A photo of Fred Dinsdale’s vehicle recovery transport, c. 1940s. He operated his business from Yarm Lane.
Photograph and details courtesy of Pam Painter (Dinsdale).
Fred Dinsdale’s vehicle recovery transport
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Category Archives: Railways and Transport
Meadowbank Railway Bridge: Stockton should be proud!
Near my home in Meadowbank, New South Wales, there’s a magnificent old iron bridge that I often ride over on my bike and paddle under in my kayak. Originally a railway bridge, it was prefabricated in England and shipped here in 1886. Each pylon is inscribed with “Stockton Forge Company Makers, Stockton-on-Tees”.
Although the bridge no longer carries the railway it is a much loved pedestrian and cycle path across the Parramatta River and stands strong despite nearly 140 years in salt water.
I often think of the tremendous skill and hard work it took to make something like this, often for meagre wages and in harsh and dangerous conditions, and the sad loss of decline of heavy manufacturing in both Australia and the UK.
I think we should be very proud of this heritage, and you may want to let the people in your community know about it!
Photographs and details courtesy of Ian Elliott, Australia.
Bridge Road Goods Depot
This is the British Railways Goods Depot on Bridge Road, Stockton, after National Carriers Limited moved to Bowburn, Durham.
Photograph and details courtesy of John Chalk.
Trams on Norton High Street
A photograph of two trams going down Norton High Street. 
Adverts for Anderston Foundries – Port Clarence, 1960
Anderston Foundries occupied a massive site next to the railway track in Port Clarence on the north/east side of the Transporter Bridge. These two adverts were in the railways section of an old Engineering Handbook. They show that the foundry produced a good range of rail track equipment, including crossings and points.
Not surprisingly, the overseas market is highlighted in the main advert. In this country, with the introduction of welded track and reinforced concrete sleepers, the steel sleeper, rail chair and fishplate market was disappearing. Nevertheless, the Anderston Foundry were doing the right thing in having an office in Victoria Street, London. No distance from Westminster Abbey.
Images courtesy of Fred Starr.
Belasis Bridge and Signal Box
This is Belasis Bridge in Billingham which carries Belasis Avenue over the Port Clarence Branch Line railway The signal box on the branch line is viewed from the bridge towards Port Clarence.
Photograph and details courtesy of Martin Dunnill.
Hartburn Junction c1979
These photographs show a pair of Class 37 locomotives crossing Hartburn junction with a northbound iron ore train and a Class 40 locomotive approaching the junction in the opposite direction on it’s way to Thornaby depot. Both photo’s show the outline of Head Wrightson’s steelworks beyond Hartburn Lane bridge, the site is now a housing estate.
Photographs and details courtesy of MF Wilson.
Vintage car, Dovecot Street
I believe this image was taken in Dovecot Street as the car seems to be parked outside the Lit & Phil building with the Alma Hotel next door. I have dated this to the 1960s because of the clothing worn by the onlookers; trousers with turnups and head scarves were still to be seen in the 1960s. I know nothing about the car, it was most likely from 1920s at the latest, though possibly a decade or more earlier. I don’t know if it is the angle of view but the steering wheel looks to be in the middle of the car. Any ideas anybody?
Photograph and details courtesy of Bruce Coleman.
Bond Bug
Who remembers this small two-seat, three-wheeled car? A photograph showing my brothers Bond Bug parked in Windsor Road in 1983.
Photograph and details courtesy of MF Wilson.
Swimming Baths Bus Trip
A TMT bus parked in Bath Lane, Stockton waiting for the return trip to school. The date is around 1968/69, 1968 was when TMT was formed and the bus is in that awful livery but the logo hasn’t been applied, the name sticker on the bus side is temporary fix.
Photograph and details courtesy of Alec Moody.
Trains passing Alliance Street and Templar Street c1978
Trains passing Alliance Street & Templar Street c.1978 – These photographs were taken on a Sunday when main line trains were diverted past Stockton to allow engineering work to be carried out between Northallerton and Newcastle. The Deltic is 55022 Royal Scots Grey.
Photographs and details courtesy of MF Wilson.
The ‘new’ Billingham Station, 28 April 1966
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.
Railways Bicentenary 2025
The Railway Centenary: 1825 – 1925 commemorative book, includes an interesting paragraph about the future…
Image and details courtesy of Ian Black.
E Maule Coachbuilder and Autobody Builder
I recently came across an old advert for a Stockton coach-buidiing business called “E Maule & Sons”, who are known to have built bodies on chassis provided by Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Vauxhall, Crossley, Bugatti, SAVA, Minerva and Dodge. The company was in business for over 100 years, with roots in building horse drawn carriages/coaches at Alnwick.
The E Maule & Sons works are shown as being at 22 Skinner Street in 1890 and 1914 trade directories, (which may have been opposite the junction with Albion Street). The 1881 census shows Edwin, his wife Mary and 6 children (and 1 servant) living in Stockton. In 1890 Edwin Davison Maule is listed as living just around the corner from his works at 13 Hartington Road.
The images show two examples of their work. For those interested, you can read a newsletter article on the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club website.
Images and details courtesy of Jonathan May.
Stockton Corporation Bus
Stockton Corporation had a large fleet of Leyland PD2 buses in the 1950s and 1960s, including XUP 475, a 1958 example. Here are pictures of 1:24 scale models I have made, and also a black and white picture of the actual bus taken by Philip Battersby in 1964 at Low Grange, Billingham.
Middlesbrough Corporation had buses with similar Northern Counties bodies, on Guy Arab chassis – my model shows the Stockton bus in company with Middlesbrough’s GDC 295. The ‘O’ service was a joint operation between Middlesbrough and Stockton Corporations, running between Norton and North Ormesby. The 11 service, Stockton Town Hall to Middlesbrough Exchange, was also jointly run by the two corporations. The black and white shot of Middlesbrough’s GDC 295 was taken by RHG Simpson in the mid-1960s, in Bridge Road, Stockton.
Models and details courtesy of Andy Wood.
