inclines and locomotives to transport coal from pits to the coast. As you say, "Health and Safety, what's that?". Not surprising either, given the state of the track and the amount of coal lying around between the rails that the workforce were experienced in dealing with derailments!

[@britanniafirst1254]

Vane is from Vane Tempest, named after the Londonderry Family who owned the land, Colliery and rail network. Lady Vane Tempest married the Duke of Marlborough and was Winston Churchill’s grandmother.

[@fordlandau]

Victorian technology lasting into the 1960s. Amazing film. Thanks. No doubt very dangerous too for the staff

[@saltspringrailway3683]

It's like you had a time machine and captured the Victorian age.

[@danielbarton9291]

fabulous film preserving an almost forgotten way of life. I will make sure my kids see this.

[@garryferrington811]

Amazing record. Someone knew all this was about to vanish.

[@AdamOpie]

The way you've captured these moments in time is fantastic. Thank you for your work!

[@KeckiiDerKecks]

Unbelievable how Seaham looked years ago ! During the years they have must changed so much and must been a lot of work. Can't imange how long it would take to remove all the train tracks and put paths and roads there. I'm living here since five years and could never guess that's what Seaham used to look like. Thank you for the Video. Very intressting.

[@johnhiscott-walsh5198]

I lived in the Noahs Ark Pub , and watched the trains going down across the road from my bedroom window

[@davidshillito5174]

What an amazing insight to how it was. This is what you call graft. I was born in 1963. Health and safety😂 your having a laugh. These hard working men and women i take my hat off to you. David.

[@BennettBrookRailway]

Great video. Thanks for the mention!

[@splendidx01]

A marvellous and impressive record- thank you. A few years ago I was friendly with a chap who worked most of his life on the inclines; he reported to me that accidents were frequent and often horrific involving the loss of limbs.

[@sirmartinfrobisher]

My grandfather came from the Isle of Skye and walked Scotland, the England, down to the Yorkshire Coalfields until settling as a Cagesmith in New Sharlston, West Riding. He died two years after my birth and three months ago, I revisited to clear out the memories. West Riding Colliery closed at about the same time, that was where dad worked after returning from Libya. Dad was a Rawdon and lived in Altofts, I remember the life well but it was tough but when the Pit closed, Mum and Dad started a new life, in Poole, Dorset with me still going through school.

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

I guess you Grandad walked to Yorkshire as he couldn't afford the train fare, and hadn't the cheek to try and cadge a lift. And as a "cagesmith" his work woudl involve the maintaince of the cage the miners went down the pit inside. Was your Dad fighting in World War 2 in Libya ? Most likely a Hero if he survived that Hell. After such a family history Poole must have seemed like Paradise.

[@tl50camiva]

A fabulous social record, I'm so pleased I've discovered your channel. Thank you for sharing your wonderful films.

[@5705Seahorse]

Once again a fascinating film from Alan and Heather. As always the commentary is entertaining and informative and one can only imagine how archaic these work practices and the equipment being used must seem to the modern generation. As you say Heather, health and safety at work? Thank you for sharing.

[@alangrange8918]

A fascinating, historical record of the 'Good Old Days'? Thanks for having the foresight to film this.

[@TheMendipman]

Possibly the best ndustrial Railway video I've ever seen.

[@BlackAndDeckerBoy]

Amazing footage, thank you for sharing

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

Thanks, enjoying your rail channel too kzbin.info

[@jeffreyhodge5564]

I visited Seaham harbour when visiting relatives ,I remember when living in Sunderland how big the coal industry ,shipbuilding and glass making was ,how a place has changed ,all gone but thankfully you have this precious recording of all that is past.

[@joesila3105]

steam age

[@philiprufus4427]

Same in Glasgow when I was a kid by 1969 most of it was gone apart from Ravenscraig and Clyde ironworks, now the lots gone and shipbuilding and the coalmines with it. It was about 1978 before I found myself in the Newcastle area regularily but by by that time most was gone or going even then. Latterly in Scotland I was cycling on tracks I used to travel by train on fifty years before. One of the most fascinating things was meeting pensioners who remembered trainloads of American troop during world war11, throwing sweets and chocolate to them as kids if they gathered under bridges over the road or on platforms at stations

[@richardskelton5119]

I first visited Seaham in 1984 during the Pit Strike. Much was still in place at the time although unused. There were a couple of chauldron waggons in a yard by the Harbour entrance, think they went to Beamish, although for a time I believe there was one in the middle of the roundabout that was put in where tracks used to reach the harbour.

[@neildahlgaard-sigsworth3819]

Nice to see how the coal staiths (yes, that is the correct spelling) were operated. The NER called the coal dock equipment as staiths so that the small fishing village of Staithes, famous for Captain Cook and Old Jack (ask a pre-schooler about this character from Cbeebees if you've not heard of him), was not swamped with coal wagons.

[@wolstenholme100]

Fantastic footage. Thanks for sharing.

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

Much appreciated @wolstenholme100 ... recommend your global rail videos to my viewers, see www.youtube.com/@wolstenholme100 (good to co-promote :)

[@jonathanwilson773]

Amazing footage of my home town. I can just remember the incline. Unrecognisable today. Thank you.

[@davidbradshaw659]

Priceless! Bravo!

