Norton-on-Tees station crossing 1967 and more recently in 2007. Photographs courtesy of Alan B 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Norton-on-Tees station crossing 1967 and more recently in 2007. Photographs courtesy of Alan B
Ian Lyman
I’ve a short sequence of cine film of steam trains taken from opposite the crossing box around 1964. I’d forgotten where the film was taken but the NER Association has put me right. Its due to be included in Steam World Archive No.23 due out around November.15/03/2012 09:01:55
Remember me – Tommy Fords oldest son? Lived in Station house, Tommy was a railway driver. I knew all the signalmen at Norton-on-tees. I will pass on any messages to my dad and also my brother, Andy Ford.
Hi Philip, I remember you and Rusty the dog, long time ago!!!!
I actually worked Norton On Tees signalbox, and was very busy, I lost count of how many trains I put into the down loop, the main lines where absolute block but the loop was permissive block, which meant that one could have as many trains one liked in there. It was a well kept box with polished levers.
In 1935 when I lived in Grantham Road my Father had an allotment on the railway side just before the Norton West signal box facing Blakestone. We would go via Tunstalls Field (Newstead Farm) climb across the railings onto the bankside to our allotment. The wild strawberries I can still taste today. Then call into the farm have a chat to Mr Tunstall John, and Bob, and then home for Sunday lunch. Years later I learned to drive in the Norton Cement works road by courtesy of Mr Harry Horton the manager. Ronnie the Horton”s son was tragically killed on his bike on the way to school in an accident with a Tarslag lorry. Similarly to Mary Bottomleys son from Bottomley”s shop in Norton Village. I used to play with Ronnie Horton making bogeys and aeroplanes from his Dads wood store. My other pal Donald Willey went to work designing aircraft for De Havilland was also killed on his Autobike on the way to work. What a loss of three good lads with so much promise.
The left hand curve was very famous as it was the rail entrance to Norton. Norton Iron Works and the Exit of the 15-ton Big-Ben Bell (the heaviest single load carried to that time, by rail) to West Hartlepool 1856. Stockton Stone and Concrete shipped out thousands of tons, during the building of I.C I Billingham and the many 1930 housing estates through out the N.E. The use of Road-transport by “Marshall Tile Company” ended this link In the colour photo original track bed is the road to the left The late 1800s signal box, off photo, to right still has the hand-operated levers, rod and wire mechanism to operate the semaphore signals, on this historic stretch of railway Clarence Railway 1833, and still in regular use
The black/white photo was developed in July 1967, but the lack of leaves on the bushes suggests it was taken earlier in the year. The distant dual signal bracket on the left may have controlled entry into the small yard in the foreground and a siding into Stockton Stone and Concrete Works that broke off sharp left, but facing the Billingham direction, at the top of the yard. Both had been lifted by 1967. One signal facing Billingham clearly remains on this distant bracket, possibly indicating a reversing use for the north relief line. The shadows are caused by the signalbox and the lifted crossing barrier.
The view north from Norton-on-Tees rail crossing towards Billingham in July 1967 when the relief lines were in place and well used.