By Tony Henderson

June 15, 2019 - When times were tough and money was tight in the 1930s, the North East England's coal industry was forced to make do with second-hand.

Unable to afford new locomotives, it bought several steam engines from the Great Western Railway.

The Twizell is a 125-year-old steam engine built by Robert Stephenson at the Marley Hill Sheds, Ian Cowan engineering manager.

The sole survivor is the 1901-built locomotive No. 813, which has returned to the North East to star in the Tanfield Railway’s steam gala this weekend alongside five other steam old timers from the region’s industrial past.

Backworth Collieries in what is now North Tyneside bought No. 813 from the Great Western in February 1934 during the Great Depression.

It went straight into action working coal trains from collieries at Backworth, Eccles and Holywell to the Tyne at Whitehill Point, wearing the new number 12.

No. 813 as it first appeared at Backworth during the 1930s

Photo by Newcastle Chronicle

The locomotive became part of a mini-exodus of second-hand Great Western locomotives to the North East in the 1930s to help keep the coal industry moving.

After becoming the property of the National Coal Board in 1947, the locomotive continued its duties until 1967.

It was then saved for preservation by enthusiasts and moved to more traditional Great Western territory at the Severn Valley Railway in Shropshire. The move ensured No. 813 became the sole survivor of the ex-Great Western locomotives that once moved to Northumberland.

Now No. 813 has returned to the region to celebrate its colliery past where it will meet up with another Backworth survivor – Tanfield Railway-based No. 49 arrived at Backworth after being built in Newcastle during 1943 for war service.

The two locomotives would have worked side by side from 1959 until 1967.

“It might have come to the North East during difficult times, but No. 813 kept the coal trains running for more than 30 years. In the process it became probably the best known locomotive to work at Backworth,” said Tanfield Railway director David Watchman.

“We’re over the moon to be able to bring 813 back to the Northumberland and Durham coalfield, and put her back at the head of a coal train again. It’s a fantastic opportunity to help new generations learn about this important era in our industrial history.”

Alongside No. 813 and No. 49, the event, which began yesterday and continues until tomorrow will feature a visit by Seaham Harbour Dock Company No. 18. The 1877-built locomotive spent its entire career moving coal in the County Durham town and it is making a rare trip away from Beamish Museum for the event.

Also in action will be three Newcastle-built relics: No. 3 Twizell built in 1891 by Robert Stephenson and Company, Keighley Corporation Gas Department No. 2 built in 1911 by Hawthorn Leslie, and Sir Cecil A. Cochrane built in 1948 by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns.

Passenger and demonstration coal trains will be running from East Tanfield station, near Stanley, to Sunniside station in Gateshead from around 10am today and tomorrow.