Dear Robert
You mentioned you have checked Brian Lawson's indices without success, so I hesitate to put forward the following possibility for a link as I have lifted it straight from the 1901 census listing on the site. You mentioned that Eddie Barnes had worked for the MER prior to 1907 and, as he would have been a reasonably young man at that time, I thought perhaps his family may have been island based around that period. There is a family containing an 18 year old Edward Barnes on the island in 1901. The census reference for the family is 5304 72 233. George age 54, Mary 42, Jane B 23, Edward 18, Wm 14, Mgt J 12. I have not read your previous postings again so I apologize if completely off base but, if this could be your Edward, you can find the family on the island in 1891 and in 1881 they are living at 131 Clifford St, Byker, Northumberland. George is 34, an outdoor officer for HM customs, born Kirklinton, Cumberland, Mary 23, born Hexham, Northumberland, Jane B 3, Newcastle on Tyne, Hannah L 11m, Newcastle on Tyne.