Fred Dibnah's Visit
27 August 1998

The visit of TV personality Fred Dibnah was a great success. He was here to film rope haulage operations for his TV series "Fred Dibnah's Industrial Age".

© Phillip Dawe
Fred with Hauler Driver Alan Walker

Fred was interested in everything and everyone, always eager to see just one more example of the machines and tools that we have at the railway - so much so that the production crew had to keep reminding him that he had a job to do and that they kept falling behind schedule! He drove N^o 22 (under supervision) taking the waggons up the east incline to Blackham's Hill.

All in all they spent over four hours at Bowes Railway capturing various shots including:

• the waggons running east to Pelaw Main Junction
• the waggons running west to Black Fell
• Fred (under supervision) acting as bankhead operator, pinning down brakes, splitting the set, etc
• the west incline looking up from Black Fell
• interior shots in Blackham's Hill hauler house

© Bowes Railway
Fred with Bowes Railway Chairman Phillip Dawe

Again under supervision Fred drove N^o 22 back to Springwell returning the wagon set, where Ruby Young had laid on an excellent vegetarian lunch at the Kip and Dish. Fred charmed everyone, regaling us with tales of his past experiences and signing autographs. Our visitors book now has an excellent example of Fred's beautifully ornate handwriting.

This page last updated 30 November 2002