Springwell
Tub Shop

© Dave Hardy
L to R: Water tower, tub shop, engine shed

This brick and stone building which was extended in the 1920s was, until the conversion of the coal store in the 1930s, the railway's wagon shop. The manufacture and repair of parts were done inside the building but the assembly work was carried out on the track within the courtyard. This was the area in which the railway’s 800 Ordinary wagons were assembled during the early years of the 20th century, using a mix of manufactured and bought in parts. With the conversion of the new wagon shop this area became the place where pit tubs were repaired hence the name.

© Dave Hardy
Tub shop at Springwell

Tubs were manhandled into the building which was equipped with forges to enable metalwork repairs to be done. The east end of the building has floor made up of steel sheets which enabled the tubs to be turned around and then pushed to the various parts of the building.

The loco shop end of the building now houses our collection of underground locomotives and an Eimco Rocker shovel, but in earlier days it served as an exhibition room and refreshment area. The office at the west end of the building was also the Bowes Railway committee and Boardroom and a Graphics and Publicity office under the MSC scheme for a time.

This page last updated 30 November 2002