The site of the ‘new’ Billingham station, taken in April 1966. Visible are some of the earthworks and materials for the new station. For the railway enthusiasts, the train is heading towards Hartlepool and is hauled by 63445.
Photograph and details courtesy of Garth Mclean.
… and also went to Grangefield Grammar with Garth – who took the shot of the “Q6” class.
By that time working on the railway (Civil Engineer’s Office on Thornaby station (1967-71), we were allowed to travel to Billingham to see the Queen open the new station. As no-one would be permitted to “see-up” HRH’s legs through the open steps up to the footbridge, HRH was instead permitted (with Down trains stopped) to use the “barrow” crossing. HRH passed soo close to me and other railway employees on her way to open the new town centre.
When the new station here was built (1967?), the footbridge steps being of “open” design meant that when HRH Queen Elizabeth was there to open this station, to avoid anyone seeing “up” her legs, she instead was allowed to use the “barrow” crossing.
Garth an excellent photo, the houses shown are in Dorsett Crescent. I could have used this photo in my display on Billingham (in Billingham library) which recalls 1923 as the year that the LNER was formed, the year the loco Flying Scotsman left Doncaster works, the formation of Billingham Urban District Council and the making of ammonia at Billingham. In my display I do have two photos of the late Queen opening the Forum, she got off the Royal Train at that new station.
Regards Colin Hatton.
I don’t think that’s the new station site, I believe it’s behind the photographer over other side of the marsh house bridge which looks like where this photo is taken from.
Great photo.
Is that the Tin Lizzy?
If so, would that place the photographer slightly ‘up-stream’ of the new Billingham station, ie just to the west of the Marsh House Avenue overbridge?
Surely if that is the “Tinlizzy” bridge the station would be further behind the camera on the other side of Marsh House Ave.
Billingham ‘new’ station was an absolute farce. When it opened it had FOURTEEN staff, including a porter to escort people over the lines when necessary… Also a cafe (which is now the taxi business) etc etc. Now there are NO staff whatever. I remember waiting for a train a while ago, and the edge was crumbling…A fellow passenger commented that he’d seen better in the Gobi desert…. I have been there, but I have been to other European stations (and a couple in China) and they are ALL better than Billingham!
I remember this well brings back lots of childhood memories.
I remember standing on top of the “tin Lizzie” bridge when the steam trains went under, getting covered with steam and sparks, we lived in Haverton Hill at the time.
One of the many coal trains returning light probably to Blackhall Colliery for yet another load for the Middlesbrough furnaces. Living at Thornaby I would see a constant line of such trains consolidating from the many Durham County coal mines as they headed to and from Middlesbrough. A time of high employment on Teesside. Sadly gone. All we are left with is clean air poor paid jobs and unemployment. Thanks Maggie.