Andy Mitchell

Replica of Locomotion No. 1 I had a great time Friday just gone in Shildon, watching the start of the replica journey along the Stockton and Darlington Railway of the Locomotion No. 1 (replica) as part of #railway200. The original journey took place on 27th September 1825 starting in Shildon making its way to Stockton. The original train was built by Robert Sephenson in Newcastle. I had my camera phone ready and this was the photo which I managed to take of the train. Shildon Locomotion Museum Purchase For the Love of Trainis by Paul Routledge from Amazon

 We had a lovely walk this morning in Auckland Park reminiscing about various childhood memories. It sounds glaringly obvious to say there is a lot of history in that there Park, but there is 800 years of it. I wonder where it will be in another 800 years? If you haven't been I would highly recommend it for the whole family including woofit. All it needs now is a coffee van to get a cuppa for the walk. 😉  Auckland Park Deer House Deer House Deer House Deer House Deer House

 We had a lovely time today having a walk along Ullswater and Poole Bridge. Managed to take some photos with my drone. Ullswater, Pooley Bridge Jetty Pooley Bridge Jetty wide view A few Yachts in Ullswater View down Ullswater from Pooley Bridge

Had a lovely walk and flying of my drone in Middleton-in-Teesdale today. After visiting our favourite cafe we had a short walk down to the River Tees over the Middleton Bridge which crosses over the river. Here are a few images. Middleton Bridge River Tees at Middleton-in-Teesdale Middleton-in-Teesdale (from River Tees)

 A bit cloudy, but wandered down to Bishop Auckland early doors to take a few images with the drone. Bishop Auckland Town Hall and Postchaise Town Hall, St Anne's and Market Place, Bishop Auckland St Anne's, Market Place and Auckland Tower (distance), Bishop Auckland Roof tops of Fore Bondgate, Bishop Auckland Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland

 I recently took some photographs with my drone of Durham Cathedral and the River Wear. I really wanted to fly a little higher but due to the winds this wasn't possible, but today the weather was much calmer. Durham Cathedral, Durham City The Old Cornmill, Durham City Prebends Bridge, Durham City Framwellgate Bridge, Durham City Framwellgate Bridge, Durham City

Can't believe how lovely the weather was at Gainford. It didn't rain once! We walked along the River Tees to Gainford Spa, a little known spring along the river. Managed to get a few photographs with my drone along the way. One of the photographs is over the River Tees at Gainford showing two bridges no longer in use. The first Barford Bridge which did connect 7 houses to Gainford. The second bridge is an old railway bridge built in 1856 and closed in 1962. River Tees, Gainford, County Durham Barford Bridge and Gainford Railway Bridge, Gainford, County Durham River Tees, Gainford, County Durham

 A few pictures taken with my drone of Durham Cathedral from near the Prebends Bridge. Durham Cathedral Durham Cathedral including the River Wear Close up of Durham Cathedral The History of England's Cathedrals

 A couple of images from my drone which includes Bishop Auckland RUFC with the River Wear meandering and a wide view of the Newton Cap Viaduct. Bishop Auckland RUFC, River Wear and West Mills Playing Field, Bishop Auckland   River Wear and Newton Cap Viaduct looking from West Mills Playing Fields, Bishop Auckland

  I've been having a look at a few images taken when flying my drone (DJI Mini SE2). Here is a collage of some of my favourites.  Top left Newton Cap Viaduct in Bishop Auckland, Whitburn Windmill, First World Cup Memorial in West Auckland, West Auckland village green,  West Auckland bypasbypass and Durham Cathedral.

Durham Cathedral is in the background. Picture taken from the North Road area of Durham This is my first image taken using a drone. Took a bit of time to get there as I was working out the no fly zones, obviously the smaller ones are related to drones, however the large no fly zone relates to helicopters.

These images were taken late afternoon when the light was a little lower. It shows another aspect of the village from near the bypass. Looking towards West Auckland from the bypass West Auckland Bypass end, looking towards Busty Bank A long West Auckland Bypass towards St Helens Auckland Top of the village on the road to Staindrop

A few shots of West Auckland from East Green near The Well looking up the village using a drone. Village green, West Auckland Looking up the village green from East Green Main street in West Auckland

This memorial represents everything that is West Auckland. We have a footballer kicking a ball and laid on the ground is a miner who looks to be participating in the match (my interpretation). Others think the person with the pick axe is the footballer mining. Whatever you think this sculpture represents some of the heritage of the area and a celebration of what some unlikely lads have have achieved by winning the first world cup.  The Thomas Lipton Cup was certainly significant and a small village in County Durham won it twice. 1909 and 1911. I'll leave it to you to Google how West Auckland were in invited, but how wonderful must it have been for the village. Overhead view of the World Cup Memorial, West Auckland World Cup Memorial, West Auckland.

   Roker Pier I drove to Sunderland today for a walk and to fly my drone. After spending a short time at Roker with it's wonderful pier, decided to drive towards South Shields. There's a wonderful landmark on the journey north, a grade 2 listed building which was built in 1790, a tower mill built to grind corn. This Windmill stands on it's own among a housing estate. A great opportunity to take a few snaps with the drone. Below are a few photos of the Whitburn Windmill. Video of the Whitburn Windmill, Whitburn in Tyne and Wear. Whitburn Windmill, Whitburn in Tyne and Wear. Whitburn Windmill, Whitburn in Tyne and Wear. Whitburn Windmill, Whitburn in Tyne and Wear. Whitburn Windmill, Whitburn in Tyne and Wear.

It's called the Gaunless Bridge built in 1823 and it's claim to fame is that it was the first railway bridge constructed of iron. Designed by George Stephenson, part of the bridge can be found in York Railway Museum (the metal bit). The bridge is a short walk behind The Station pub in West Auckland, County Durham. The old illustration is to give an idea of how it looked. Time hasn't been to kind to it, but worth having a look. Stone foundation of the Gaunless Bridge The other stone foundation of the Gaunless Bridge Ariel view of the Gaunless Bridge Original Gaunless Bridge design Get a copy of   Bradley's Railway Guide: A journey through two centuries of British railway history, 1825-2025