A SET of old railway photographs and literature documenting the history of the main line railways in the country during the age of steam is up for auction.

The rare artefacts were the property of the previous owner of Humshaugh Station House, Jimmy Fewster.

The lantern slides, supporting lecture notes, and briefcase went under the hammer at Newcastle-based Anderson and Garland auctioneers on Tuesday.

Jimmy’s grandson, Chris Fewster, from Wylam, said: “I found the artefacts in my loft gathering dust and didn’t really think they were worth anything.

“My grandfather bought the station house off British Rail in 1965 and lived there until the 1990s.”

Although Humshaugh station and the Border Counties Railway which served it – running from Hexham to Riccarton Junction in Scotland – closed in the early 1960s, the antiques provide a long lasting memory of the steam railways.

The collection is composed of 35mm and 6cm black and white photographs, and features views of trains and life working on the railways.

Alongside the photographs are a set of lecture notes which were used by station masters to give local residents an insight into the railways, at audio-visual presentations in village halls across the country.

Fred Wyrley-Birch, from Anderson and Garland auctioneers, said: “I have never seen anything like this before in my life. To have the completed completed set still in such a good condition is remarkable.”