STEAM enthusiasts are putting the brakes on work reviving an historic railway van which played a major role exporting coal from the North-East.

The unique brake van, which helped to transport millions of tons of coal hewed at North-East collieries to the region’s ports, is being unveiled at an open day at Tanfield Railway, near Stanley, County Durham, on Sunday (February 22).

It follows completion of the most comprehensive overhaul in its 69-year lifespan.

Built immediately before coal industry nationalisation, at Lambton, Hetton and Joicey Collieries’ Philadelphia workshops, near Houghton-le-Spring, in 1946, brake van No 7 spent more than two decades ensuring coal trains safely made their way to the mouth of the River Wear.

Bringing up the rear of trains running on the Penshaw to Sunderland line, guards would use its hand brake to control train speeds, ensuring a smooth journey.

It was later transferred to Seaham where it worked with trains serving the area’s collieries.

Tanfield Railway volunteers first carried out preservation work on the van in the the 1980s, but it began to show its age in recent years.

Over the last 18 months enthusiasts have carried out hundreds of hours’ of repairs, using traditional techniques, with more than a ton of timber replacing damaged and rotten components on No 7’s wooden chassis and body.

Tanfield trustee, Derek Smith, said: “This brake van has a fascinating history and our volunteers are working flat out to complete the finishing touches in time for Sunday’s launch.

“By the time it’s on the back of a coal train again, it’ll look just like it did in the 1950s.”

It will feature in working demonstrations from 9.30am until 4.30pm.

Passenger trains will also operate between Sunniside, near Gateshead, and East Tanfield, near Stanley, with two of Tanfield’s steam locomotive collection in action.

Further information is available via info@tanfield-railway.co.uk, or by ringing 0845-4634938.