Did any of you see the episode of Fred Dibnah this week? How he got that 
traction engine up the Cumbrian hills I shall never know. Thje iron ore mine 
with the haemetite was a revelation. Talk about primitive working 
conditions. The walls looked to be pure iron oxide, which Erica uses a lot 
in her ceramics.  The steel works were interesting as well. This was a part 
of Cumbria I have never seen, as a visitor.


Rex.

"Norcot"  wrote in message
news:Egu0e.42155$3A6.32973@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net


> Did any of you see the episode of Fred Dibnah this week? How he got that 
> traction engine up the Cumbrian hills I shall never know. Thje iron ore mine 
> with the haemetite was a revelation. Talk about primitive working 
> conditions. The walls looked to be pure iron oxide, which Erica uses a lot 
> in her ceramics.  The steel works were interesting as well. This was a part 
> of Cumbria I have never seen, as a visitor.
> 
> 
> Rex.


I saw it; brilliant!

A friend of ours' father was called Billy Dowthwaite, and he had
traction engines.  Billy and his gang once took traction engine and
accompanying roadman's hut over Honister to roll the road in - I think -
 the 1920's.  They had to counter-balance the whole shebang at the top,
with the trailer on one side of the summit and the engine on the other!

He also did steam-threshing, as he was about between horses and 
tractors.

Unfortunately, you'll have to be quick to see the rolling mills at
Workington, as they're due to close soon; Workington rails will be
no more :o(  At least Florence is open to visitors :o)

I noticed F. D's engine had an accompanying escort vehicle to the rear
to fend off impatient motorists!
--

Regds,

Russell W. B.
http://www.huttonrow.co.uk




-- 
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG

On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:01:33 +0000 (UTC), Russell W. Barnes wrote:


> Unfortunately, you'll have to be quick to see the rolling mills at
> Workington, as they're due to close soon; Workington rails will be
> no more :o(  


Are all the rolling mills at Workington closing or just the big 
computer operated one for making the (short) 40m lengths of standard 
track rail. Most of what was shown was the manual mill for making 
"light rails" for narrow gauge lines etc.

-- 
Cheers                                              new5pam@howhill.com
Dave.                                             pam is missing e-mail

"Dave Liquorice"  wrote in message
news:nyyfbegfubjuvyypbz.idvd691.pminews@news.howhill.com


> On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:01:33 +0000 (UTC), Russell W. Barnes wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately, you'll have to be quick to see the rolling mills at
> > Workington, as they're due to close soon; Workington rails will be
> > no more :o(  
> 
> Are all the rolling mills at Workington closing or just the big 
> computer operated one for making the (short) 40m lengths of standard 
> track rail. Most of what was shown was the manual mill for making 
> "light rails" for narrow gauge lines etc.


I believe it is still subject to negotiation.  All and sundry are
desperately trying to find a use for the works after the big mill goes.
It would be nice for the hand-made special stuff to stay, but if it
does it probably won't be for long; economics and all that... Carting
billets over to Workington for heating and rolling when they could 
up-sticks and make them handier elsewhere.  Another nail in the coffin 
of the Cumbrian Coast Railway as well :o(

Remember it has all happened before, in eighteen-hundred and
somedateicantremembercosmybooksareathome, all Dronfield works was
dismantled and moved lock, stock and barrel to Workington - including
the workers.  The 'Dronnies' moved into houses built for them at Moss
Bay, and attracted some animosity due to their higher wages.

I think the fishplate mill and sleeper mill are staying, and CORUS
still has an engineering facility at Chapel Bank.  Long may they last...

See the 'West Cumberland Times and Star', 
http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=190671
--

Regds,

Russell W. B.
http://www.huttonrow.co.uk  

 




-- 
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG

>
> Unfortunately, you'll have to be quick to see the rolling mills at
> Workington, as they're due to close soon; Workington rails will be
> no more :o(  At least Florence is open to visitors :o)
>
> I noticed F. D's engine had an accompanying escort vehicle to the rear
> to fend off impatient motorists!
> --
>
> Regds,
>
> Russell W. B.


Thanks for that information. We will be in Cumbria mid May. I may take a 
look then.
That vehicle at the rear presumably carried the TV crew as well.

Rex.

"Norcot"  wrote in message
news:qhB0e.221$M63.63@newsfe6-win.ntli.net...

> >
> > Unfortunately, you'll have to be quick to see the rolling mills at
> > Workington, as they're due to close soon; Workington rails will be
> > no more :o(  At least Florence is open to visitors :o)
> >
> > I noticed F. D's engine had an accompanying escort vehicle to the rear
> > to fend off impatient motorists!
> > --
> >
> > Regds,
> >
> > Russell W. B.
>
> Thanks for that information. We will be in Cumbria mid May. I may take a
> look then.
> That vehicle at the rear presumably carried the TV crew as well.
>
> Rex.
>

Wukinton without a steel works and no railway lines. Gosh, it's unthinkable.
Corus is out then? How about this Kewick to Penrith plan? Will that help?
What would Bessemer say about this, hey.

Edith.

"Russell W. Barnes"  wrote in message
news:7b63d9c04a3f8e2a6bfaa105d4761da8.68690@mygate.mailgate.org...

> "Dave Liquorice"  wrote in message
> news:nyyfbegfubjuvyypbz.idvd691.pminews@news.howhill.com
>
> > On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:01:33 +0000 (UTC), Russell W. Barnes wrote:
> >
> > > Unfortunately, you'll have to be quick to see the rolling mills at
> > > Workington, as they're due to close soon; Workington rails will be
> > > no more :o(
> >
> > Are all the rolling mills at Workington closing or just the big
> > computer operated one for making the (short) 40m lengths of standard
> > track rail. Most of what was shown was the manual mill for making
> > "light rails" for narrow gauge lines etc.
>
> I believe it is still subject to negotiation.  All and sundry are
> desperately trying to find a use for the works after the big mill goes.
> It would be nice for the hand-made special stuff to stay, but if it
> does it probably won't be for long; economics and all that... Carting
> billets over to Workington for heating and rolling when they could
> up-sticks and make them handier elsewhere.  Another nail in the coffin
> of the Cumbrian Coast Railway as well :o(
>
> Remember it has all happened before, in eighteen-hundred and
> somedateicantremembercosmybooksareathome, all Dronfield works was
> dismantled and moved lock, stock and barrel to Workington - including
> the workers.  The 'Dronnies' moved into houses built for them at Moss
> Bay, and attracted some animosity due to their higher wages.
>
> I think the fishplate mill and sleeper mill are staying, and CORUS
> still has an engineering facility at Chapel Bank.  Long may they last...
>
> See the 'West Cumberland Times and Star',
> http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=190671
> --
>
> Regds,
>
> Russell W. B.


It's disgusting. I think BBC Cumbria should play my song "Old Besse" in
remembrance of all the railway lines Mossbay Steel Works, Workington and
Corus have churned out over the years, to give the Corus lads and lassies a
bit of hope.

http://artists.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Edith_G._from_Cumbria/

Dismayed Edith.