[@JawTooth]

that was really an awesome video! This video is why I film the trains. I love history

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

Thanks @JawTooth ... it'll soon feature in UK National Rail Museum, link to follow. My viewers will enjoy your excellent rail related channel www.youtube.com/@JawTooth perhaps continued carnage kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2a8nquwaayjbbs

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

Thanks, recommend my viewers enjoy your films too... www.youtube.com/@JawTooth (good to cross promote). My Seaham shunting footage now features in the National Rail Museum's kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYS5hIZtmtN6jZI ... by the way, may interest you and subscribers that I have various 1980's NE USA steam archive films to edit and publish here soon once scripts are recorded.

[@backdownontheboat6038]

It’s little different today...

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

I disagree. When I visited Seaham last autumn I found the area where the industrial railway had been completely changed.

[@backdownontheboat6038]

Alan Snowdon I meant It’s A little different today...

[@Fez4ever]

Glad you got all this on film. We had similar operations here in Pennsylvania at one time but no film of it at all.

[@Shelfandtabletoplayouts00gauge]

Another enjoyable programme, one of your best👍👍👍

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

Thanks, my viewers will enjoy your rail channel too kzbin.info/door/q8--IQQinxEkrbcl0zjLbgvideos ... let's cross promote

[@PorcyMane]

Thanks for recording and publishing this.

[@tonyrobinson362]

Excellent welldone from a ex railwayman Shirebrook West.

[@flippop101]

Amazing film. Most grateful. Thank you!

[@innocentbystander8]

Marvellous. I am v pleased indeed that I discovered the Snowdons' films recently.

[@9oddbod]

Absolutely fantastic film Alan Thanks so much for putting it on you tube

[@HighFell]

Fascinating to see what predated the cycle paths I have ridden many times in the area. Despite the industrial dirt of the time it’s free of litter and fly tipping which now blights a beautiful part of the county.

[@roderickjoyce6716]

The Lewin engine is in full working order on the colliery railway at Beamish museum. www.beamish.org.uk

[@DominicSimons-tp3eo]

I love the history of the railways.

[@pdxrailtransit]

Stunning! Thanks.

[@alanwann9318]

This coal train scenario was everywhere in my youth ,I could hear the coal trains at night in bed

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

Sounds nightmarish, but now long lost and worth remembering. Amazing to think we were fuel secure then albeit covered in soot/coal dust!

[@ahoseason]

an amazing record. thanks for recording and sharing

[@atlanticcoastexpress]

Another fascinating video from a great team. Thank you both....and I'm wondering if the Chaldron wagon graveyard is still there somewhere? My regards. Rob.

[@joshmarsh6192]

Rob Mannion if im correct i think most of the wagons were taken to beamish from what i have heard from a friend who worked in seaham at the time

[@1981madmatt]

Daniel Gray what happened to the rest is there any old relics left

[@jimmyjam4371]

Great footage ! Thanks

[@michaelgreenlaw2693]

A beautiful film, thank you.

[@Wettonbunker]

Love it. Cheers for uploading

[@NatRailwayMuseum]

Hi Alan, Absolutely amazing footage. We’re currently putting together a video about an industrial engine we have in the collection. Would you be open to discussing us using some of this footage in our video? With full credit and links to the channel, of course. Let us know and keep up the amazing channel!

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

Learn more about industrial engines in @NatRailwayMuseum's wonderful explainer video kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYS5hIZtmtN6jZI featuring this Seaham steam footage.

[@malcolmbrown3532]

I well remember visiting Seaham harbour as a child in the early 70s and seeing lines of the chaldron waggons semi dumped in and around the docks. Some of which along withNo128 "Lewin" are at Beamish Museum, an equally decrepit state. Unfortunately there are/were those that eventually just disintegrated with their metal remains being used as spares or simply scrapped.

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

So old, so neglected and worn out - I'm not surprised they fell to bits. Not being part of the national railway system, or a passenger carrying line I guess they could get away with it - until Health & Safety laws came along.

[@lizzywoo450]

Wonderful to see this history recorded.

[@petergarrett9185]

What an amazing film, Heathers comment on health and safety speaks volumes on how things were done back then with common sense being used, though it made me shudder a little just after 6 minutes with that kiddy playing next to the track!

[@dumsfoodieskitchen6759]

Amazing video thanks for sharing new friend here

[@peckelhaze6934]

Absolutely superb.

[@jonathansimmonds5784]

I was at Dunston in 1963 loading coal into a 'flattie' for Battersea, my first sea voyage aged nine. Wish I could find film of that. The trucks were tipped over to empty them down a chute, the noise, the dust!

[@mickd6942]

Think these staiths were in the film get carter

[@adrianwild2094]

Interesting and historic footage

[@alanwann9318]

This is rare film

[@super_morto]

Amazing.

[@jamessucksinlife170]

Please may I use this content on my channel? As I am making a video on this railway

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

Hi James, just reading your request but I see you used my Seaham content anyway?!? If within 3 days you add a 'card' during, 'end card' after and a link in your description (directing my film) then I'm happy to support you. KZbin detected your infringement, writing to me to say they'll strike your video and channel for copyright infringement within 10 days, hence urgency. Glad to see your rail interest / insight and cross-promote you here kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHmtZJmBl8d9qcU to my viewers with your compliance. Thanks