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Far Ings Tileries
Barton Upon Humber
North Lincolnshire
 
Gauge : 2ft
Status : Ceased by the start of 2001
(click on photos to enlarge)

 
Far Ings Tileries  

Britains last claypit served by a loco worked narrow gauge railway.

 

Date: February 1998

Date: February 1998

Date: February 1998

This little railway was the very last of its type in Britain. Along the banks of the Humber estuary there were once several such railways, and this was the last survivor. At the tileworks there was a cable hauled incline to raise the single skip into the pug mill for tipping. The railway continued to operate about 2 or 3 days per week, subject to weather conditions up to the year 2001.

From the south side of the Humber bridge, which the railway actually traveled under, a good view of the line and the tileworks could be obtained. The total length of the line was less than 0.5 km.

On the other side of the bridge, the track continued only for a short distance until it terminated alongside the shallow clay pit. The single skip was loaded by a JCB excavator.

 

Date: February 1998

Date: February 1998

Date: February 1998

The skip was usually well loaded with clay, and then pushed back to the tileries. It only took about 5 minutes for the journey back, and there could be up to 12 or more trips per day.

With the loaded 'train' about to go under the Humber Bridge, this photograph was taken in 1994. Gordon, the driver had been working on this railway with his dog for over 20 years.

Ivor, the only locomotive, had been here since 1989 and was supplied by Alan Keef. It is a Motor Rail No8678, but had been rebuilt with a new engine. Previously Ruston locomotives were used here; A 20DL class, and a 13DL class, both built in the 1940s.

This photograph is an ideal example for industrial railway modellers to consider, when applying dirt and decay to their models. The single item of rolling stock is a 1/2 cubic yard skip built by Robert Hudson LTD.

Another view of the JCB loading the skip at the clay pit. Today the remains of the claypit can be seen as a series of flooded pits, and the tileworks still exists. The incline and the old pug mill building stands, but the loco shed has been demolished.

 
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© Steve Thomason 2018
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