Franky
I well remember the waste asbestos heaps at the “chemicals” used to go to school with people who lived in the vicinity and they used to play in the stuff! Lord knows what damage they were doing to themselves but I suppose they were innocent times. Going back to the late fifties I can just remember going along to the allotments next to the chemicals in one of the cattle waggons to collect pigs for the old Gateshead Mart next to Redheugh bridge. Livestock would not be allowed any where near the place theses day.
Agree what you say about the F pit winding gear museum, interesting place to visit.
Coming from Eighton Banks we had the Bowes Rope Haulage Line on our doorstep, which is now a museum. I went to Springwell Village infant / junior school and had to walk across the line every day. Over the years a few people (including school children) have lost limbs when hitching a ride on the trucks.
Tyneside