The Wear & Derwent Railway

The Stockton & Darlington Railway Companys takeover of the 1834 Stanhope & Tyne route and its conversion to locomotive working, culminating in the opening of the Hownes Gill Viaduct and Burnhill deviation, is covered in this book.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

The Stockton & Darlington Railway Company's acquisition of half of the Stanhope & Tyne route in 1834, under the guise of the Wear & Derwent Railway, marked a significant chapter in the history of this section of the line. The route, which traversed from the limestone quarries above Stanhope to Consett, was seamlessly integrated into the Stockton & Darlington Railways network, prompting the new operators to expedite the conversion of the line to locomotive operation whenever feasible. They embarked on the construction of deviations from the original route, eliminating the use of rope-hauled inclines and replacing them with the distinctive double-tender heavy goods locomotives. This transformative effort reached its zenith with the inauguration of the 150-foot-high Hownes Gill Viaduct and the Burnhill deviation.

This book delves into the history of the line, commencing from 1845, and chronicles the drastic transformation it underwent to cater to the formidable ironworks at Consett. It showcases a diverse array of historical and contemporary images, providing a comprehensive visual narrative of the line's evolution.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 233 x 165 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398106529