Menu
  PHOTO GALLERY GROUP 19
 
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
 

Above: Thelwall station is situated west of Lymm on the former Skelton Junction to Warrington line, which now forms part of the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT). After years of neglect, the little station has a proud new owner who is busy renovating it. This was the view from the TPT in January 2007 – note that catkins are already out on the tree in the foreground. Given that the station closed in 1956 and the line continued in operation until 1985, it is remarkable that such a small building has survived. (Mark Jones)
 
Above: Langley station on the Allendale branch, looking north towards Hexham. This is a North Eastern Railway gem which survives in a remarkable state of preservation considering that so much of its fabric is timber. It's full of railway memorabilia and all are welcome to visit whilst passing, since it now forms part of a garden centre ('The Garden Station') which includes the 'Leaning Shed Café', visible here at the end of the platform. The property was sold in late 2007, but the new owner intends to keep it running as before. March 2007. (Bob Prigg)
 
Above: Langley station again, this time showing the former waiting room and station clock. Unless we are mistaken, these colours are authentic NER. March 2007. (Bob Prigg)
 
Above: A final view of Langley station, this time showing an NER public warning by R.F. Dunnell, the company secretary, not to trespass on any part of the railway on pain of a forty shilling fine (£2). That must have been a considerable deterrent in the 19th century, but nowadays it cannot be guaranteed that £2 will even buy a pint of beer. March 2007. (Bob Prigg)
 
Above: Staward was the next station down the line from Langley, barely two miles to the south. It is situated on the A686 where the minor lane to Catton branches off to the east, and it was from the bridge on this lane that this picture was taken. One will look in vain at the modern OS map to find communities which might have supplied Staward with passenger traffic, but the proximity of Staward Manor suggests that this stop was put in for the benefit of the local landowner. This station is now privately owned, but, like Langley, has been maintained in excellent condition. March 2007. (Bob Prigg)
 
Above: Haltwhistle station and its towering signal box on the ex-NER Newcastle to Carlisle line. This view is facing west, i.e. towards Carlisle, with the former Alston bay platform on the extreme left (and now securely fenced off). The whole of the Alston branch is now an attractive railway path, the South Tyne Trail, which connects at intermediate Lambley with Lord Carlisle's Railway, a colliery line which ran from Lambley to Brampton Junction. The majority of Lord Carlisle's line from the eastern (i.e. Lambley) end is being converted into a railway path, which will form part of the NCN. When complete, this will offer walkers a good round trip, i.e. Haltwhistle-Lambley-Brampton, with return to Haltwhistle by train. Haltwhistle signal box must still be used, since the modern railway rarely retains old buildings for their architectural merits alone! March 2007. (Bob Prigg)
  
Above: Alston Arches Viaduct is situated just south of Haltwhistle station and can be seen clearly from the Carlisle-bound platform on the left of the photograph above. It was the first major engineering structure on the former branch line from Haltwhistle to Alston, and carried that railway over the River South Tyne. A plaque on the inside parapet commemorates the assistance provided by this club in 2006 to help with the viaduct's restoration – click here for further details. March 2007. (Bob Prigg)
  
Above: 'Underneath the arches'. As can be seen in the photograph above, the piers of Alston Arches Viaduct contain interior arches, which are seen here. This technique was usually employed by railway architects to reduce the weight of the structure, but it is possible in this northerly latitude that the interior arches were included to reduce the viaduct's wind resistance, or make it more secure in the event of the river flooding. March 2007. (Bob Prigg)