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PHOTO
GALLERY GROUP 30
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The
Coldstream Branch. The NER branch from Alnwick to
Coldstream closed to passengers on 22 September 1930, yet much
survives as these photographs by Bob Prigg illustrate. There
is some confusion over the branch's name, since it is often
referred to as the Cornhill branch, but this is because the
station at Coldstream was called Cornhill until 1873. (Coldstream
and Cornhill are only 1½ miles apart, but Coldstream has the
better public relations thanks to the Coldstream Guards!) The
route opened to all traffic in 1887 and initially flourished,
but
after
World War 1 it suffered badly due to competition from cheap
and more convenient local buses. Notwithstanding the loss of
passenger trains, the branch remained open for agricultural
freight traffic until August 1948, when a summer storm severely
damaged a bridge between Ilderton and Wooler, thereby splitting
the line in two. The section
from
Alnwick to Ilderton held on until 2 March 1953, while the Coldstream
to Wooler section survived until March 1965, when it was axed
as part of the Beeching cuts. During the line's freight-only
years, old carriages and disused waiting rooms along the line
saw seasonal use as self-catering holiday lets. |
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Above: A
track level view of the island station at Whittingham, Northumberland.
The building has survived remarkably well considering its 78
years of disuse. March 2008. (Bob Prigg)
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Above: A
close-up of the platform, showing the elaborate supports for
the now missing canopy roof, although the decorative valancing
remains in place. March 2008. (Bob Prigg) |
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Above: The
main passageway between the platforms, lined with high
quality glazed bricks. The valancing from the canopy can
be seen clearly on the far side. March 2008. (Bob Prigg) |
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Above: A
close-up of one of the booking office windows at Whittingham,
which are situated in the passageway illustrated above. The glazed
and lettered bricks are a remarkable survival. The second ticket
window is situated about 8 ft. to the right of this one; the
fact that two were installed indicates the NER's high hopes of
trade at this remote rural outpost. March 2008. (Bob Prigg) |
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Above: Ilderton
station, viewed from the public highway along the former station
drive. Given the remote rural area which it served, all of the
stations on the Coldstream branch were large and lavish.
Ilderton was formerly the home of Chris Donald, founder and editor
of Viz,
the adult comic magazine. March 2008.
(Bob
Prigg) |
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Above: Wooler
station.
As can be seen, this building is in the same style as that at
Ilderton. Although slightly smaller in scale, the hipped
roofs are a common feature. In August 1948, Wooler became the
terminus of the line from Coldstream following a bridge collapse
between here and Ilderton, brought about by a
severe storm and associated flooding. March 2008. (Bob Prigg) |
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Above: Akeld
station, viewed here from the public highway, is the mirror image
of Ilderton, although it has retained (or perhaps acquired?)
a porch over the main entrance. Once again, this is a huge building
for a community that, in the end, delivered so little trade to
the railway. March 2008. (Bob Prigg) |
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Above: It
isn't just the old stations, signal boxes, bridges, viaducts
and tunnels that survive on the former Coldstream branch. As
can be
seen, this
old
road sign still directs passengers to Mindrum station, although
anyone arriving there in search of a train will be sorely disappointed.
Incidentally, Bob is right when he remarks how much infrastructure
survives on this route; apart from the stations illustrated above,
he and his team also found three or four signal boxes, plus goods
sheds and even stone-built coal staves. We conclude that so much
was left behind because the line closed at an early
date, i.e. before the railway had adopted a 'scorched earth'
policy with regard to land disposals. March 2008. (Bob Prigg) |
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