9F 2-10-0 No 92097 at Pelaw South Junction with a coal train for Consett in July 1964. The gradients on the Consett line were such that even a 9F could not manage such a long train of coal hoppers so, as a result the trains were either split at South Pelaw or banked. Here it is the former.
The brake van is at the rear of the rest of the train visible behind 92097. The wagons coupled behind the 9F are being shunted into the sidings in the background after which the 9F will take the remaining wagons up to Consett then return, with the brake van for the remainder of the train.

John Donnelly says the the iron ore trains were always banked as were the oil trains (although that banker was already on the train when it arrived at South Pelaw). He has not seen any photos of a coal train being banked therefore splitting as seen here was probably the normal proceedure.

Photo: W.J. Verden Anderson/Keith Verden-Anderson