‘Q6’ 0-8-0 No.63431 eases a long train of empties from Wardley exchange sidings, the interchange for Monkton Coal Preperation Plant and the coking works near Pelaw on 24th July 1967. The sidings were on the Pelaw to Washington ‘Leamside’ line and the view is looking north with the Monkton complex on the skyline and Wardley colliery behind the photographers right shoulder. The exchange sidings also served Wardley colliery but most of its output went to Monkton. 63431 was built by Armstrong Whitworth in 1920 and had recently been transferred to Tyne Dock from Blaydon. The Follingsby Feightliner Terminal would be built opposite the colliery in the late 1960s to serve Tyneside but closed on April 6th 1987
