A couple of days ago I mentioned the exhibition of 'memorabilia' that we are planning to hold at Kirkby Stephen East over the 'Stainmore 150' weekend in August. There is one item I would love to see again if it is still somewhere around the district and I wonder if anyone knows its whereabouts ...
Some time around 1962 or 1963 the late Freddie Marshall from Nateby showed me a 'hand snowplough' that had come into his possession. I think that he said that it had once been used at Warcop Station - certainly it had come from somewhere down the Eden Valley Branch. It was a bit like those big wide brushes that school caretakers used to wield except that in place of the broom head it had a pine board that you could use to push the snow off the station platform and onto the track.
In those days I guess part of the country station porter's lot was to clear the station platforms in wintery weather.
What was so interesting about this hand snow plough was that it had the initials S&DR carved into the back of the board. So it must have dated from the 1860's or early 1870's when the line was operated by the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
Maybe someone is still using this antique to push snow off their drive!
If you own it or one like it please let us know and volunteer to bring it along to the memorabilia exhibition in August!
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