Whitburn

For men born in the 1950s the landscape of North East England has changed so dramatically perhaps it will change again. The bowsers line penetrated via Kibblesworth and Sunnyside into The North Durham Hills. There is an active steam train beyond Kibbleworth. Even now there is some derelict land. Cycle here from Jarrow via Hebburn and return via Prudoe and Scotswood to North Shields. If arriving from Scandanavia try the Tyne Pedestrian Tunnel from Howden on the Wallsend north side. Coal could be extracted from under the north sea with technology not quite available yet. This would be a resurrection. Optically as in Boldon Colliery landscape change has biblical overtones. There is nothing quite like seeing young miners naked from the waist as far as the miners helmet and encrusted lamp leaving the Saturday shift in a blazing June in 1964. Even now and in the future in Nottinghamshire and elsewhere the coal working stock look very strong and extracting coal is a young man's game not for auld gadgees.